August: Osage County is the story of a family living in Oklahoma and living with dysfunction. It’s not really about anything specific… It’s really about the lives of a prescription drug addicted mother… an accomplished, but, alcoholic father… their three daughters and the mother’s sister and her family. That’s it…

Story: I’m not sure why this particular story rose to the level of a movie. Someone must have gotten special treatment. I didn’t really find the story so unique or compelling – it’s more the characters who commanded some interest. We’ll get to that shortly…

But, like many movies these days, the story ambles by and drops off at the end with no real point. A few shocking details intertwined and all done. Not so much…

Performances: Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are the reason this movie is getting any attention. Otherwise, it would be a run-of-the-mill indie film. It’s probably more interesting as a stage play, which, is from where it came.

And while Meryl Streep delivers a good performance, there are moments when I felt that Julia Roberts’ performance is a bit forced. I did, however, enjoy her scenes with Ewan McGregor, who plays her husband.

Everyone else just holds their own. Ewan McGregor, Dermot Mulroney, Margo Martindale, Juliette Lewis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Cooper, Sam Shepard, Abigail Breslin and Julianne Nicholson. Adequate, but, no Oscars here… Including Meryl Streep…

Visual: It looks like Oklahoma.

Rating: I give August: Osage County a C. It’s right in the middle. Not bad, but, not good enough for conversation. I have actually not talked to anyone about this film since I saw it. Not a single person. Not a word…. Hmmm…

See this on DVD if you’re a Meryl Streep fan – otherwise you can skip it…