Disclaimer: Once again I am not a film critic so this should be considered a stream of consciousness piece rather than a review. Expect no more than the opinion of an average moviegoer with an obsession with all things Meryl Streep.
It’s Valentine’s Day and there’s no one better to spend it with than my laptop. It’s not like I’ve had anybody else to spend it with for the last 18 years of my life, so I’m feeling perfectly comfortable in my own company. When I went out for lunch I got myself some Haribo gummy bears to celebrate, then came back and settled for a movie.
And boy was that a hell of a movie. I love Meryl Streep and everything she does. Here she plays a bitchy diva of a matriarch with mouth cancer and a drug addiction, nailing it once more. There was also some pretty impressive acting from Julia Roberts, who plays her daughter. Every scene with both of them amazing ladies in it was a delight to watch, especially when they were fighting and yelling in each other’s faces.
Caution, Hot
‘Tis August in Osage County, and the sweltering heat has already killed three pet parakeets. It’s a wonder these people can survive there; I guess that is why they seem so hot and bothered all the time. The good ole countryside looks big, picturesque and freeing, but at the same time I can feel the heat radiating out of my little laptop screen into my face.
Meryl Streep’s husband hires a Native American caregiver (whom she hates and makes racist remarks about) and leaves her, only to be found dead after a few days. It is never stated explicitly but it is presumed that he committed suicide out of frustration with their marriage. When a dysfunctional family is gathered to attend the funeral, it’s like a big melting pot of clashing personalities and attitudes, brewing big trouble. It only simmers a little at the beginning of the movie, but if you can sit through the inevitable ‘setting the context and introducing the people’ part of the movie, you’ve got yourself a real treat coming when it all starts to boil.
What went down at the dinner table
This scene was an absolute pleasure to watch because I was anticipating the heavily advertised catfight between mother and daughter at the end of it. Everyone is gathered for a ‘funeral dinner’. Meryl Streep, being the diva that she is, commands all the men to put on their jackets. Random exchange of words. Meryl Streep basically insults and mocks everyone around the table, one by one, digging out their dirty little secrets and embarrassing them. More talking. A lot of yelling and loud snorts of laughter. A confession about a love connection within the family. More mocking and talking. Until
“You’re a drug addict,” Julia Roberts just can’t take it anymore.
“Hey everybody listen. I’m a drug addict. I love drugs. See these little blue pills? They’re my best fucking friends and they never let me down. If you come and get them away from me, I’ll eat you alive,” Meryl Streep delivers with absolute perfection.
Julia Roberts pounces on Meryl Streep and thereby starts a catfight to end all catfights. She yells in Meryl Streep’s face until she whimpers and cries, and my heart shrunk a little.
Back at the dinner table
Things become chaotic as many family secrets are revealed. There is a subplot involving Benedict Cumberbatch (yes he is in it too; how many movies has he done in the past year? He’s everywhere) and his mother who hates his guts for a very good reason. And then one of Meryl Streep’s daughter’s fiancé makes out with Julia Robert’s daughter (yes very confusing indeed), inducing more yelling and smacking.
A lot of drama later, we are back at the dinner table, where all the good stuff happens. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more delightful than the first dinner table scene, this wonderful f-bomb ridden scene appears, in which Julia Roberts calls her mother a bitch because she won’t eat her catfish. You’ll have to see it for yourself to appreciate it.
And the crowd goes wild (the crowd being me, myself and I). Standing ovation. All I can say is: EAT YOUR FISH, BITCH!
All by my lonesome
There were many touching moments such as the scene where Meryl Streep recounts her past and talks about her cruel mother. Also the scene where she tries to run away (literally) from all her problems, and Julia Roberts had to chase after her in the big ole field with artistically placed bales of hay.
But eventually her erratic behavior, especially when she is under influence, drives all three of her daughters away. She resorts to seeking comfort in her Native American caregiver, who holds Meryl Streep in her arms like a baby. This little scene makes for a nice bookend, which is ironic and sad at the same time.
This is a movie not watched for the plot, but for the terrific acting and laughter-inducing banters and fights (for me at least). If you are one who revels in the hilarity of other people’s problems, this movie is definitely for you. If you are not, you will still enjoy it because, well, a little drama never hurt no one. You will be left with a warm fuzzy feeling that is relief, because your own family problems can never be as bad as this. Unless they are, in which case I wish you all the best and good luck (in utmost sincerity and no sarcasm at all).
Unorthodox movie choice for a Valentine’s Day aside, I would say this was a day well spent, wouldn’t you?
Grade: 7 bales of hay out of 10
Rewatchability: Yes to scenes at the dinner table
Chance encounters
- I cannot end this without talking about Benedict Cumberbatch’s American accent. Damn this guy can do it all. His scenes weren’t as exciting as the two leading ladies’, but his singing was as fine as his cheekbones. Nonetheless he was a nice addition to the cast.
- Julia Roberts on her mother smuggling a bottle of pills into a psych ward using her vagina: “What other words should I use to describe our mother’s vagina? Mom’s beaver? Mother’s box?”
- Julia Robert’s daughter on being a vegetarian: “When you eat meat you ingest the animal’s fear.” Now that’s an interesting perspective.
- I’m sorry about using Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts’ names when I am in fact talking about their characters in the movie. I am really bad at names especially when it comes to movies with lots of people in it.
- I will leave you with this memorable quote
“Eat your fish. Eat your fish. Eat your fish. Eat your fish. Eat your fish.”
– Julia Roberts
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Igloo 