August: Osage County – A Wild Ride in the Wörld of Dysfunctional Families

You know those family dinners where you hope you’ll just pass the salt without someone tossing it at your head? Well, sprinkle that with Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and a sprinkle of Ewan McGregor, and you’ve got “August: Osage County.” Directed by John Wells and produced by the famous Harvey Weinstein (yes, that one), this film is an all-out drama fest where the heat of the Oklahoma summer is nothing compared to the heat at the dinner table.

From the first scene, you can sense that a storm is brewing. The scenery is as raw as a grey Swedish November morning, and the tension in this family is a knot tighter than my granny’s scarf weaving. Meryl Streep sinks into her role as Violet Weston, a matriarch chock-full of pills and potions. Man, if I had a krona for each time she gave me the chills during this flick, I could buy a good bit of fika.

There’s something deep about this film that scratches on the surface of any family drama with its roots in pain and history. It brings back memories of when I tried hosting Christmas dinner and, let’s just say, left-over meatballs flew further than the snowballs. Families, eh?

But it doesn’t always connect. Sometimes the over-dramatics feel like eating surströmming without much vodka — a bit overwhelming. I reckon it caters to those with a taste for intense theatrical set pieces.

Still, it shines by revealing the messy, tangled webs people weave in familial relationships. Makes you ponder how crazy our brood really is — maybe not so bad after all, huh?

In the end, “August: Osage County” is worth a watch — it will whisk you away to places you didn’t know needed exploring. Just don’t forget the tissues and maybe a good laugh after. Hey, we all need some balance, right?

Check the trailer below