Chronology: 2013
In 2013, Meryl Streep landed the leading role in the anticipated big screen adaptation of Tracy Lett’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play” August: Osage County”, about a dysfunctional family that reunites into the familial house when their patriarch suddenly disappears. Director John Wells gathered a wonderful ensemble around Streep’s towering mother: Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, and Julianne Nicholson. But “August” faced some rather odd decisions for its marketing. While the play was praised for its dark tone, the promotion for the film was lightened up and promoted as a light Christmas comedy in the tradition of “Home for the Holidays”. The overwhelming praise of Streep’s and Roberts’ involvement led critics to believe (and criticize) the film being merely a faithful adaptation of its source but rather an Oscar vehicle for its two stars. Both Streep and Roberts received Oscar nominations for their performances, but the reviews for the film were mixed. As Liam Lacey wrote for the Globe and Mail, “Although a couple of performances here may earn Oscar nominations, by the time you’ve sat through the wreckage, you’re left with the sense that this really must have worked better onstage.
Related Productions
April 25, 2013 (Tribeca Film Festival)
www.simplystreep.com
