AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Film Reviews- Page 2

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 11:40am

^ I loved RABBIT HOLE. I think its arguably Kidman's best performance on screen. And Eckhart's as well, for that matter. I quite enjoyed DOUBT and PROOF as well. While they did have their flaws and weren't as good as their stage counterparts, I thought they were fine adaptations.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 12:01pm

I thought Rabbit Hole was good ... but wasn't the play considered to be much better? You tell me. I saw the film, but didn't see the play. I'm basing it off of reviews and opinions and laurels, hither and yon.

I diid like Rabbit Hole, the movie.

I also liked Doubt, but it wasn't remotely as good as the Broadway show (which I did see).

I didn't mean to imply that simply because they didn't live up to the play, they automatically sucked. I know it's common around here to speak in extremes. I only meant to say that it wasn't as good ... not that it wasn't good.

Capish?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 12:13pm

My bad. I thought you were listing movies that weren't good. And I would put DOUBT in that category, mainly because I detest Hoffman and he just ruins everything he touches.

But RABBIT HOLE (the play) was amazing and I think it translated to film perfectly and really did the source material justice.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 12:44pm

Well, I'm glad you think so. I did think the movie was very good (and extremely depressing). I just thought with the Pulitzer and the laurels and the Tony, as well as friends comments, etc. (yeah, I know secondhand stuff), that the play had been better received overall.

Looking it up now, I see that it ran a mere 77 performances after previews. So maybe I'm wrong in my assessment of the play's reception. Or maybe it was also relentlessly depressing and just too much for Broadway theatre goers to keep it running for any length of time.

As for Doubt, I was blown away by Cherry Jones and the full original cast. I agree that Hoffman was miscast, but I also (to a degree) thought Streep was. It was good ... better than most recent adaptations, but it didn't compare to the play at all.

[east side story]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 12:48pm

Streep was downright terrible in Doubt. I love her as much as the next person, but that performance was such a cartoon.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 12:57pm

I agree that Kidman & Eckhart give career best performances in RABBIT HOLE.

I'm honestly more excited to see Roberts in this film than Streep. I'm also excited to see what Roberts does with THE NORMAL HEART.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:07pm

I know this isn't a discussion about RABBIT HOLE, but you can't mention the fantastic performances in it and not talk about Diane Wiest. She was spectacular.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:07pm

Julia Roberts Calls AUGUST the 'Best Acting Experience' of her Life

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:14pm

Yes, well.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:15pm

I think the early reviews for her alone will get people in to see the movie. She has a lot of fans out there.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:19pm

Because she's amazing and her existance is proof of heaven, rainbows, fluffy clouds and rainbows.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:30pm

And also rainbows.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 1:37pm

And MORE rainbows.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 3:42pm

I would have loved other actors in these roles. Roberts just isn't gritty enough for me, and Streep doesn't do the dry-wit thing very well. I wish they had gotten the theater actors, or just others. Cate Blanchett would have been an interesting choice.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 3:45pm

Cate Blanchett is always an interesting choice.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 3:46pm

But Julia Roberts is always the perfect choice.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 5:30pm

Julia Roberts does look more Oklahoma... but I wish they had kept Estelle Parsons for the movie.

[logan2]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 7:47pm

Estelle Parsons in the film role would have been heaven. I know Elizabeth Ashley played Mattie Fae at one point, but I think she would have been a revelation in the Violet role.

I can't wait for the movie, mixed reviews and all. It's very much my cup of tea. Someone on a film blog mentioned that with Streep in the Violet role it as if Karen Silkwood had survived and gone on to have children. I thought that was cool - love Silkwood.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 7:54pm

I think I wrote that on here.

[logan2]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 8:03pm

Did you? Great minds must think alike! I also read it in the comments of The Film Experience: yes/no/maybe so film blog. Silkwood is one of my favorite Streep performances besides Plenty and Heartburn.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 8:12pm

Yep. She's using her SILKWOOD accent which I'm still not sure was a good idea for her since everyone's going to be thinking of her in that now.

[logan2]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 8:44pm

Well - that's Oklahoma! We shall soon see.

You're a big Julia Roberts fan, judging by your other posts, what are your favorite performances of hers? I must admit I am lacking in Roberts film knowledge. I've only seen Pretty Woman, years ago, Steel Magnolias, Pelican Brief, her Oscar winning one and I think tbe Mel Gibson conspiracy movie. What can you turn me on to?

Updated On: 9/10/13 at 08:44 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 9:15pm

I think one of her best films (acting wise) is NOTTING HILL. She's really sublime in that. Also check out CLOSER, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, FLATLINERS, STEPMOM and definitely MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING.

[logan2]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 9:27pm

I forgot about Best Friend's Wedding. I did enjoy that. Thanks.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 9/10/13 at 9:40pm

Love Sleeping with the Emeny plus it also has original Joe Gillis from Sunset Blvd Kevin Anderson.