August: Osage County (2013) [w/Commentary]

Violet Weston (Meryl Streep) has cancer and a propensity for pills and alcohol. She's a difficult woman to deal with and her husband has finally had enough. Violet's family gathers including middle daughter Ivy, youngest daughter Karen (with her new fiancé), eldest daughter Barbara (with her separated husband and teenage daughter), and her sister Mattie Fae (with her husband and son in tow). A family tragedy causes tensions to run high and secrets to come out. The Weston women will be forced to examine themselves and their lives whether they want to or not. Welcome to Osage County, Oklahoma in the sweltering heat of August.



Audio Commentary: Director John Wells & Cinematographer Adriano Goldman offer a very well spoken, informative, and oftentimes fascinating commentary, sharing plenty of anecdotes from the set and also discussing shooting locations, how the weather altered the shoot, performances, and more. The most appealing aspect of the track is the in-depth technical details of the shoot that cover filming equipment, lighting, shot composition, film vs. digital, and much more. A must-listen both for fans of the film and those interested in how films are made.