Pill-popping Meryl Streep gets snarky in new trailer for adaptation of Pulitzer-winning play August: Osage County

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Pill-popping Meryl Streep gets snarky in new trailer for adaptation of Pulitzer-winning play August: Osage County

By EDDIE KIM

PUBLISHED: 21:26 GMT, 12 September 2013

It feels like Meryl Streep enters the Oscars race every single time she appears in a film.  And that's certainly no different this fall, considering her much-applauded turn in upcoming film August: Osage County. A new trailer for the film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, features Meryl as Violet Weston, the pill-popping matriach of a dysfunctional family.

Adapted from the 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, August: Osage County follows the family as they come together after the death of Beverly Weston (Violet's husband).



It's clear that there's plenty of drama - and awkwardness - to air out, as each person holds their own backstory and quirks.
'Look at your boobs! The last time I saw you, you looked like a little boy,' Mattie Aiken (played by Margo Martindale) tells teenager Jean Fordham (Abigail Breslin).

Growing up: Abigail Breslin, now 17 years old, stars as the daughter of Ewan McGregor and Julia Roberts' characters

What did you say? Ewan McGregor and Abigail Breslin stare in shock at a rude comment from Meryl Streep's character Violet Weston

In another scene, Meryl can be seen rolling her eyes and making faces as Chris Cooper, in the role of Charles Aiken, talks about the 'joy of family' as he says grace at the dinner table.

Her befuddling temperament might have something to do with her prescription drug habit: 'She takes pills - Valium, Vicodin, Xanax,' her husband notes.

The drama also follows the separation of Barbara Weston (Julia Roberts) from Bill Fordham (Ewan McGregor), who is apparently involved with 'a younger woman.'

'Well, the odds are against you there, babe,' Violet drawls to her daughter.

Big claims: Julia Roberts has called her acting experience opposite Ewan and Meryl as the 'best' of her illustrious career

Why the tears? Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the upcoming film The Fifth Estate, looks distraught in the clip

August: Osage County has earned kudos for its all-star ensemble cast, which also includes Benedict Cumberbatch (The Fifth Estate), Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney and others.  The film has received many positive reviews, with the most praise going to the performances, particularly Meryl's.  Julia Roberts has even called her role 'the best acting experience of my life,' according to the Associated Press.
The film opens Christmas Day in the U.S.

Settle down: Chris Cooper calms Benedict down as they discuss Beverly Weston's funeral


Winning ways: Variety's Scott Foundas calls Meryl's performance 'electrifying,' and she's certain to get awards-season attention