Report Card---"August Osage County".

A while back, I did a Report Card on the play "August Osage County" when it appeared on Broadway.  I thought it was slow, talky, long, and took a whole  lot of time to get where it was going.
But when it got there, it was worth the wait.
The film version is a whole different animal.
It came flying right out of the gate.
The playwright was also the screenwriter, so apparently he was very open to criticism.
I think he won a Pulitzer Prize with the play, so he probably didn't have to take shit from anybody.
Except maybe Meryl Streep.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Extremely.  From the opening bell.
A+.

Compelling even?

Perhaps the definition of the word "compelling"".
A+.

Is it controversial?

Very.
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

It always was..
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Great storytelling, considering what it  used to be.
A+.

Is it well written?

Extremely well written.  Great dialogue.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Mostly.  Streep is at the top of her game.  But I thought Julia  Roberts, good as she was, was miscast.
The character she plays is described by other characters as aging, destined to be ugly and losing her looks.  Julia Roberts looked fantastic.  Something seemed amiss.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

It never seemed long, which was a major accomplishment.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

It's still a  bit theatrical, . but yes, and yes.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I didn't  remember the play that well, so it was not predictable, and surprised the hell out of me, on several levels.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

You are overwhelmed by it.
A+

Is it funny?

Quite often.
A.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If that was the only way to see it, definitely.  Particularly with a full audience.
A.

Is it impressive ?

Stunning.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

I think Streep already has my vote in her pocket.
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My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and; Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

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