This adaptation of the Tracy Letts play (with a screenplay by Letts) attracted some Oscar attention, but not necessarily for the right people. Julia Roberts is quite good as the oldest of three sisters, who returns to her dysfunctional childhood home when her father disappears. And Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep, which in this case means chomping down on the Mommie Dearest part of the cancer-suffering, pill-addicted matriarch and refusing to let go. (Most of the time, she’s duplicating what’s already being done by her lopsided wig.) But certainly neither gave one of the best performances of 2013, as their acting nominations would suggest. Far better, to my mind, were supporting turns by Margo Martindale and Chris Cooper. Martindale, as the enabling sister of Streep’s character, delivers a delicate portrayal of denial, while Cooper, as Martindale’s husband, offers grace notes as a long-suffering, calming in-law. (Bonus points for his comically pitiful dinner prayer.) The rest of the cast includes Sam Shepard, Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson and Abigail Breslin. The director is John Wells (The Company Men).
