Meryl’s latest ‘vanishing act’ yields Oscar nod

STREEP AND ROBERTS. Cast as mother and daughter in “August: Osage County.”

Tinseltown’s most dedicated actors will do anything for their art. In fact, a top young actor intimated to us last year that, halfway through the shooting of the acclaimed gay-themed indie he starred in some years ago, he began “falling in love” with his costar—because the role called for it!

No, the athletic actor has never been rumored to “swish”—and he’s quick to point out that he is straight—but, he discloses, “When the camera rolls, I become my character.” Indeed, he looked like he was in love with his best friend onscreen!

A good number of this year’s Oscar contenders in the acting derby went to great lengths to find “truth” in portraying complex characters. There are a lot of flashy, thespic head-turners on the list—from Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (“Wolf of Wall Street”) to Jennifer Lawrence (“American Hustle”) and Michael Fassbender (“12 Years A Slave”)—but, Meryl Streep (“August: Osage County”), Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) stand out because they literally vanish into their respective roles!

Dysfunctional family

Let’s focus on Meryl Streep for now: In the big-screen adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer- and Tony-winning stage play, “August: Osage County,” Streep is cast as Violet Weston, the sharp-tongued, 65-year-old matriarch of a dysfunctional family, the members of which are forced to come together when their alcoholic patriarch goes missing.

Violet’s acerbic tongue is made worse by mouth cancer, her addiction to pain killers—and her resentment toward Barbara (Julia Roberts), the eldest of three daughters (and her favorite), who hasn’t been home in years!

They’re joined by Barbara’s two sisters, the easygoing Karen (Juliette Lewis) and the patient Ivy (Julianne Nicholson), who plans to move to New York with her “secret” boyfriend.

The Westons’ Native American housekeeper (Misty Upham) is the detached third party who witnesses the convoluted drama unfold—and explode!

The protracted film isn’t all that exceptional—but, it’s hard to find fault with the seamless and complementary portrayals turned in by the cast, led by the sensational Streep and the riveting Roberts, whose verbal and physical “catfight” at the dinner table is something you don’t want to miss. The revelations and recriminations sometimes get overwrought—but, as an acting showcase, the movie is a must-see.

Initially, the 64-year-old acting legend didn’t want to do the project, because Violet is “detested even by her own children—and rightly so. I didn’t want to imagine all that!”

But, a friend urged Meryl to do the role for her (her mom said she would never amount to anything)—and “for every girl who had a cruel mother.” The result: Streep’s record-setting 18th Oscar nomination!