I knew that I was going to love this film! It’s extremely funny, extremely depressing and equally powerful. But compared to what else is being released right now, at least it’s about something. The queen of acting Meryl Streep outdoes herself as one of the craziest, pill-popping matriarchs in movie history. After a family member spontaneously goes missing all of the children are called home to farmsville Oklahoma. Some of the children haven’t been home in a while and the movie doesn’t take long to reveal why. The secrets that are literally eating them up alive are about to come flying across the dining room table. So brace yourself, every kitchen or table scene is something to behold!

This is an enormous ensemble cast (Sam Shepard, Juliette Lewis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Abigail Breslin, Julia Roberts) and every single performance is outstanding. Each character’s introduction and backstory were managed methodically by slowly having the relatives come home one at a time. If the audience can swim through all of the mudslinging, guilt trips, screaming, no-holds-barred drama, pie and character assassination, it might reach the same conclusion I came to: there’s love in there somewhere.

Rating: 8.5 out of 9

Guest Blogger from Seattle