The film adaptation of August: Osage County has a different ending than what is seen in the play, which left some viewers at TIFF confused as to why it was changed.
August: Osage County is the long awaited film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name. Tracy Letts has adapted his own material for the screen under the direction of John Wells, who in addition to directing The Company Men a few years back has also produced seminal TV shows such as ER, The West Wing, and Southland.
The film’s all-star cast includes Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor and Chris Cooper. We’ve seen it and believe it’s one of the strongest of 2013, so why does a film with so much momentum going into this year’s Oscar race also have an editing problem?
Questions surrounding the film’s ending first arose at the Toronto Film Festival where audiences got to see it first. Fans of the play noticed a new ending in the film version, an extra scene that shifted the perspective of the film in a completely different way. Without spoiling too much, what was once a story focusing on one’s character’s destructive behavior suddenly took a more upbeat and sympathetic tone.
We spoke with director John Wells a few days ago to promote the film which comes out Christmas Day. A full transcription of our conversation will run at a later date but we did discuss the ending. He was very open about the decision he has to make before finishing the film next Monday and also mentioned that he is open to opinion.
As viewers who are a fan of the film version of August: Osage County we can see how even the most subtle change, especially to the film’s ending, can change things dramatically. Below is a transcription of Wells discussing the changes that are in the current version of August: Osage County and how he is wrestling with making the best film possible.
What do you think? The transcript follows…
Q: There was some talk coming out of Toronto that the film might be tweaked in the ending. How much of that back and forth actually took place or were they just rumors that got out of control?
Wells: I can tell you right now that next Monday (October 14) there will be an ending on the film. Tracy had written in the screenplay a final scene with Barbara. Barbara is the protagonist in the piece, Violet is the antagonist in the piece. He did not write it in the play because she leaves the house. So we shot it and people who have seen the play which has a very dramatic, theatrical ending to it have said, ‘I don’t know if that’s the right ending or not.’ We shot all of what was in the play and all of what Tracy had written for the ending and we’ve been going back and forth on it to see. By next Monday I have to lock the picture and it’s been a wonderful process to do the festivals and talk. Like when I do the Q&A’s tonight I hope someone asks about it again because I can ask again. What do they feel? What do they want to feel? How much do you know? How much do you need to know?
One of the things I loved about the play when I saw it was that at the conclusion of the play people were arguing about the play, telling stories about their family members. I think that’s a great thing to do. What I’m looking for is something that doesn’t tie it up for you but something that leaves you arguing over coffee about.
Q: May I ask which direction you’re leaning toward?
Wells: No, you can’t. (laughs) Only because there’s not a right or a wrong answer. Sometimes these things are just subjective. I think what’s going to happen is next Monday night I have to lock it, I’m going to be in the editing room with Steve Mirrione who’s a wonderful editor. We’ve tried alternate music, with effects, without effects, still, quiet, we’ve put score underneath it. Finally we’re going to look at each other and say, the one that moved me the most was X. And that’s what it’ll be.
August: Osage County opens in theatres Christmas Day.