9) The Singing Scene – August: Osage County
A moderate commercial success back in 2013, family drama August: Osage County has a ridiculously star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper and Abigail Breslin. Despite the glittering credits though, the movie is probably most remembered by Cumberbatch fans for the actor’s touching portrayal of Little Charles, a shy, awkward man who’s constantly belittled by his belligerent mother.
As weirdly incestuous as it is, Little Charles shares a rather sweet romantic connection with his cousin and fellow lost soul Ivy (Juliette Nicholson). In one terrific scene, Little Charles sings a song he wrote for her and the pair share a tender moment – until his mother interrupts them.
Apart from showing that he has a decent voice, it’s interesting to see Cumberbatch play a quieter, more understated role here. Not a lot of actors could manage to make you emotionally invest in a strange love affair between two cousins, but Benedict sells it effortlessly.
Published: Jan 30, 2017 03:12 pm