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Amazon.co.uk Review
The sight of two lost souls finding something unavoidably necessary in each other carries The Upside of Anger through it pleasant episodic drift. When Terry Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen) realizes that her husband won't be coming home again, she hits the skids and the bottle, leaving her four thunderstruck daughters (Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, and Evan Rachel Wood) to fend for themselves while she fends off the attentions of concerned neighbor Denny Davies (Kevin Costner). Writer/director Mike Binder (who has a good bit as Costner's sleazy producer) juggles too many subplots in this comedy/drama--his charming young actresses are all but wasted--then tosses in a wrongheaded climactic twist and terrible explanatory narration from young Wood. But the two leads do career-best turns: If you've given up hope on Costner, you'll be surprised by his shaggy dog appeal as a perpetually soused radio show host/faded ex-baseball star, while Allen's boozy, brittle performance is so remarkable that even her comic drunkenness is nuanced. --Steve Wiecking
Synopsis
Starring Joan Allen, The Upside of Anger spans three years of a woman's life following her husband's sudden disappearance. Terry Wolfmeyer (Allen), an affluent suburban Detroit wife and mother, goes from a paragon of sweetness to a volcano of rage in the wake of her husband's desertion; she thinks he has jetted off to Sweden with his Swedish secretary. Barely holding it together for her four daughters (distinctively played by Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, and Evan Rachel Wood), Terry fitfully adjusts while befriending Denny Davies (Costner), a retired baseball player and radio personality up the street who shares her love of the all-day cocktail hour. Allen is a delightful force, displaying serious comedic talent and effortlessly stealing each scene. She glows with an unaffected sexiness, while Costner shines as the seemingly all-wrong man who turns out to be completely right. Writer-director Mike Binder casts a keenly perceptive eye on male-female relationships, a topic he also explored in his critically-acclaimed series The Mind of the Married Man. Binder also appears in a role as Denny's producer Shep, a shallow womaniser with surprisingly resonant reasons for being shallow. As the three years pass, Terry and her daughters are confronted with varying individual situations, choices, and compromises, with moments that ring true in ways both moving and strikingly funny. The Upside of Anger is an ideal combination of drama and humour.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Upside of Anger is a film about a woman's descent into alcoholism after her husband abandons her (and their 4 teenage daughters) without a word or a backward glance.
Joan Allen puts in an extraordinary performance as the angry, bitter wife, matched (and I never thought I would say this) by Kevin Costner's performance as the drunken neighbour, a faded baseball star turned DJ.
Kevin plays a great drunk and is also convincing as a man intrigued by the femininity of the household he has suddenly become a part of. That all woman household is definitely a bewitching thing to watch and observe, with beautifully choreographed scenes in the kitchen, as the girls pick up the pieces of suburban life for their mother.
What is less convincing is the turnaround, particularly of Kevin Costner's character. He is altogether too unselfish and empathetic; his redemption too easy and straightforward.
Which is a great shame, because a film that looked like it would be a really insightful, emotionally complex piece turns into something altogether too pat and bland to be entirely satisfying. I'd still recommend it, if you want to watch a romance with a bit of bite to match the humour, and are in the mood for something a bit soapy.
Joan Allen puts in an extraordinary performance as the angry, bitter wife, matched (and I never thought I would say this) by Kevin Costner's performance as the drunken neighbour, a faded baseball star turned DJ.
Kevin plays a great drunk and is also convincing as a man intrigued by the femininity of the household he has suddenly become a part of. That all woman household is definitely a bewitching thing to watch and observe, with beautifully choreographed scenes in the kitchen, as the girls pick up the pieces of suburban life for their mother.
What is less convincing is the turnaround, particularly of Kevin Costner's character. He is altogether too unselfish and empathetic; his redemption too easy and straightforward.
Which is a great shame, because a film that looked like it would be a really insightful, emotionally complex piece turns into something altogether too pat and bland to be entirely satisfying. I'd still recommend it, if you want to watch a romance with a bit of bite to match the humour, and are in the mood for something a bit soapy.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
When your fundamental belief system is challenged - anger might be necessary, but no long-term solution
17 Aug 2007
Format:DVD
This is a movie about a time in your life when your fundamental believes are challenged.
Setting is a typical affluent, suburban setting: well do family, nice house, nice area, nice kids in short everything nice. Suddenly husband disappears seemingly with his Swedish secretary and fall falls apart, at least it seems to be. Mother takes up drinking and her equally drinking neighbour, daughter drops out of school, take elderly lover, the other gets pregnant and the other one dances her into ill-health. There are horrible scenes; one feels the hurt, the confusion, the frustration, the anger, wanting to lash out. But there is more: there is the memory of good times, the knowledge what is right and good, the love for each other but all is cover by anger. Nevertheless the anger helps to get over the initial shock, the feeling of betrayal. But anger has to stop because one gets lost in self-pity and that leads nowhere. And it does and step by step all characters get back on track, even stronger than before. When the final shock occurs, but here they have already made it and cope with it.
The movie is nicely done, well played, of course in many ways very American, but there is a great message. It is an inspiration. I liked very much Joan Allen. With Kevin Costner I always had and properly will have my problems. But he does not too badly here.
Anger changes situation and people, it might be necessary for a time but it should never be the long-term solution. So enjoy it!!!
Setting is a typical affluent, suburban setting: well do family, nice house, nice area, nice kids in short everything nice. Suddenly husband disappears seemingly with his Swedish secretary and fall falls apart, at least it seems to be. Mother takes up drinking and her equally drinking neighbour, daughter drops out of school, take elderly lover, the other gets pregnant and the other one dances her into ill-health. There are horrible scenes; one feels the hurt, the confusion, the frustration, the anger, wanting to lash out. But there is more: there is the memory of good times, the knowledge what is right and good, the love for each other but all is cover by anger. Nevertheless the anger helps to get over the initial shock, the feeling of betrayal. But anger has to stop because one gets lost in self-pity and that leads nowhere. And it does and step by step all characters get back on track, even stronger than before. When the final shock occurs, but here they have already made it and cope with it.
The movie is nicely done, well played, of course in many ways very American, but there is a great message. It is an inspiration. I liked very much Joan Allen. With Kevin Costner I always had and properly will have my problems. But he does not too badly here.
Anger changes situation and people, it might be necessary for a time but it should never be the long-term solution. So enjoy it!!!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
quite enjoyed this,glass of wine, nothing on tv...might watch again in 6 months, Kevin Costner is always cute and Joan Allen was impressive. Yeah, more lead parts for older women please.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The joys of anger
I have to say Amazon i enjoyed this film kevin costner is one of my favourite leading men and Joan allen is a beautiful leading lady. Read more
Published 17 days ago by kathleen
WITTY, WONDERFUL ROM COM
This is one of the funniest, most poignant and well acted films I've seen in a long time. It's laugh out loud funny one minute, and almost makes you cry the next. Read more
Published 4 months ago by monicachatterwell
wanted to like it but a bit dull
The Upside of Anger follows a family of women, where the dad has up and left (very far way to Sweden), leaving Terry (the wife and mother) hitting the booze badly. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Robert Marsland
NO LAUGHING MATTER !
For me, the overall mood of this film is quite dark. There is a thread of humour running through it at times, but it struggles to surface. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Slow-foxy
More entertaining and audience friendly than it looks
It looks like the kind of film that only a film critic could ever love. It was much better than I expected. Read more
Published 19 months ago by BS on parade
Scenes from a Marriage - Hollywood Style
An impressive cast lead by Joan Allen as a wife whose husband disappears. Kevin Costner co-stars as Allen's romantic interest, and gives an excellent performance. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2009 by oooo Candy Davis
a consistently funny, romantic and intriguing story
The Upside of Anger is a consistently funny, romantic and intriguing story
about two adults who are in bad shape but manage to hold each other and four young women together. Read more
about two adults who are in bad shape but manage to hold each other and four young women together. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2007 by dan the fan
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