The Upside of Anger

We really enjoyed watching the movie The Upside of Anger! All of the characters were so fun to watch, every emotion and chaotic moment a feast for the eyes and ears! Rent it or Buy it, you won’t be disappointed!

I saw this one in the theater when it came out and it haunted me for years. So glad I was able to find a copy on Blu-ray but it's bizarre that there's no release for the US! Luckily I have a player that handles out of region discs. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed

I loved this movie. It was surprising in so many ways. The mother character was both extremely entertaining and also kind of infuriating to watch. Some parts maybe wouldn't age well for the cancel culture people, but personally I couldn't care less. I was completely absorbed and that is all i wanted. I couldn't find anything to watch and was so happy to find this!!!

I wasn't really sure if I would like this, but one deep breath and 3 dollars later I sat back and took a chance with it. I had the same experience with this movie as I did with "Million Dollar Baby." The first 15 minutes really didn't do anything for me. We meet the characters, who are seemingly going nowhere in both their lives or the plot...but then your patience comes very rewarded.The basic outline is Terry (Joan Allen, a real treasure) has realized that her husband has left her and their 4 daughters, likely with his secretary to Sweden. Bitter and depressed, she drinks her life down, but not as an alcoholic (there are no drunk sequences at all). Instead, she's just confused and angry, and needs a good chaser to mend some hurt feelings.The other star of the movie is Kevin Costner in a superb performance as Denny Davies, a former Detroit Tigers player, who's drinking buddy is now gone, so he spends his aimless days with Terry and the dysnfunctional family. Between these two people is a connection of bittersweet romance, but certainly with heavy baggage along for the ride.The four daughters (Alicia Witt, Erika Christiansen, Keri Russell, Evan Rachel Wood) each have wonderfully-drawn supporting roles. Their stories are coming-of-age tales, each with their won carefully-crafted traits. Oldest daughter Hadley is in college with a somewhat-hateful relationship with her mother, but also copes with a fiance and a pregnancy. Andy has no dreams of college, but instead works for Denny's sleazy producer. Emily dreams of becoming a dancer, which has no place in Terry's philosophies of life. And "Popeye" falls for a vague teenager, plus expresses a keen knack for documenting projects and themes...as well as the plot.I love how these characters verbally commnicate their frustrations with each other, but somehow there is unspoken tension between everybody. Joan Allen is the main character, and does an Oscar-worthy job, but every one of Kevin Costner's lines put a big old smile on my face and often got a huge laugh out of me. This is defintely Costner's best acting since the early 90s with "Dances With Wolves" and "JFK."The daughters all get enough screen-time to appreciate and become fascinated with their twists on the story.I do have a couple of negatives that I felt during this movie. First off, the aforementioned opening scenes could've used a little more life in them. When I compare the movie's final minutes with the opening scenes, I'm confused where the life in this movie suddenly bursted from. My attention was literally gripped out of nowhere.Also, I do feel that in the 3 years that encompass this movie, not much really changes. I find huge differences in my life within a couple of months, but the attitudes and beliefs of these characters don't change much within a couple of years. Terry is as furious with her husband's in the beginning until about 15 minutes remain in the movie. Denny Davies is already a little bit of a wandering fool with a good heart, but he doesn't really develop much. The daughters experience the most change (pregnancy, love, sickness, bonding)...but instead of it being a gradual process, the situation kind of changes out of nowhere.However, because Mike Binder creates such enthralling personalities and has a gentle tone to the movie, it was very easy for me to absorb the sudden changes. Binder has such minimal direction here that the slightest touches can go unnoticed. For example, instead of a quick-cut and having a cop-out title card say "4 Months Later," we get a wonderful blur from the Fall leaves to the snowy roads of Winter."The Upside of Anger" needed a little more time to develop and needed to give us a better opener. However, with such colorful characters, dark humor (Terry imagining Denny's producer head explode is priceless), and genuine emotions being presented here..."The Upside of Anger" is a very moving film. When it picks up and gets a hold of your attention, it won't let go until the very end - and that is something special!

After her performance in "The Ice Storm" it is no surprise that Joan Allen could carry a movie like "The Upside of Anger". Nor was it a surprise that she and Alicia Witt could beautifully play off each other in their confrontational mother and daughter roles. What did surprise was that the film featured equally strong performances from the other members of the cast. Even writer/director Mike Binder does a fine "on-screen" job as a slimy but not entirely unsympathetic radio producer. Kevin Costner would be wise to stay with this type of role (and with comedy) instead of big-budget epic stuff.The casting of Witt with Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood, and Keri Russell as the four sisters was inspired. All the subtle birth order distinctions felt right. The oldest (Witt) was the most connected to mom even though it did not appear so on the surface. The second (Christensen-who absolutely glows on the screen) was determined to be different than her older sister. The third (Russell) was the most connected to the father, missed him the most, and had the least understanding of the mother. The youngest (Wood) was way ahead of the curve and the most perceptive character in the film.Binder gave into the temptation to use cheesy special effect gimmicks several times (the explosion at the dinner table, the neighborhood transition from summer to winter, the ballet fantasy, and the daughters growing older during the funeral scene). Although done well they seemed out of place. Also Binder should review the Kent State shootings, there were four students killed-not six.There is a spectacular shot at the wedding. Beginning as an over the shoulder shot of Hadley (Witt) sucking in her "plump" cheeks, the camera pans slightly right and moves toward the wedding party as the focus changes to bring them out of a blur.The film's ironic twist in the last 15 minutes is borrowed wholesale from "Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice". I particularly liked Wood's beautiful narration which helped clarify the title and theme, necessary (or at least helpful) after this ironic story line twist. She manages to sound both detached and involved, probably because it is actually the voiceover from her broadcasting class project. When we are suddenly forced to reevaluate everything that has gone before in what we thought was just an interesting comedy, Wood steps in and steers us to internalize the theme. They go out on a shot of Wood looking up from her Mac and smiling. Amazing.This is the best of Binder's writing: "Anger and resentment can stop you in your tracks. That's what I know now. It needs nothing to burn but the air and the life that it swallows and smothers. It's real though, the fury, even when it isn't. It can change you, turn you, mold you and shape you into something you're not. The only upside of anger then, is the person you become, hopefully someone that wakes up one day and realizes they're not afraid of its journey. Someone that knows that the truth is, at best, a partially told story. That anger, like growth, comes in spurts and fits and in its wake leaves a new chance of acceptance and the promise of calm"."The Upside of Anger" is one of those rare films that I believe everyone should make an effort to connect with, doing so will make you a better person. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

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. The actors/actresses play their parts well, but, even allowing for the depressing situation she finds herself in, I found Joan Allen`s portrayal too relentlessly grim.The family, and Kevin Costner`s character, have extremely difficult life experiences to deal with (or not deal with), but I ended up not caring very much about what happened to them.Costner`s role was quite amusing, but for me there was not enough "lightness of touch" to help balance the downbeat nature of the film. One of the reviews on the dvd case said that it was "uproariously funny". I do realise that humour is always a very personal matter, and I can only give my own opinion.....for me it was not funny, and overall not a great film.

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. Also includes substantial roles for Erika Christensen, Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, and Evan Rachel Wood as Allen's daughters.This is Joan Allen's film though, and she does a wonderful job of playing a woman who is consumed with so much anger that she becomes depressed and alcoholic. Whilst it might be billed as a comedy there is a strong sense of drama throughout. The 'twist' ending panned by many critics I found to be an excellent conclusion, and not one I had seen coming.There is a theatrical trailer, sound is 5.1 or stereo, English subtitles are available, and the transfer to DVD is crystal clear.

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. This film will no doubt give you a laugh and theres an i didnt see that coming scene, Costner and Allen are very enjoyable as are the ladies playing joan's daughters. This will wind you down after a hard day at work or if ur needing a laugh give this a go. No excuse really cheap price go get it.

A great quality turn from Joan Allen, a very good actress. Kevin Costner is always friendly and watchable. It provides a good and different picture of relationships, families, and how loss affects everyone. Then how eventually one learns, grows and heals. A good character study piece. The supporting stories (around the daughters) are good viewing too.When I first saw this film I then re-watched it the same day, I enjoyed it that much.

I got a whole heck of a lot more than I bargained for with this one. Initially bought for Joan Allen who is wonderful. And Erika Christensen who is always brilliant. And Alicia Witt is excellent as ever. One part in particular made me scream(!) and this isn't a scary movie. Ooh and there's at least two hot guys in this film.