The Upside of Anger (2005)

Continuing my plan to watch ever Kevin Costner movie in order I come to The Upside Of Anger from 2005Plot In A Paragraph: Terry Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen) a suburban wife, is left to raise her four headstrong daughters when her husband unexpectedly leaves (presumably to Sweden with his secretary) without a trace. Things get even more hectic when she falls for her neighbour Denny (a scene stealing KC) a once-great baseball star turned radio d.j. This leaves her daughters out on a limb. The Upside Of Anger is a funny film for me. It's filled with brilliant performances, is well written, and well directed. But for some reason I never watch it. This is one of my least viewed KC movies, despite it featuring a great performance from him. All the cast are brilliant, Joan Allen always is, Erika Christensen (i expected to see more of her, but I never have) Kerr Russell, Alicia Witt and Evan Rachel Wood all play the daughters really well.But as the lonely alcoholic drinking buddies Terry and Denny Allen and KC own this movie, I think in the hands of two lesser actors this wouldn't have worked anywhere near as well. KC simply steals every scene he is in and I believe he deserved on Oscar nomination. In fact Joan Allen should have been nominated too. I remember a lot of reviews focused on how great KC was in it, and suggested this would be a contender around Oscar time, and when KC and Joan Allen were both nominated for Critics Choice awards, I thought it might have a chance, but it didn't earn a single nomination, and it didn't actually turn up in the UK until 2007. By which point I had already seen his next two movies and was awaiting Mr Brooks. When it was released over here unexpectedly with no promotion. If I didn't see a critics review in The Sun newspaper, I never would have known it was released. For a movie of this quality I think that's a disgrace.

The Upside of Anger is a wonderful film about the struggles of anger. It's dark comedic touch grabs you from the start without releasing you until the credits roll. The script is funny, charming, well-written dialogue; just absolutely lovely. The direction is dead-on. The director makes you feel like you want to be in this environment that, let's face it isn't the most optimistic. The highlight here is the lead performance from Joan Allen. She's magical here.How the Academy can sleep at night knowing they didn't nominate her is just beyond comprehension. Kevin Costner gives his best performance to date here, as well. The entire ensemble works with one-another, and it shows.This is a smaller film, so many people haven't heard of it, but I beg you to see it; 10.

Joan Allen gets to stretch her acting muscles in UPSIDE OF ANGER, which writer-director Mike Binder apparently wrote with her in mind. Allen is the mother of several daughters, all played by familiar faces, who suddenly and inexplicably loses her husband. He just seems to disappear off the face of the earth, and the rest of the movie is about her trials and tribulations. Kevin Costner plays her new love, but this is Allen's movie, not Costner's. Well-acted and written, but guys are not going to sit still for it. It's really a chick flick. I will say that if you are a guy and can make it through this weeper, the ending contains a grisly shock. Also, the daughters are all drop-dead gorgeous, and show off a fair amount of skin.

There are only a handful of actresses out there right now who can completely command a screen to the point that I will see anything they do and three-time Oscar nominee Joan Allen is definitely one of them and it is her dazzling performance which is the main selling point of THE UPSIDE OF ANGER,an intelligent and offbeat comedy-drama which stars Allen as Terry Wolfmeyer, a highly strung but domineering wife and mother who goes into an emotional meltdown when she believes her husband has run off with his secretary. She lashes out at everyone, with her four daughters taking the brunt of her abuse, while tentatively broaching a relationship with a retired baseball player (Kevin Costner). Allen turns in a gutsy and mesmerizing performance that should have earned her an Oscar nomination and her chemistry with Costner is surprisingly smooth. Alicia Witt, Erika Christiansen, Kerry Russell,and Evan Rachel Wood play Terry's daughters, who all have their own issues with Mom. Director and screenwriter Mike Binder has not only fashioned a moving and human story with flawed and vivid characters but written a juicy role for himself as Christiansen's boss, who she falls for, much to Mom's chagrin. It's easy to get caught up in the emotional story, but it is the blockbuster star turn by the fabulous Joan Allen that makes this one a keeper.