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Review

The Upside of Anger

Director

Mike Binder

Year

2005

Rating

Reviewed by

Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho

Review date

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Joan Allen is one of the best contemporary actresses, who has made quality films steadily for over a decade and has been made justice by critics and audience alike, as well as the pertinent award associations. One fan of Joan Allen is filmmaker Mike Binder, who wrote The Upside of Anger with her in mind. If nothing else, this film is a tribute to Joan’s talent. At least in that regard, it pays off completely.

Joan plays Terry Wolfmeyer, who’s introduced as a formerly happy woman who suddenly became bitter and particularly angry. Her four daughters still remember the time when she couldn’t get mad, and miss it sorely since now she’s constantly upset. The reason for this bitterness is her husband’s abandonment; he took his wallet and left, she tells the girls. Coping with that is not easy for Terry, so she helps herself to some booze. When her neighbor, former baseball celebrity Denny Davies (Kevin Costner), finds out about her situation, he makes her his drinking buddy. Obviously he has other intentions. Maybe they’ll drink themselves into some romance.

It’s never quite clear where the film is going, but it’s not unpleasant. It’s clear that Binder is an unusual writer who doesn’t follow conventional rules, and frankly his take is refreshing. The film takes unexpected paths as it follows Terry, Denny, and the four girls, and while it doesn’t trivialize either subplot, it doesn’t take any to the limit either. It’s like a slice-of-life that while not unnecessary, isn’t quite relevant either.

Allen and Costner have a ball together. It looks that way and I’m sure that’s the case. Their characters are fun and they have good chemistry. Binder’s best achievement is the creation of a pleasant environment, which the two starts make the most of. It’s lovely how Terry and Denny seem so real: they’re flawed to say the least, but they have every contrast of a human being. For instance, while Terry’s daughters often see her as a monster, she can get childish and sensual with Denny in no time. Sometimes he exasperates her and she patronizes him, only to get a more mature reaction from him than you’d expect, which gives him a very interesting substance. It’s often fascinating to see these two characters interact. Needless to say, both performances are outstanding.

Let’s not take the spotlight off Joan though. Her character is fascinating and this is her vehicle. She makes the most of it and I was constantly surprised. She’s so good, she often takes the character beyond the script, giving it way more truth than was intended.

As I said before, the daughters have their own subplots, which are pleasant enough and have good punch lines. There’s some very good histrionic work by Erika Christensen, Keri Russell, Alicia Witt and Evan Rachel Wood. Writer/director Binder also has an important role in the film, one that I disliked from start to finish, as was clearly planned. I didn’t know it was Binder in the role till the credits rolled, and I was surprised by his choice to play such a nasty guy, who’s also funny in his own right.

There’s a plot twist at the end of this one, which only emphasizes the overall irony. Life is constantly ironic and sometimes makes us look like clowns after we were so sure of a point of view. I liked that take.

“Yeah, what the hell. I’m going after the Mother-of-the-year award.”

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Other reviews of The Upside of Anger (2005): Morris

Review

The Upside of Anger

Director

Mike Binder

Year

2005

Rating

Reviewed by

José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris

Review date

Thursday, September 27, 2007

I first noticed Joan Allen in The Crucible. Right there I knew that she was an actress that I would really come to like with time. And I sure did. Movie after movie I just came to love her, and I would even go as far as to say that I would watch anything she stars. It’s not just her beauty, or her talent, it’s her very essence, her everything. Did I say I really like her?

After Terry Wolfmeyer’s (Joan Allen) husband left her, she found solace in drinking. Her four daughters, Hadley (Alicia Witt), Emily (Keri Russell), Andy (Erika Christensen) and Popeye (Evan Rachel Wood) each have lives of their own, but still try to help even though they can’t stand her. Then suddenly their neighbor Denny (Kevin Costner) enters their lives and brings Terry some much-needed company. After all, he’s somewhat of a drinker too.

I came into The Upside of Anger expecting a light-weight comedy. But the movie opens with a funeral (we’re not told whose is it) and from then on the movie moves back and forth between comedy and drama in classy fashion. It is, after all, a mixture of both. Life, I mean.

The movie basically kicks off the day that Terry’s husband leaves her and her daughters. Everything seemed to be going so well and suddenly they had to face the cruel reality. That shocking transition is better accepted by the four daughters, but Terry, who used to be all nice and happy, becomes an entirely different person. She’s always angry. She always has something to complain or fight about. And she’s desperate for some kind of company, or love. And then Denny arrives. He’s not what she expects of a man, but what the hell. Their exchanges and scenes together are what really bring this movie to life.

I also liked the portraits of the four daughters. The movie is about their mom, but we get a glimpse of each of their lives and they become full-bodied characters in front of our eyes. I especially liked Popeye’s story and how she’s just starting to realize how the world works and its many phases.

There’s even a surprise ending thrown in there for good measure. A true catharsis…

Joan Allen delivers an extraordinary performance, one of her very best. This character could have become a caricature in other hands, but she brings her to life, she gives her dignity, she gives her credibility, she brings Terry her all, and it’s just a pleasure to watch her work unravel in such a way. Kevin Costner, on the other hand, is also fantastic, the best I’ve seen him in years. He’s drunk half the movie, yet he isn’t a caricature either, and the man does a great job. As for the actresses playing the four daughters, they all do a good job. I especially enjoyed Erika Christensen and Evan Rachel Wood. As a curious detail, director Mike Binder plays a supporting part as Denny's producer. Didn't know that until the credits rolled at the end. Good job all the way.

A touching riot!

“Or maybe sometimes... they just don't have all the facts.”

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Other reviews of The Upside of Anger (2005): Groucho