The Upside of Anger is Exceptional

From: Quadrangle March 9, 2005
by: Kara Agostino

It may not be obvious from the title, but The Upside of Anger is one of the most brilliantly funny and heartwarming movies of the year. With a sarcastically dry humor and a deep dramatic tone, this film will not only make you laugh but also grab hold of your heart.

The Upside of Anger is the story of a family abandoned by their father and husband. His four daughters (Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, Alicia Witt, and Evan Rachel Wood) are left with their unstable and heartbroken mother, played by Joan Allen. The serious situation is humorous at times, while touching and tear-jerking at others. Kevin Costner plays the character of Denny Davies, the neighboring former star baseball player that lives down the road. Both he and Terry have taken up drinking as a hobby it seems, constantly with a drink in their hands, refusing to face up the reality of life. Denny becomes a close companion of Terry, strongly bordering the thin line between love and hate.

Just as in any family, there is much chaos and friction; however, it seems as if the Wolfmeyer family has an excessive amount of problems. Between fatal illnesses, personal grudges, and the extreme drinking habits, it is no wonder that this family has so many conflicts. Individually, each member of the family is suffering their own personal dilemmas as well as the family crisis as a whole. We see the Wolfmeyers go through both good times and bad, through struggles and through success-a real family brought to life on screen.

The Upside of Anger features an extraordinary group of actors including Kevin Costner, Keri Russell, and the Academy Award winning Joan Allen. Individually these actors were radiant in their roles and collectively, were dynamic playing off of one another. Each member of the cast contributed a unique element to the film, whether it was the sarcastic wit of Joan Allen, the charisma of Kevin Costner, or the innocence of Evan Rachel Wood.

It seems as if Kevin Costner has abstained from great films in the past few years. This movie is just what he needed to jumpstart his career again. He is without a doubt the most charming and lovable alcoholic in the history of cinema. In his not-so-sober-states he tends to be extremely sweet and thoughtful, especially to the Wolfmeyer daughters; he is sensitive when talking to Terry, as well as a jokester in multiple scenes.

Joan Allen significantly displayed her versatility in her portrayal of Terry Wolfmeyer. One scene in particular was eye opening to her talent. Terry has a traumatic experience with one of her daughters and can no longer stand the stresses of her life. With an emotional breakdown as well as a heartfelt speech, her performance was raised to Oscar worthy. She was absolutely perfect for her role. I could imagine no other actress possessing the talent to portray this complex character.
The Upside of Anger is one of the best movies of the year. It has all the significant qualities that a movie should-drama, humor, a great storyline, and even a few surprises. The Upside of Anger deserves any and all hype it receives.