Arts & Entertainment
Friday,
March 25, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 12
Sat, Nov 21, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
The Upside of Anger |
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| The Upside of Anger keeps the emotions real and the wounds of heartbreak on the fray | ||
| by Jason A. Miller
- SGN Film Writer
Already enjoying a limited run in select cities, The Upside of Anger comes to Seattle this weekend. The drama/comedy stars the always wonderful and talented Joan Allen and in a surprisingly good role as a romantic lead, the Oscar winning Kevin Costner. Allen plays a Terry Wolfmeyer, a housewife whose husband just one day doesnt come home. The word is that he ran off to Switzerland with his assistant. Terry turns to liquor to numb the pain and quickly loses the ability to control her emotions. She lashes out at everyone. Her daughters, the shop clerk, neighbors and relatives. Her four daughters, played by Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen and Evan Rachel Wood, just stand back and watch their mother turn into a hateful, bitter, foul mouthed nightmare. Every time one of the tries to get close, Terry bats them away with vicious words and looks that could kill. Kevin Costner plays the neighbor, Denny Davies, a retired baseball legend that is just about on his last leg. He is drinking his way into oblivion and learns the backhanded comments from Terry can contain a lot of bite. The movie doesnt dwell on the fact that the husband just abandoned his family as much as it deals with the fact that life goes on even when someone has stopped moving. Terry stopped existing the day her husband walked out, but her four daughters still have their lives to live and they chases their dreams all while Terry is missing it. Joan Allens portrayal of a woman so stricken with grief that she cannot even be happy for one moment is heartbreaking and beautifully done at the same time. She is a master of her craft. She has proven time and time again that she is one of Americas leading female actors and The Upside of Anger once again proves that point. Kevin Costner is pitch perfect in his role. He never goes over the top with a role that could have easily been annoying. He emerges as a lovable and charming man that might just be what Terry needs in her life. Costner was one of those actors that got a huge ego and it took a long time for him to come down, but after a string of big budget bombs he seems to enjoy just acting and not having to control the whole film. He knows that the film is Allens and doesnt seem to want to take anything away from that. I would love for Costner to become one of Hollywoods leading men again. He has the talent and the charm. The Upside of Anger is not a predictable film and it does not stray into conventional Hollywood drama. It keeps its emotions real and the wounds of heartbreak on the fray. The house that occupies the five women seems to be missing a piece of their lives. Its hard to tell if it is the husband or the mothers love. The children treat their mothers anger as a passing phase at first, but when her rages starts to intrude on their lives, they get angry right back. The tension that ranges from subtle to knock out/drag out fights is creepy and fun to watch at the same time. All the girls hold their own with Joan Allen and it creates some of the best scenes in the film. Not a perfect film, but one of the best films out there right now. If you enjoyed films such as Door in the Floor or The Ice Storm, you must check this movie out. |
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 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 LESBIAN NOTIONS Paula Martinac |
