The Upside of Anger (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Mike Binder

Writer (WGA):

Mike Binder (written by)

Release Date:

1 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes what tears us apart helps us put it back together

Plot:

When her husband unexpectedly disappears, a sharp-witted suburban wife and her daughters juggle their mom's romantic dilemmas and family dynamics.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | Sister Sister Relationship | Bathroom | Mother Daughter Relationship | Dinner

Awards:

5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Joan Allen	...	Terry Ann Wolfmeyer
Kevin Costner	...	Denny Davies
Erika Christensen	...	Andy Wolfmeyer
Keri Russell	...	Emily Wolfmeyer
Alicia Witt	...	Hadley Wolfmeyer
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Lavender 'Popeye' Wolfmeyer
Mike Binder	...	Adam 'Shep' Goodman
Tom Harper	...	David Junior
Dane Christensen	...	Gorden Reiner
Danny Webb	...	Grey Wolfmeyer
Magdalena Manville	...	Darlene
Suzanne Bertish	...	Gina
David Firth	...	David Senior
Rod Woodruff	...	Dean Reiner (as Roderick P. Woodruff)
Stephen Greif	...	Emily's Doctor

Also Known As:

An deiner Schulter (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexual situations, brief comic violence and some drug use.

Runtime:

USA:118 min

Country:

USA | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | France:U | Belgium:KT | Argentina:13 | Ireland:15A | Iceland:12 | UK:15 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | USA:R | Germany:12 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Company:

Media 8 Entertainment

Trivia:

Lauren Ambrose changed her mind about playing the role of the daughter whose obsession with dance and dieting almost kills her. Keri Russell soon took on the role. Russell had studied classical dance when she was younger. She said she just needed some catch-up classes.

Goofs:

Continuity: Rearview Mirror is missing in a scene in her car.

Quotes:

Terry Wolfmeyer: [answering phone] Hello?
Denny Davies: What, what are you doing?
Terry Wolfmeyer: Oh, making the girls' lunches.
Denny Davies: Good for you.
Terry Wolfmeyer: Yeah, what the hell. I'm going after the Mother-of-the-year award.

Movie Connections:

Features The Screaming Skull (1958)

Soundtrack:

Afternoon Tea

A movie that moved me....

The upside of Anger is a movie with a lot to say about many things, in addition to anger. So many movies today have nothing to say...and become so easy to forget. This one was memorable. The movie spoke of relationships, emotion, perseverance, humor, tolerance, and of course anger. This movie was a near masterpiece, really. The performances were terrific by all the females, especially Joan Allen. The script was terrific and the directing was top notch too. Kudos to Mike Binder!!

All people have shitty things happen to them...that's a fact. The lesson in the movie is that the important thing is, how do we deal with those shitty things. We can choose alcohol, we can choose anger, we can choose to hurt those we love. But eventually, we will chose happiness, despite all the mayhem life throws our way. Happiness is a relative term. I loved the fact that there were many things about Terry (Joan Allen) that I didn't like, yet, I still liked her enough to be sympathetic towards her. I don't cry that easily during movies, but this one brought the Kleenex out, twice. I am a guy and I am aware that tears are very therapeutic. A good cry is awesome..if it's real. Many things have been said about the ending, but watch it for yourself. I have no problems at all with the ending. See this movie, I dare you not to like it.