The Upside of Anger - Movie Review

I disagree. The film is so simple, maybe it's evading most critic's cynical eyes. The script gets slammed because the peripheral characters get no resolve (the daughters are strictly set pieces). Well, that isn't the point of the film. The benefit of anger - and cynicism - is that it allows you to NOT be forgiving, responsible and kind. It's an important message in the pessimistic times of "Sin City".

If anger is the central theme, why is it given as little screen time as the unexplained and utterly rudderless story about Felicity's stomach ailment? But for the sake of argument, let's examine anger in the film. As Joan Allen first discovers what she thinks is her husband's flight from their marriage, she professes to be angry with him, yet her actions suggest self-pity much more than anger. What anger she does exhibit gets directed towards her mostly-innocent offspring. When she does focus her anger towards her husband and Mike Binder's schmuck character, she seems to be healthier . . . yet rather than explore that road, Binder the writer throws in the twist about the husband. His newfound state invalidates her reasons for feeling angry in the first place, thus mitigating much of the progression/regression she may have gone through. And this pertains to the forgiveness theme. Because of the husband's state she does not have to forgive his actions, and her eventual acceptance of Denny AFTER THE FACT does not hinge on her character's maturation but extraordinary external circumstances. Anger doesn't transform Terry in either way, because it's not allowed to run its course.

It's a valid review (I suppose...), though I found the characters extremely likable and sympathetic. It goes down easy, it attempts to present a little something different--I dunno. Perfect Sunday afternoon matinee material, I'd say.

missed this one. two things i know for sure: Joan Allen: talented actress (Ice Storm, Contender) Kevin Costner: knobby doorknob knob and i haven't seen Sex Monster but i'm sure Worrall's right about Binder. Yet i want to kick the teeth in of every filmmaker that gives Costner work. Waterworld has got to be one of the more interesting shitty films i've seen... nevertheless, Costner should not hesitate kick his own teeth in.