This is such a sublime and thoughtful movie. I find myself thinking about it days after I've seen it. In order to truly get this film, you have to put yourself firmly in the head space of the two main characters. Joan Allen gives us a devastating performance, filled with both humour and sadness. This story of a jilted housewife and how she deals with and relates to her four precocious daughters is a very real depiction of one woman's life. I generally don't like movies with a twist ending, but, when the 'twist' comes it will subvert everything you thought you knew and raise it to a whole new level. Kevin Costner's performance as a washed up ball player should not be underestimated, it is one of the best of his career. There are those that might feel cheated by the ending, but, I truly feel that it comes organically from the story and becomes cathartic for both the characters and the viewers. This movie lets you see that there actually is an upside to anger and that it has the power to allow you to hope and ultimately, to heal.

9/10
rdefrancesca@ - 12 reviews
27.3.2007 - age: 26-35

I am not a Costner fan by any means but he makes this movie! This part was made for him and it is hilarious! I appreciate him more for having had a hand in this movie. Great movie--don't miss it.

9/10
julie_hayes@ - 23 reviews
6.3.2007 - age: 26-35

Loved this one!, great humour and great acting.

9/10
joblagdon@ - 225 reviews
23.7.2005 - age: 36-49

Very funny and refreshing,.. surprisingly good.

9/10
phljoseph@ - 61 reviews
6.6.2005 - age: 36-49

Despite the slow pace and winding story about the everyday, this was very enjoable movie. It was casted well and everyone fits their role perfectly. In some cases the resemblance to real life was so accurate that it was funny without meaning to be. I found the plot twist quite unexpected and I enjoyed the way it changed your perspective on the entire movie in the last few minutes.

8/10
amiddlet@ - 7 reviews
3.6.2005 - age: 26-35

[...] I thought it was excellent - great acting and a sharp script. Joan Allen is definitely the stand out. Her character is real, majorly flawed, and yet she somehow becomes likeable the more we get to know her. There is a real twist at the end that I never saw coming. It's an intelligent movie for adults.

9/10
shirls_corner@ - 21 reviews
29.5.2005 - age: 26-35

Typical I laughed, I cried... Over all enjoyable though!!

7/10
okeydokey16@ - first review
4.5.2005 - age: 18-25

Great acting by Joan Allen and Kevin Costner. As mentioned by other reviewers, Joan Allen's character was not really likeable, but at the same time, you can't help but understand and feel sorry for her. More true to life than the often fakey pleasantville family dynamics you see in many hollywood movies. For a filler activity on slow sunday afternoon, I did not expect such a good show. Definitely one of the better movies. Thumbs up!

8/10
raleigh1982@ - 44 reviews
2.5.2005 - age: 36-49

The movie was a little slow moving but the message it portrayed was poignant. It was a movie about "real" people. We see how emotions can allow us to get caught up in our own preconceived notions. It was a thought provoking movie.

7/10
srhonda61@ - first review
2.5.2005 - age: 36-49

I would place this in the "good movie to rent" category but not to waist your money at the theater.

6/10
alldunns@ - 7 reviews
29.4.2005 - age: 36-49

Very good movie provides a window on the human spirit, human weakness of hanging on to habits and poor ways of thinking (like blind anger) Must see good twists and turns.

9/10
paule.home@ - 18 reviews
28.4.2005 - age: 36-49

Not normally a Costner fan, but he was really great in this! The movie surprised me in many other ways as well, which you don't get often. I'd recommend it.

8/10
mansbest@ - 5 reviews
28.4.2005 - age: 36-49

Adorable movie, quite funny, which, at the end, has a lesson for all of us.

9/10
black.jack@ - 464 reviews
26.4.2005 - age: 36-49

There are too many unanswered questions in this movie that are irritating. Pretty good though but a bit long.

7/10
rushoon1@ - first review
25.4.2005 - age: 36-49

I really enjoyed this movie. It left me wanting more. Great performances by Joan Allen and Kevin Costner.

8/10
crockett99@ - 11 reviews
21.4.2005 - age: 36-49

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
An awful movie about a [...] woman, whose husband commits sucide after his secretary leaves him.

2/10
jrxcal@ - 7 reviews
14.4.2005 - age: 50+

It is a writer's gift to create a completely unlikeable character like Terry and make the audience care what happens to her. The anger she holds and inflicts on those around her is real.

8/10
kaleklae@ - 11 reviews
13.4.2005 - age: 18-25

This is a film for grown-ups, meaning if you're willing to forego any adrenaline rush and really listen to the characters onscreen, you'll likely love it. Joan Allen is a blast to watch, and the family chemistry between her and her four daughters is great. Then there's Kevin Costner, who leaves his ego behind and finds a humility that's been missing from his performances since Field Of Dreams. Costner's terrific, and his relationship with Allen is Oscar-worthy. The Upside Of Anger is much better, and much more, than a simple chick flic. See it.

9/10
lshap@ - 13 reviews
12.4.2005 - age: 36-49

I personally would wait to see this on a rental. The movie wasn't completely bad. It was a tad slow. Although the acting was ok the plot was so so. Wait and rent it.

6/10
elaine@ - 155 reviews
5.4.2005 - age: 36-49

This movie was ok. It wasn't quite what I expected but I liked it. There were some funny parts in the movie and the ending was a little bit of a surprise. After the movie it makes you think about life and few movies do that.

7/10
angels4@ - 86 reviews
5.4.2005 - age: 36-49

This is a thought provoking movie about how we can let anger and resentment ruin everything we touch or rise above it. The performances were wonderful. Joan Allen was great, she did such a good job I really had problems feeling anything positive towards her character. Much has been made about the fact that Kevin Costner playing a ball player - once again. This character is different. The sex symbol of the ninties has grown into a man who is not afraid to see himself for what he is: a slightly overweight, slightly balding 50 year old man with a killer smile. I think that this is one of his most nuanced performances and for me he makes this film. I felt that perhaps the fact that Allen's character has 4 daughters and the filmmakers tried to feature them each in their own story line was a little over ambitious and my big complaint with the film is the disconnected feeling the scenes have as we jump from storyline to storyline.

8/10
suzannemsimon@ - 74 reviews
3.4.2005 - age: 36-49

Over acted reaction by jilted wife. Very "American" where reactions are over blown in proportion to the stimulus, you wonder what they would do if something really serious happened, [...]?

6/10
stan.kopp@ - 45 reviews
3.4.2005 - age: 50+

Remarkably clever and funny screenplay. Acting and characterization are brilliant - especially Joan Allen. Very humorous and poignant - an excellent film!

9/10
landon@ - first review
3.4.2005 - age: 26-35

Unlike pretty well any other American movie of recent memory. Acted as if there were no camera present, and while watching it you feel as if you could reach out and touch the actors. Perfectly cast. Younger people may not appreciate it too much. Kevin Costner manages to be a star male lead without hogging the screen. Still cannot decide if it is a drama with humor or a comedy with depth. A must see for 0ver-50.

9/10
eql@ - 37 reviews
3.4.2005 - age: 50+

I really enjoyed this movie and thought all the performances were outstanding. The characters were flawed (as are we all) and real. The movie actually gave the audience credit for having a mature sense of humour and spared us the Three Stooges Comedy. Afterall life itself is often hilarious.

8/10
trainanthony@ - 8 reviews
3.4.2005 - age: 36-49

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
That was one of the worst movies that I've seen in a long time. There weren't very many in the theatre to begin with and quite a few left of varying age ranges. I felt committed to staying once the desire hit to leave ASAP, thinking that it could only get better... I was wrong. The only good part about it was when the guy's head blew up. Not even a renter!!!

4/10
melissa.dugas@ - first review
2.4.2005 - age: 18-25

It's too bad that this movie came out after the Oscars, because it would have defenitely been chosen as one of the best movies of the year. In my opinion it is far better than Sideways... It's too bad that this movie came out after the Oscar picks by the members of the Accademy of motion pictures and Sciences, because It would have otherwise definitley won as one of the year's best movies... In my opinion, it's much better than Sideways... Very strong performances by Costner and Allen and the rest of the cast... It's funny, witty and smart, and I highly recommend it!

9/10
henrycanty2000@ - 7 reviews
1.4.2005 - age: 36-49

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
Interesting story. The after-movie let us tinking about the life. The movie is not an american movie with a good end with happiness. I saw it in "avant-première" and it was worth it (because I didn't pay to see it)

5/10
mariepierretaillon@ - 30 reviews
1.4.2005 - age: 18-25

Joan Allen was wonderful. When you think about what Hollywood puts out these days, where you could really parachute any drop-dead gorgeous actress to fill a role, it was great to see someone actually acting for once. Costner's best performance in a long (LONG) while. Only problem is that with so many daughters, there were too many relationships btw mother and daughter to zero in on.

7/10
ben.song@ - first review
1.4.2005 - age: 26-35

Smart, funny - Costner and Allen had lots of good chemistry and were at the top of their game - consummate pros obviously having a good time. Whole cast was believable - even the "bad guys" had more than one dimension. Lots of opportunity for emotional range - and no one went over the top. A few seriously neglected questions left unanswered but forgivable in light of good acting, good script.

8/10
hubnpete@ - first review
29.3.2005 - age: 50+

Great acting. Great Movie. A must see.

9/10
kim.carlsen@ - first review
29.3.2005 - age: 36-49

A great movie. A must see. Very moving.

9/10
boots381951@ - first review
26.3.2005 - age: 50+

A very good movie. I laughed and cryed. I was very moved.

8/10
g@ - first review
26.3.2005 - age: 50+

I just love Costner, so will see any film he plays in. In this one he was badly casted. Having to put on 20 lbs and being puffy eyed should not be part of his scenarios at any time. Plus I don't think his persona fitted as a guy who drank beer and hung around a woman so stressed she couldn't see straight. Just make Kevin a hero for every film, a tough guy without a gun. That face is so easy to look at. He has such a noble look. Apart from that, the story was quite good about the way women feel when they are left with all the responsibilities of raising a family by themselves and how nerve wrecking it can be. Both characters Allen and Costner played their roles with sincerity. Kevin, please no more roles of you playing a slob even if he has a big heart and tons of patience. I just had to get it off my chest.

7/10
reneehoude@ - 8 reviews
25.3.2005 - age: 50+

Clever, good acting.

9/10
zootsuitr@ - first review
19.3.2005 - age: 18-25

A waste of time.

4/10
lonergan3@ - first review
19.3.2005 - age: 36-49

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