2K Replay: THE UPSIDE OF ANGER

 by Adam Riske

Winner for “Best Supporting Actor” (Kevin Costner) at the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards.

• Best Scene/Moment: There’s a scene where Joan Allen’s character hires a cleaning crew to come to the Kevin Costner’s character’s house (he plays a former Detroit Tigers player not named Billy Chapel) and one of the items he’s putting away is a poster that’s clearly of his character in uniform from the movie For Love of the Game but modified so it shows his character name from The Upside of Anger instead. It’s a fascinating moment.

• Best Song: “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol.

• Best Merch: A “Rare! 2005 The Upside of Anger Kevin Costner Special Advanced Screening Ticket” for $74.99. I like the fact that the seller listed it a penny below $75 to trick you into thinking you’re getting a good deal. The item description from the seller states: “The ticket is perfect for those interested in the entertainment industry and the history of movies. It is a unique piece of history that captures the excitement and energy of the early 2000s. This rare item is sure to be a conversation starter and a prized possession for years to come.”

• Director Grade: The Upside of Anger was directed by Mike Binder.
Great Movies: N/A
Good Movies: N/A
OK Movies: The Upside of Anger, Black or White
Bad Movies: Blankman, Reign Over Me
Unseen By Me: Crossing the Bridge, Indian Summer, The Sex Monster, Fourplay, The Search for John Gissing, Man About Town
Overall Grade: C-

• Double It with This 2005 Movie: The Family Stone

• Year 2005 Movies to Trailer Before Them: Elizabethtown, In Her Shoes, Rumor Has It

• Never Talk to Strangers or The Upside of Anger? Never Talk to Strangers

• Mall Movie? No, this would be shown at the fancy theater in town since it’s a romantic drama for adults with middle aged leads.

• Only in 2005: A former athlete (played by Costner) is hosting a daytime radio show on a rock station but never talking about sports or rock music.

• Scene Stealer (tie): Keri Russell and Mike Binder (though it’s kind of a cheat because he directed the movie and wrote a prominent supporting part for himself).

• I Miss: Loose, romantic lead Kevin Costner performances. He hasn’t been called on to do that in a while.

• I Don’t Miss: Female characters named Popeye (in this movie played by Evan Rachel Wood). The movie weirdly never comments on why her parents named her Popeye. In fact, the first time I heard it I thought it was a nickname but no that’s her actual name.

• 2005 Crush: Evan Rachel Wood.

• 2025 Crush: Evan Rachel Wood.

• What I Thought in 2005: I liked The Upside of Anger when I saw it in theaters. I think I was a little impressed with myself at the time when I saw it. I was going to a lot of adult-skewing dramas in theaters that year and writing novels (they were terrible) and reading Film Comment. I especially liked Kevin Costner’s performance because it was during a bit of a comeback for him (following the terrific Open Range) and I dug that he was taking meaty supporting roles/co-leads instead of always needing to be a film’s focal point. I thought it was a good look for him as he aged as an actor.

• What I Think in 2025: I dunno. There are things I still appreciate in The Upside of Anger, primarily Joan Allen and Kevin Costner’s performances, but I’m not crazy about the writing and the whole movie comes off much more maudlin than I remembered. A little writer-director Mike Binder goes a long way, although I have to say I was eventually entertained by his performance as the Costner character’s shady radio show producer.