NewMexiKen cut the cord to cable television last week (as discussed here) and — after a few evenings of surfing through the 8 over-the air HD channels available to me (as if there were still 150 to choose from) — it’s turned out just fine. Remarkable, in fact, how much I don’t miss it, reruns of Law and Order included.
But I did restart Netflix, the online DVD rental service. The first two films arrived today and this evening I watched Kevin Costner and Joan Allen in The Upside of Anger. Costner reprises his best role, “Crash” Davis of Bull Durham, this time as a 45-50-something former Detroit Tigers hero by the name of Denny Davies. It’s Costner at his best.
Joan Allen is the star, however, playing a woman whose husband has just left her for his Swedish secretary. She has four daughters 14-21 (they age three years during the film) and I guess one could say much of the film consists of Allen’s character, Terry, taking out her anger for her husband on her daughters — and on Denny Davies. The story is that of her recovery. Allen is superb and deserving of the Oscar talk NewMexiKen has read.
Reviews were mixed when the film was released, though everyone liked Costner and especially Allen. I thought it was an enjoyable movie; fine acting, admittedly some made-for-TV like scenes, but a few great lines. Great cameo appearance by Arthur Penhallow, famed Detroit rock deejay for more than 30 years.
“He’s a vile, selfish pig,” Terry says of her husband, “but I’m not gonna trash him to you girls.”
I really liked that movie. There were times when I felt like it was slipping into “Lifetime TV movie” (although I think part of that problem might have been the sets, to be honest), but overall, I really enjoyed it. Allen and Costner especially.
And I did NOT see the ending coming.
Funny. I watched that on Tuesday. I was curious to see Allen, one of my favorite actresses. But the performance that really impressed me was Costner.
As for NetFlix, I don’t have a good review. We’re about to cancel our membership. Our top FOUR movies are all on “very long” to “short” waits. Our number one movie was released almost six weeks ago, has been on our list since before its release, and is still on a “very long wait.”
If they cannot get enough copies of almost any movie, seemingly, to support requests, I don’t see the point of staying with them. I’m not paying $17.99 a month to see new releases two months after they come out.