A correction was made to this article on Jan. 1, 2004.
NEW YORK -- New Line Cinema has picked up North American distribution rights to writer-director Mike Binder's "The Upside of Anger," a bittersweet comedy-drama about an alcoholic suburban housewife raising four headstrong daughters, with an ensemble cast headed by Kevin Costner and Joan Allen.
Pic also stars Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell, Alicia Witt and Binder, best known for HBO's "The Mind of the Married Man."
After being abandoned by her husband, Allen's character finds her life changed when a once-great baseball star (Costner) steps in as her drinking buddy and becomes an ad-hoc member of the dysfunctional family.
Alex Gartner, Jack Binder and Sammy Lee produced for MDP Filmproduktions and VIP Medienfonds. Stewart Hall, Andreas Grosch and Andreas Schmid were exec producers.
Deal reps the first pickup for New Line of a title from independent production and financing banner Media 8 Entertainment, formerly MDP Worldwide. Company has "Monster" in release through Newmarket.
New Line senior VP of acquisitions Guy Stodel, senior VP of business affairs Carolyn Blackwood and exec VP/chief operating officer New Line Prods. Mark Ordesky brokered the agreement for the studio.
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