♥♥♥♥♥♥
+ Best Movie of the Year
+ Best Danish Movie of the Year + Best $ Return of the Year: 2.43 times + Best Dramedy of the Year
 |
| Mads Mikkelsen stops for a sip in the middle of the street with his friends in tow on this poster for Thomas Vinterberg's Another Round |
Four middle-aged long-time friends, who are all teachers at the same high school, raddle around an experiment, when one of them seems to have fully lost his life's spark: To work under constant inebriation of at least 0.5 % alcohol in their blood.
Another Round is written by Tobias Lindholm (The Commune/Kollektivet (2016)) and co-writer/director, Danish master filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg (Sneblind (1990)), whose 13th film it is. The original Danish title translates to 'heavy drinking'. The film is dedicated to Vinterberg's daughter, who passed away in a tragic car accident during shooting of the film.
Another Round may be the perfect midlife-crisis movie. Because the drinking experiment the four friends embark upon, - inspired by the theory of a Norwegian psychologist that man is made with a half percent alcohol missing in his blood, - is really spurred on by the men's hunger for adventure and youth in their steady, close-knit lives.
The film delves into the special Danish drinking culture, which is especially strong and solidified early on in life, as is evident in the very opening of the film, and certainly local Danish aspects of culture, humor and language will get lost in translation. It doesn't change the fact that Another Round is Vinterberg's best film since his debut masterpiece The Celebration/Festen (1998). It is also the best Danish film in years.
The structure is perfect; the writing is inspired and full of color and fun. The balance between very funny elements and real drama is nailed in Another Round, which alternatively makes audiences laugh as if by reflex, and clench jaws as tears well up in its heaviest moments. The film was intended as a pure celebration of the enjoyment of alcohol but was later developed into also dealing with the shadow side and consequences of binge drinking and alcoholism.
The performances in Another Round are out of the ballpark: Mads Mikkelsen (Valhalla Rising (2009)) goes from nationally (and internationally) endeared to a national hero in Denmark as Martin, the man whose crisis ignites the experiment. Mikkelsen is gold as the man who has stopped being there, who becomes the man that's back in a big way - but due to a helping ingredient. He outdoes himself. Maria Bonnevie (The 13th Warrior (1999)) matches him with grace and honesty as his wife in the film. And the three friends are acted with terrific energy and verve by Magnus Millang (Selvhenter (2019)), Lars Ranthe (Kartellet (2014)) and Thomas Bo Larsen (A Place Nearby/Her i Nærheden (2000)). Larsen is especially poignant as the group's weakest link. The performances by youths are also good.
Another Round is a party you won't want to miss. A complete rescue from the China virus pandemic (for a couple of hours.) A film pulsating with life and energy. A true celebration.
Related posts:
Thomas Vinterberg: 2020 in films - according to Film Excess
Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) - Vinterberg's plush but grating English adaptation
The Hunt/Jagten (2012) - Vinterberg's strongest film since 1998 is a reversed Celebration
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Submarino (2010) - Vinterberg's elegant, downbeat Copenhagen-set social realism drama
Dear Wendy (2004) - Vinterberg and Von Trier's unpopular, gun-themed mega-flop
The Celebration/Festen (1998) - Vinterberg's charged, stirring Dogme drama masterpiece
Mikkelsen and Vinterberg converse about the film at a virtual interview at the Toronto International Film Festival in the video here
Cost: 33.5 mil. DKK, approximately 5.31 mil. $
Box office: Around 22.5 mil. DKK and counting
= Too early to say
[Another Round premiered 12 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 115 minutes. The film has sold 319k tickets in its first 3 weeks in production country Denmark, despite the China virus pandemic, considered a huge win in the small country, although many tickets are sold at half prize due to the film being played as part of the Biografklub Danmark club. The gross so far should come to around 22.5 mil. DKK. The film is coming to several markets in coming months, check out the list here. Samuel Goldwyn Films have acquired the US distribution right to it but have not announced a release date yet, probably awaiting improvements in the market, marred by mass cinema closures due to the China virus. Vinterberg does not have his next project announced yet. Mikkelsen returns in Retfærdighedens Ryttere (2020); Larsen, Millang and Ranthe do not have their next theatrical appearances announced yet. Another Round is fresh at 85 % with a 7.25/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of Another Round?
