Hærværk (1977) - Danish alcoholism drama a true downer

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'Who wins when you fight against yourself?' asks the poignant tag-line on this very 1970s-styled poster for Ole Roos' Hærværk

A man latches himself to alcoholic fringe characters and lets his life fall apart.

 

Hærværk is written by Klaus Rifbjerg (Tukuma (1984)) and co-writer/director/editor Ole Roos (Kys til Højre og Venstre (1969)), adapting the same-titled 1930 novel by Tom Kristensen (Fribytterdrømme (1920)). The original Danish title translates to 'vandalism'.

Ole Ernst (Okay (2002)) and Jesper Christensen (Before the Frost/Før Frosten (2018)) are both increasingly sad and consumed by alcoholism in the long, downbeat drama downer with Kristensen's apt title encapsulation of the universal discipline of self-destruction and downfall. The obvious lack of 'fun' in the circle of the addicted, the mean misery of it all and the ritualized and egotistical nature of the behavior, - all aspects are caught vividly here in a seething depiction of alcoholism. Regrettably Hærværk is simultaneously an overlong and dour watch.

 

Here a video with Ernst talking about addiction

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: Approximately 1.68 mil. $

= Uncertain

[Hærværk was released 4 November (Denmark) and runs 132 minutes. The film was a hit in Denmark, where it sold nearly 209k tickets. It was also released in Norway, but its sale here is unknown. Roos returned with 4 TV credits prior to his theatrical return with Forræderne (1983). Ernst returned in Lille Spejl (1978). 227 IMDb users have given Hærværk a 6.5/10 average rating.]

 

What do you think of Hærværk? 

Leaving Las Vegas (1995) - Excellent performances in stirring alcoholism-themed classic

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A hype-filled poster with one great still from the film, Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas

A down-on-his-luck, recently divorced and fired alcoholic man decides to burn everything and drive to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, but on his way there he meets a caring prostitute, who takes care of him.

 

Leaving Las Vegas is written and directed by great English filmmaker Mike Figgis (Stormy Monday (1988)), who also co-composed the score. The film is an adaptation of the same-titled 1990 novel by John O'Brien (Stripper Lessons (1997, posthumous).) 

It is an unexpectedly realistic and serious depiction of the problems that arise when loving an alcoholic. Figgis' musical choices may at times feel too chipper for the awful images. But the performances from especially Nicolas Cage (Adaptation. (2002)), who is impressive in this career high-point, and Elisabeth Shue (Link (1986)), who is also terrific, buoy this classic drama.

Excellent editing and cinematography (by Declan Quinn (Admission (2013))) also do their part in making this substance abuse film highly recommendable.

Shue talks about her career and role in the movie on The Late Show with David Letterman here

 

Cost: 3.5-4 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 49.8 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned between 12.45-14.22 times its cost)

[Leaving Las Vegas premiered 15 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 111 minutes. O'Brien committed suicide (gunshot to the head) two weeks after learning that the film was in production. Cage was paid 240k $ for his performance. Shooting took place from September - October 1994 in California, including in Los Angeles, and in Nevada, including in Las Vegas. The film opened #20 to a 70k $ first weekend in 7 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #5 and in 1,510 theaters, grossing 32 mil. $ (64.3 % of the total gross). It was nominated for 4 Oscars, winning one, for Best Actor (Cage's only win to date). It lost Best Actress (Shue) to Susan Sarandon for Dead Man Walking, Director to Mel Gibson for Braveheart and Adapted Screenplay to Emma Thompson for Sense and Sensibility. It was also nominated for 3 BAFTAs, won 4/6 Independent Spirit award nominations, 1/4 Golden Globe nominations and 2 National Board of Review awards, among many other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Figgis returned with One Night Stand (1997). Cage returned in The Rock (1996); Shue in The Trigger Effect (1996). Leaving Las Vegas is certified fresh at 89 % with a 7.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Leaving Las Vegas?

Another Round/Druk (2020) - A perfect gem, a wonderful film, Vinterberg's true celebration

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+ 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?