Another Round (2020) User Reviews

Someone here said they've never written a review before

[ukukull · 9/10 · 9 January 2021]

Same case.

The movie was extremely powerful for me. Also, for what it's worth, I think it wasn't about alcohol. It was more about life and how small change can cause greater consequences - good and bad alike - and how one should learn to initiate and control the change in order to have a go at serenity.

I think watching it gave me a feeling I have not had in ages. A feeling of guilt and hope together. Well, if that's not something, I don't know what is. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

Heavy Stuff

[Slarkshark · 8/10 · 27 November 2022]

I went into this mostly looking for comedy. Well that was a mistake. It has some comedic parts, but it's most definitely a drama, and a heavy one at that. I mean look at that cover, it's great and looks like this film is going to be a good time. So, a little misleading perhaps, but a very well done film that emotionally drains you.

I'm convinced Mads Mikkelsen is one of the most talented actors of his generation. Admittedly, I believe this is the first I've watched with him speaking his native tongue. Which only adds to how good he is, because he's been great in everything else where he's not even speaking his first language. No surprise, he is very good in this.

The theory of maintaining a .05 BAC is interesting and I believe it does have positive benefits. However, as seen in the film, there is a fine line which can be easily crossed and lead to terrible tragedies. Moderation in everything is best practice I would argue.

teachers and their lives

[Kirpianuscus · 29 June 2021]

Teacher being myself, I saw this film for a sort of cure after a crazy pandemic school year and, no doubts , for Mads Mikkelsen ( like Martin, I am history teacher and very/ too familiar with the parents/ students pressions ). The film was more then I expected. Because it is a beautiful eulogy of freedom and fine portrait of teaching - the help for Sebastian from music teacher is just moving - , friendship, escape from fears / doubts/ routine, middle age crisis, pure forms of freedom . And, sure, a film about fall. I saw it as teacher , not as cinema critic, I loved the crazyness and realism, humor and dark slices, the moral and the splendid job of Mikkelsen.

Skol?

[simonwoodhart · 7/10 · 5 January 2021]

I had a few misgivings about watching this film as someone who has not had a sip of alcohol in over six months. Would it trigger me into drinking? Would it portray drinking in a positive light? Obviously I threw my doubts aside and watched it and I am glad I did. This film primarily tells the tale of Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) who is going through the motions of life. He is no longer effective as a teacher and his family life is lacking due to the alienation of his wife and kids. However, on a boozy night out with a group of co-workers / friends an idea is formed, based on Norwegian philosopher and psychologist Finn Skårderud's theory that humans are born with a blood alcohol level 0.050 lower than it should be, and that that amount should be drunk every day in order to bring about optimum performance levels. As all four friends engage in drinking in the morning things appear to work well, until the inevitable escalation. First off, this film is genuinely funny. Secondly, it is moving. Third, it is beautiful to look at. However if I were to judge this film as person who has a troubling relationship with alcohol and try to pinpoint a message to the film, then I would have some trouble. I believe the film is a commentary on the absurdity of Danish drinking culture. Not being Danish I maybe can't fully comprehend the social intricacies, but being British I can certainly understand (drinking is our culture). For better or worse this film doesn't appear to state definitively whether drinking alcohol is good or bad. Certainly you view tragedy born from over imbibing, but then it shows that there are some positives. For someone like me who wishes to moderate but can't and wants a binary judgement, this rubs me the wrong way.

Recognizable scenes for people that like a drink.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 19 January 2021]

Druk (or Another Round for the English title) by Thomas Vinterberg is a refreshing story about alcohol consumption, about the effects alcohol has on the mood of a person, on the changing behavior, positive and/or negative, someone has under influence. It's and interesting and entertaining story that will keep your attention. I recognized some scenes from personal experiences, like anyone will that likes to have a drink occasionaly or addictively. The whole cast did a great job playing their characters. I didn't know any of the actors besides Mads Mikkelsen, that in my humble opinion always delivers, but they all did a good job making this movie worth watching.

A cure for a mid-life crisis? It's worth a shot!

[bob-the-movie-man · 8/10 · 30 June 2021]

After giving the most emotional and heartbreaking Oscar speech of the recent awards, Thomas Vinterberg's International Feature winner is now in UK cinemas. "Druk" (Danish for "Binge Drinking") is in the Danish language with subtitles: but don't let that put you off.

Positives:

• Mads Mikkelsen delivers a stunning performance. He really delivers the goods. He was nominated for a BAFTA for the role but missed out on the Oscar nomination. This feels unjust. I would have personally swapped out Steven Yeun for this performance by Mads.

• Thomas Vinterberg was justly nominated for Best Director at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars. The movie never lacks momentum from beginning to end. I was thoroughly entertained.

• It's quite unusual to see a 'buddy movie' concerning a group of men that's not a cop film. My wife described it as a '"chick-flick for blokes". I guess you need to go to "The Hangover" films to find an equivalent. (That of course also centres around alcohol. Are we really that shallow?!)

Negatives:

• Up until a "church scene", I thought the story was well-structured and coherent. But I'm not quite sure what message the finale of the movie was trying to send. Yes, it's fun and full of energy. And Mikkelsen's dancing is both bizarre and entertaining. But given all that's gone before, is it a "what the hell, life is for living and alcohol is part of that" statement? I was unsure.

Summary Thoughts on "Another Round": The movie is dedicated to "Ada" - Vinterberg's daughter, who was supposed to be acting in the film but tragically died in a car crash just four days into shooting. (Hence his emotional Oscar acceptance). The fact he managed to finish the movie at all is amazing. But the fact it's so good is a great memorial to her.

It's billed as a "comedy drama" but, although there are comic moments, it leans heavily on the "drama". The Scandinavians in general tend to drink as much, if not more, than the British do. So this is a reminder of both the benefits and risks of the evil drink.

(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on the web, Facebook or the Tiktok channel onemannsmovies. Thanks.)

Not a comedy

[Sowerplave · 7/10 · 20 December 2020]

This is a drama digging deep into the mundane numbness of everyday life. It also digs into the human relationship with alcohol. Then, it digs into the intertwining of these. Do not expect a comedy. I made the mistake of believing that this would be a comedy, which it wasn't. I wouldn't even say that this is a light-hearted drama, either. Some scenes hit heavy and were just tragic to watch.

I may have expected a comedy, but got a fantastic drama movie instead. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to watch a good drama in an everyday environment.

7/10

Everything about 2020 sucks - except this movie

[susiekamperthomsen · 10/10 · 2 October 2020]

Just watch it. The synergy amongst the actors and director is awesome. When watching it you realize how realistic it actually is. This could happen right now in any Danish highschool or office.

What a life.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 2 February 2022]

'Another Round (2020)' is a Danish film about four middle-aged teachers who, discontent with their stagnant lives, decide to experiment with maintaining a constant level of alcohol (0.05%) in their blood at all times. What starts out as intoxicating soon becomes dangerous, as their purely scientific trial threatens to devolve into all-out alcoholism. The different men handle their booze in different ways, though they all inevitably fly too close to the sun at one point or another. I've seen some accusations that the film condones substance abuse, but I don't think that's the case. Though it doesn't have an overt anti-alcohol message, it makes sure to show both the good and the bad of its focal fluid and ultimately advocates for moderation above all else. Plus, its teenage characters are supposed to be either seventeen or eighteen and the legal age for buying alcohol in Denmark is sixteen. Though I don't think it's a good idea for children to consume what's, essentially, poison, I think this flick is just honest to the society in which its characters and filmmakers live. Basically, this aspect is more of a societal and cultural issue than one specific to this feature. The film isn't a clear-cut morality tale, rather a relatively realistic examination of human emotion in all its imperfect glory. It depicts happiness, sadness, complacency, resentment, enjoyment and anxiety; it runs the gamut of emotion, both in what it depicts and it what it elicits, to craft an unbiased portrait of its subjects that resonates on a surprisingly deep level. Its bittersweet final scene, which mixes melancholy with jubilation in a bizarrely touching way, is a microcosm of its overall nuance. The movie is a touch slow in its second act, but it's typically an entertaining and engaging experience. Its performances are remarkable, too. It's as often funny as it is heartbreaking. Generally, it feels like a grounded and honest experience that manages to be life-affirming without being close to saccharine. It isn't happy, so to speak, just truthful. Truth can be beautiful. 7/10.

not only about drinking

[dromasca · 9/10 · 12 February 2021]

There are two different films in 'Another Round' (the Danish title is 'Druk' which Google translates as 'Excessive Drink'), Thomas Vinterberg's 2020 film. One is about alcohol, its positive and negative effects, and how drinking is an integral part of the social life and culture of the community and perhaps of an entire people. The other is about a midlife crisis of four high school teachers who have each, in their own ways, come to a standstill in their personal and professional lives. Can alcohol be a solution? Up to what blood alcohol level? Can the morning after hangover be avoided?

The heroes of the film are four teachers from a Danish provincial town. Drinking seems to be part of the local culture and daily life, in a country where high school students drink countless beers at social events and where the scandals caused by them when under influence are regarded with indulgence as youth outbursts. Even teachers do not avoid the liquors, and even philosophers seem to propose a blood alcohol level of 0.05% as normal. The four teachers begin a 'psychological test' of living and exercising their teaching profession in conditions of permanent alcoholism. The results seem very positive for a while. Martin (Mads Mikkelsen), the history teacher we will be following most closely, regains the class's attention and inspires students' interest in the subject he is teaching. Even his private life seems to return to a better forgotten path lost due to routine. The music teacher urges the students in the choir to listen to each other and to put their soul into the music they sing. The sports teacher motivates his football team and turns the spectacled boy intimidated by his colleagues into a scorer. Finally, the psychology teacher finds ways to help the terrified student facing final exams. Problems arise as the experiment progresses, alcohol doses increase, and inevitably, the negative effects of alcohol occur, including the tough waking up in the mornings after nights of excessive drinking. But are these changes just because of alcohol or at all because of alcohol? Maybe drinking is just a pretext to overcome the inherent crises of the professional routine, family, or life in general?

The script has sensitivity and subtlety and avoids the pitfalls of extremes. 'Another Round' is neither a plea in favour nor a moralising story against alcohol consumption, although I can guess that Danish viewers in particular have an opportunity to reflect on the role and place of drinking in their society. The study of characters is underlined by the extremely nuanced acting interpretation, especially of course the one of Mads Mikkelsen who adds another special role to his career and collaborations with Thomas Vinterberg. I was also impressed by the cinematic technique imagined by the director and cinematographer. The camera, fixed at the beginning, acquires mobility as the story progresses (along with the increase in alcohol levels) to become chaotic in times of crisis and later broaden the perspective and change the brightness towards the end. The confrontation of each of the heroes with the experiment is different and the outcome is not happy for everyone. Social drama and psychological study, a subtle and ostentatious story about middle age and school, teachers and students, 'Another Round' ends with an unexpected tone of optimism. Highly recommended - one of the most beautiful movies of this very special season.

Mads Mikkelsen At His Absolute Best

[CinemaClown · 21 December 2020]

An intoxicating celebration of life and a sobering examination of midlife crisis that illuminates the inebriating delights & euphoric pleasures of alcohol influence with heart & humour without ever shying from the havoc it can cause when consumed in excess, Another Round (Druk) blends the elements of comedy, drama & tragedy into a vibrant, effervescent & invigorating mix, and is brilliantly spearheaded by a stellar showcase from the ever-reliable Mads Mikkelsen.

Co-written & directed by Thomas Vinterberg, the film reunites him with Mikkelsen after their memorable stint with The Hunt and the result is another instant classic. Vinterberg takes a naturalistic & humanistic approach to bring his story to life and offers a fascinating take on the role of alcohol in Danish culture (or any culture for that matter). The plot concerns four friends who test out an alcohol experiment to enliven their banal professional & personal lives, and it is compelling throughout.

But none of it would be as gripping if the bonding between the characters wasn't convincing enough and their individual arcs weren't fleshed out. Everyone plays a valuable role in the story yet the one who makes the experience truly worthwhile & rewarding is Mads Mikkelsen whose performance here ranks amongst his finest. We strongly relate to his character, are fully invested in his journey, and the magic he conjures in the last segment is destined to leave an indelible impression on the viewers, leaving them all high & in a state of pure bliss.

Overall, Another Round is beautifully anchored by Vinterberg's sensible direction & Mikkelsen's masterful rendition, and is one of the most engrossing, arresting & life-affirming films of the year. Equal parts funny, touching & heartbreaking, this Danish dramedy has enough vigour & potency to leave most viewers enraptured with its infectious spell & fleeting vibe, and the dazzling quality of the last scene not only serves as a fitting end to a joyful ride but also affirms the film's position as one of the strongest entries of 2020. Truly worth your time & money, Another Round comes highly recommended.

A stunning performance from the actors and director, that leave you absolutely speechless!

[gustav_gerdes · 10/10 · 25 September 2020]

I went to the cinema today to watch my third movie from Thomas Vinterberg, after watching "The Celebration"(1998) and "The Hunt"(2012) i had huge expectations for this movie. And i have to say that i got surprised even more than i thought was possible.

"Another Round" or the danish title and phrase "Druk" is just a cinematic experience on another level. I as a Dane can relate to this movie, as if it were written directly to the individual citizen. The way the story is bound together with great dialogue and humor is indeed phenomenal, the way the story criticize the danish alcohol-culture is even more breathtaking, and thought-provoking. With of course amazing performances from Lars Ranthe, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang and Mads Mikkelsen. You can really feel that the actors and crew have been working hard on this task, and all turned out great. Once again Vinterberg have done it!

A perfect dramedy

[Filmdokter · 9/10 · 6 May 2022]

Druk is a terrific blend of light comedy, social drama and feel good movie. But Druk is more than that for me. Being a 40 year old teacher myself, I found myself recognizing a lot of the struggles the main characters are facing. The film made me laugh, made me feel, made me linger about my own life. It's a film that will stay with me and will be revisited in the near future. So I can feel those same emotions again. And that is what only great films can do. So a big thumbs up for Vinterbergs triumphant film.

More "skul" for better skills at school? An experimental review of "Another Round"...

[ElMaruecan82 · 8/10 · 21 August 2022]

I enjoyed Thomas Vintenberg's "Another Round".

Why? Maybe because I'm an introverted guy drowining his introverted sorrow in pints of beer, wine, vodka... but not whisky. Or maybe because I'm a teacher and I can relate to being confronted to a class whose deadly silence is a severe blow to my pride. Or maybe because I'm kind of a simp when it comes to women, whether the first or the second. Or maybe because I already used alcohol to fuel some positive energy... and that it worked. Anyway I was the perfect candidate to enjoy it and I enjoyed it so much that I'm willing to do an experiment (I did one for "Festen", check the review).

Since the film is about four men and teachers (with their own issues and marital troubles): history teacher Martin (Mads Mikkelsen), P. E. teacher Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen), philo Nikolaj (Magnus Millang) and Music Peter (Lars Ranthe) decide to prove a theory that implies a man's alcool level at 0,5g maintains or improves his social skills and creativity, that state between drunkenness and soberness. I'm willing to do a similar test and advance in that review after several drinks. This is not an endorsement of drinking, no more or less than the film but let's do it for fun. See you later.

Well, here we are, two small beers, I guess I'm there at 0,5g. How does that affect my writing I don't know. I just want to take an opportunity to say that I could really relate to the scenes that depicted every single stage of inebriation by Vintenberg. From the way, you start stumbling and looking for the right word, or just talking loudly and smiling to the way you start loosen up. There's a real portrayal of alcohol effect that takes me back to the first time I drunk, drank, whatever, when my cousin asked me to approach a girl and I was shy, it took one bottle of Malibu pineapple and the magic operated, placebo, maybe. Anyway, I could relate to the character of Mark, he's lost his appeal with his wife and girls and one glass of wine is enough to bring back the worst and anaesthetize it. Alcohol becomes the remedy to the very thoughts it catalyses, strange but true.

Having said that, I dream to be a filmmaker and one of the film I dreamed of making since 12 years involve a long sequence of guys drinking and dancing and a climactic catastrophe dancing that is almost like Madds at the end. And so for the record, I want to make it clear, if I ever make such a film, please don't accuse me to make a rip-off. I swear I had it in mind years and years before. Let's hope this will serve a purpose.

Where was I? Just had two and half glasses of wine. I guess I'm in a stage where my mind floats in total lucidity, and I already feel silly about the former paragraph... how about just making a film without caring about any accusation of plagiarism. What Vintenberg did was more than offer a platform of expression to average guys who want to be heard in a world where it's about the pleas of youngsters or women, I suspected Vintenberg was a fan of "The Deeer Hunter" when I saw "The Hunt": you know, male-bonding etc. , the drunk scenes especially when they want to literally go the distance is just like the bar scene pushed to eleven... men behaving like a children, he wife wants a fresh fish, how about fishing it... I like the way Vintenberg use the process of handheld camera to exteriorize the drunken effect like Harvey Keitel's "Rubber Sandwich" scene in "Mean Streets".

The directing, rightfully Oscar-nominated is both subjective and objective, it shows the state of mind, shows the way they look at their own entourage, whether kids laughing at their jokes or women telling them to calm down and it shows a certain reality about couples, exams, needs for existence and that found a perfect loophole with alcohol. Does the film advocate the drinking? Well given the most extreme scenario and the fact that a man wets his own bed and Marcus ends up laying on the ground, I doubt so... but what Vintenberg does is acknowledge that there's a reason for existence (remember what Homer Simpson said?) and he doesn't back up in the controversial scene where a teacher advices a student to drink before answering, it can help... I'll be back...

Now, I guess I got to the limit, my head is heavier and I'm tired. Maybe that' what consumption is about, there's an aftershock, something to bite you back that is called reality... Vintenberg draws the line between reality as it seems and the the virtual universe we fabricate to improve or please ourselves.... I was perplex about the ending, why cut the focus from the experience and leave us with the aftermath of the first booze orgy... maybe Vintenberg settles a personal record with destiny (check the trivia) and out of honesty decided to show that alcohol is a life-and-death issue whether physical or "social" death. Still the same...

However the ending that seems to embrace the energy boost of alcohol within the students and their intergenerational communion with teachers suggests a social cement, a rite of passage, as wicked as it is, it exists and that one should handle it with responsibility. It's interesting that if Marcus could get his wife to notice him with alcohol, her comeback is due to one moment where he chose to be sober... and maybe there's a certain sternness, a strength in that sate that can take you further in life... and watching the quality of the directing, I was sure there was no alcohol involved during the filming.

Think about it before calling the film an ode to alcohol? Off to bed now...

Felt tipsy just watching this.

[garethcrook · 7/10 · 11 February 2022]

There's a sad story behind the making of this film. Inspired by director Thomas Vinterberg's daughter Ida, who was also due to star until she passed away just as filming began. He'd be forgiven in shelving the whole idea, but instead tweaked it and dedicated it to her. I really want to love this. Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) is a teacher, a bored one. As are his fellow teachers. It goes a bit beyond boredom for Martin though, he's called out by his students and their parents for not being engaged enough. He's in crisis, "lacking joy", until one of his colleagues shares a theory about unlocking the minds full potential... with alcohol. To be honest I'm going to call it here. It's not alcohol that helps Martin, it's his friends. They're solid. They care. Sure they're daft, but there's real compassion amongst them. It also helps that they collectively decide to test the alcohol theory. The theory being that the body is slightly alcohol deficient and that by topping it up a little and maintaining it, you'll be happier, more confident, productive, maybe even enlightened. What could possibly go wrong? Mikkelsen is very easy to watch. They all are really, but he's the focus and he holds it brilliantly. Martin blazes the path as the experiment becomes more... ambitious. I think there's a lot of Martin's out there. It's not really a story about alcohol, but of being lost. Lives loosing their sense of purpose. Denmark apparently has a drinking culture, especially amongst the youth. Surely no more than England, but who knows. I don't and it's not important, but the school kids respond to the more flamboyant teaching styles. It's uplifting stuff. An infectious energy permeates the screen. Especially when the needle drops on Cissy Strut in a gorgeous Scandinavian apartment and the dancing begins. Martin has a darkness in him though. He knows his limits, but with the others somewhat carelessly pushing on in the name of science. He finds the line blurring. They all do. It's raw and honest, with some very difficult themes, but Vinterberg navigates them all well. I'm not sure it's a film I can really love, but I do like it, a lot.

A deep analysis of alcohol drinking

[mbrcf · 8/10 · 16 September 2020]

TIFF 2020 09

Another Round

Four close friends who are all high school teachers decide to maintain a specific blood rate of alcohol in their bodies in order to become happier, function better at work and social life, and get along better with their lives. What happens in this process of controlled alcoholism testing and its results consist the main storyline of Another Round, a collaboration of Mads Mikkelsen and Thomas Vinterberg.

Each one of these four are explored individually for us to become acquainted with them and get to know their lives, their responsibilities and their problem whether at work or at home. But the film really shines in the scenes that all four are together, drinking, talking about their drinking thesis, laughing and sometimes, crying. This film is about alcohol consumption as much as midlife crisis, isolation, everyday repetition, loneliness, hopelessness and anhedonia. It's a film that resonates with all of us, it's about everyone in this world who struggles with serious problems in one's life and sees the solution in drinking regularly.

One last drink

[berndgeiling · 6/10 · 28 August 2021]

I didn't find this plot very original and more or less predictable. It's clear from the start that the friends alcoholic adventure will lead into disastrous consequences for some of them. But Vinterberg doesn't moralize, the viewer has to find all the answers for the ambivalent questions he raises himself. Why does one need alcohol in mass quantities in order to survive a life which would be simply unbearable without drinking?

For me the answer was: Life is pretty much unbearable, with or without consuming alcohol. But if you drink you might have a bit more fun and intensity in the meantime. Mikkelsen's breathtaking outburst of joy in his final dance scene could as well stand for pure almost suicidal desperation.

Good acting by Mikkelsen, awful premise!

[tompr-722-306938 · 5/10 · 15 September 2022]

I decided to finally watch this movie after being constantly reminded of it by my friends for a good while.

I must say I was disappointed. I finished it though, which is a bonus.

I don't understand how on earth a group of adults may not be sure/aware of how alcohol may potentially affect their health, social behaviour etc and therefore decide to experiment with it (dressing it up in pseudoscience) in order to combat their midlife crisis related, personal issues.

This is beyond me. This also reminds me of many other movies I've seen in the past whereby another group of adults decided to go ahead with some kind of plan (govern by rules) in order to combat other kind of issue/issues.

This is very, very cliché. Very cliché.

The only good thing is Mikkelsen's acting; however, even he struggles to stay convincing because of the ludicrous movie's premise.

I don't even want to go into the Scandinavian drinking habits that are supposedly tackled in the movie because that's just another utterly, unnecessary cliché.

Poor movie.

Great, original drama

[grantss · 8/10 · 6 September 2021]

Martin is a jaded history teacher. His relationship with his wife and family has also reached a point of staleness and his whole life seems to be one big bore. Similarly, his three best friends, teachers at the same school, have also reached a flat period in their lives. When one of them reads a theory that says that having a moderate degree of alcohol in your system at all times is a way to loosen up, they give it a go (for research purposes, of course!). It seems to work and they start upping the alcohol level. But what's the limit and what are the consequences?

Great, interesting drama. Written and directed by Thomas Vinterberg who gave us such exceptional films as Festen / The Celebration (1998), Submarino (2010) and Jagten / The Hunt (2012) the plot is quite original and challenging. Covering a topic like excessive alcohol consumption and alcoholism and (on the surface) making it seem like a good thing is quite novel and sure to be confrontational and controversial, making for an intriguing journey.

Ultimately it has to more nuanced than simply being a pro-alcohol drama, otherwise it would be pretty dull and predictable (think of The Hangover without the comedy, i.e. The Hangover II & III). It is more faceted than that, and some interesting twists and themes do develop, but saying anything more would give away the plot.

Great performance by Mads Mikkelsen (but that's a given) and good supporting cast.

Druk / Another Round deservedly won Best International Feature Film at the 2021 Oscars and Vinterberg got a nomination for Best Director.

if a little is good, is more better?

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 24 April 2021]

Greetings again from the darkness. Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Language Film (Denmark), its director, Thomas Vinterberg was also nominated for Best Director. Mr. Vinterberg also directed the excellent 2012 film, THE HUNTING, and this time out, he collaborates yet again with his co-writer and lead actor from that film: Tobias Lindholm and Mads Mikkelsen, respectively.

Mikkelsen (already one of the few must-watch actors) stars as Martin, a married man, father of two, and history teacher. His long-time friends include Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen), a PE coach; Nikolaj (Magnus Millang) a Psychology instructor; and Peter (Lars Ranthe), the music teacher. The buddies are chatting over dinner as they celebrate Nikolaj's 40th birthday, and they come to realize they are each floating through life - in a mid-life crisis of sorts, neither happy nor sad. It's at this point where Norwegian Psychiatrist Finn Skarderud's hypothesis is discussed. They agree to test Skarderud's theory by maintaining a .05% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), even while teaching.

Almost immediately, the men each feel mentally sharper, more engaged, and awakened to their lives. Martin re-connects with his wife, Anika (Maria Bonnevie), and becomes a history teacher that inspires students ... quite a change from the complaints he had been receiving. The accomplishments of Hemingway and Churchill are discussed, as if alcoholics need role models. And then, to push a good thing even farther, the men decide if .05% works, why not take it to .10%? Well that's what the men do, and of course, the results aren't so great - ranging from upsetting to tragic.

Is it possible to re-discover a life that's being wasted in self-pity or a state of numbness? Can alcohol jolt one back to life after the loss of youth and the reality of adult responsibility? Mid-life crisis has been addressed in many films, and alcohol is often part of the story ... think SIDEWAYS (2004). We learn here that the Danish culture involves heavy drinking, and in Denmark, there is an extraordinarily high rate of teenage drinking.

The film is well acted, and Mikkelsen is terrific. Vinterberg dedicated the film to his daughter Ida, who was scheduled to appear in the film before dying in a car crash. He strategically includes Kierkegaard's quote about life being lived forwards, but only understood backwards, and that truly is the crux of what the men are experiencing. The final scene is extraordinary and unexpected, as Mikkelsen wows with an interpretative and energetic dance to "What a Life" by Scarlet Pleasure. What a life, indeed. And perhaps there is hope after all.

Available on HULU.

Incredibly powerful

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 8 March 2023]

Absolutely love foreign language films and have been meaning to see more Scandanavian films for a while now. 'Another Round' was seen for a few major reasons. One was the very positive reviews and that it was seen on the highest of recommendations by one of my sisters, whose film taste is relatively similar to me. Two was my huge admiration for Mads Mikkelsen, always liked him enormously since 'Casino Royale' and he keeps growing with every role he does. The final one was the subject, one that has been an issue for decades and still is now speaking as someone who had a problem with it a couple of years ago.

This reviewer is absolutely enthralled to say that 'Another Round' pretty much bowled me over. It is not an easy watch, but considering the subject which is not an easy one that was appropriate. On top of being wonderfully acted and successful as a dramedy in both the comedic and dramatic aspects, 'Another Round' is enormously in its pull no punches treatment of a difficult yet crucial to address subject matter while still being accessible. Despite being incredibly positively reviewed, it is deserving of a lot more praise than it gets and was very under-rewarded at the time.

It is difficult to know when to begin with the praise, but it is an incredibly well acted film. With the best performance coming from Mikkelsen, who is beyond mesmerising in a contender for his best performance yet. Subtle yet incredibly powerful, and one that deserved a lot more award attention than it got. Everybody is never less than great, with scintillating chemistry between the quartet of actors undergoing what happens, though not quite on Mikkelsen's level. Thomas Vinterberg's direction is expertly throughout.

Furthermore, 'Another Round' is a very well made film, not lavish but the photography is very clever in showing through the roving, probing use of camera techniques how the effects and aftermath of drinking too much affects the person experiencing it. Loved how intimate some of it was too, with a lot of close ups that shows off also how great Mikkelsen is acting with his facial expressions and eye contact, but it is great showing how easy it is to identify with the quartet in question. The music has presence when used but is not overbearing.

When it comes to the writing, 'Another Round' is very thought provoking, the comedic elements are genuinely funny without trivialising the subject and the drama is scarily uncompromising in a way that's tense and devastating while making anybody going through similar think long and hard about what excessive alcohol does. Appreciated too that it showed not only what it does to those undergoing what happens but also what it does to the families of them (devastatingly done too) or anybody else involved, too many films that cover difficult, relevant topics don't do this enough or at all.

Storytelling-wise, 'Another Round' triumphs. It never felt dull to me, while also hitting hard. The climax is sensational, in ways that are uplifting, moving and inspirational, people talk about Mikkelsen's "cringe-worthy" dancing, to me it was somewhat adorable. Appreciated its showing of the alcohol limits and measurements, as that will contribute to people going through this doing something about it, this reviewer thinks, so it was something of an education.

Only one scene didn't ring true, which was towards the end with a shot of alcohol being encouraged before an exam. That struck me as unrealistic and also a very bad message for university students (university being a period where some alcoholism has stemmed from), having had an acquaintance who did go through this and the outcome was not the same one shown in the film.

Concluding, absolutely excellent film, among the better ones seen in the past year or so, that deserves to be better known. 9/10.

Alcohol

[anders-23626 · 7/10 · 18 October 2020]

An extraordinary depiction of what alchohol can and cannot do. How it can help you and how it can fail you. This movie is not a celebration of alcohol nor a "Don't you are drink that"-speach. It just pictures different aspects of alcohol with which the viewer can do as he/she wants.

Outstanding performances by the actors, especially Mads Mikkelsen.

The handheld camera, classic Thomas Vinterberg, gives a lot to the dynamic of this picture, great cinematography.

The sound department also did a great job, especially in the final scene, amazing.

Finally a big, fat thumbs up to the castingpeople and the costume designers who managed to picture Danish high school teachers and students as the actually look and behave in real life. Very realistic in that way.

booze on first

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 1 April 2021]

Thomas Vinterberg's Academy Award-nominated "Druk" ("Another Round" in English) looks at the role of alcoholic beverages in our lives, with a group of friends trying to maintain a constant blood-alcohol level. It's not a pro- or anti-alcohol movie; it simply shows the role that alcohol plays; the naturalistic cinematography adds to the tipsy feeling. Managing to cleverly fluctuate between funny and serious, the movie hits all the right notes while never turning mean. I'll be eager to see Vinterberg's next effort.

A real credit to Danish cinema.

Perfect story - Outstanding Mikkelsen

[sigurdboytang · 9/10 · 27 September 2020]

Thomas Vinterberg tells perfect stories of what alcohol can do. As a result of problems with teaching, private life, and general happiness - Four high school teachers agree to try an experiment exploring alcohol's influence. What happens when maintaining a constant promille of 0.5? Martin(Mads Mikkelsen) is the lead role, and the one we follow the most. He has an outstanding performance. The movie executes well to not have a biased opinion on drinking, but show the whole picture.

In the western world, Denmark is one of the countries with the most relaxed relationship to alcohol. The legal buying age is 16 and by high school a lot of students drink 20-50 units of alcohol a week.

MORE TRAGEDY THAN COMEDY

[writevjnow-IMDB · 6/10 · 18 February 2022]

I love Mads Mikkelsen's performances and have seen many of his movies. When I read that this was comedy, I thought "That's just what I need right now, to lift me out of this gloom that has descended upon so many of us over the last 2 years, this madness that continues and seems to evolve.

Another Round wasn't comedy for long, At about 20 minutes in, it started to be funny when four adult males, friends and teachers at the same school, agreed to test the effects of alcohol on an academic level, a study. Then it all got out of hand and that is when the comedy slid into tragedy.

I was expecting it to be a kind of didactic tale, a warning if you will, but it wasn't and the ending was a waste that, considering the circumstances of the ending, seems rather odd and out of place.

Not the best of Mads movies, sorry to say. However, on a happier note, the performances of Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe, and Magnus Millang, were stellar.