Alternate Best Actor 2002: Mads Mikkelsen in Open Hearts

Mads Mikkelsen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Niels in Open Hearts.

Opens Hearts tells the intertwined lives of two couples created after an accident.

Well in a bit of a reworking of this year's lineup I've decided to hold off on Timothy Spall's work in All or Nothing, where I have to describe him as supporting for the said to supporting work of Mikkelsen here, who I must describe as lead. This is while the film gives time for all four parties, that is those being cheated on and the adulterers, the latter is the focus, with Mikkelsen's doctor almost taking the major focus later on in the film. Anyway I think this can continue off my review of Hiroyuki Sanada's work, as Mikkelsen is another actor somewhat wasted in the world of Hollywood, not to the extent of the former, but still notable. I think this falls into the unfortunate Hollywood mentality where apparently if you have a European accent you must be evil. This unfortunately doesn't give Mikkelsen enough of a chance to show of his ability in multiple types of roles, such as this fairly low key one here. This in playing the doctor to, and husband of the person who ran over, a man Joachim who becomes bitter as a tetraplegic. In turn he meets the man's financee Cecile (Sonja Richter), whom he takes a liking to. This being an example of Mikkelsen excelling as the normal man. This in portraying initially just this general likability within the films purposefully overtly reality based style. Mikkelsen thrives in this normalcy in presenting just an ease onscreen and in particular an earnest charm that is never too much but importantly never too little in making the doctor just a sympathetic man.

The man though that falls into an affair with Cecile which Mikkelsen excels in portraying in avoiding extreme cliche. This in presenting the man just naturally coming together with her in the moment, and portraying the complexity after their initial tryst. This in the shyness he brings as he speaks that it is the first time he has cheated on his wife, and captures in the moment his affection for the woman he just had sex with along with though the embarrassment for the betrayal of the situation. Mikkelsen's work is remarkable in how tangible he makes every element of the situation within his performance. This that he strictly ever avoids melodrama within Niels's manner at every point. This being entirely convincing in portraying the genuine moments of affection with Cecile, though being just honest and vulnerable as he is confronted by his wife. Mikkelsen is great in how much he downplays these moments in just showing in his reactions the man pulling within himself and accentuating the shame that overwhelms the man. My favorite scene of the film actually is after Niels moves out for some time from his family to be with Cecile though coming back to visit his kids for Christmas. Mikkelsen is outstanding in the scene because he very much articulates the difficultly of the situation within Niels, without forgetting a single complication. This in that he finds an a real warmth in his moments with his kids showing that Niels is genuinely loving towards them. This though even towards his wife though that captures the underlying tension that still exists.

This though when pressed about his affair, Mikkelsen is great in his expression that captures again the palatable shame of his existence. This though again not simplifying it as he shows a believable sense of the man living with that shame though evidently still of course pained by it when pressed to really look upon the duality of his life. This with the forces of his family he still cares about out against his affair that he's in part forgotten them for. Although the film does cover other facets of the situation the most compelling moments are consistently the depiction of Niels's failing marriage. A great deal of this is Mikkelsen's work that manages to so effortlessly create the reality of the situation. This finding artfully what can be found in the real degradation that is created within Niels as even the affair begins to struggle. Mikkelsen's work is heartbreaking in crafting every moment with just pure honesty of this normal man dealing with the harsh situation. This moment of lashing out against her, with just a distraught pain of a man realizing his mistakes as the "perfection" of the relationship falls apart. Mikkelsen crafts every moment of the man's reality that is potent with emotion yet never feels forced or inconsistent with overall design of the film. It again shows his great ability to portray just a normal man going through a difficult situation. Mikkelsen's work here is example of his incredible range which is rarely touched upon in this way in his international work. This in one of his greatest assets being his ability to portray such intimate vulnerability so potently.