Mads Mikkelsen did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a BAFTA, for portraying Martin in Another Round.
Another Round is a brilliant film about 4 teacher friends who decide to increase their daytime alcoholic consumption in a "science experiment".
This film marks the return of the collaboration between director Thomas Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen, which if they do this a few more times they could become one of the all time great actor/director combos. Anyway, like their brilliant The Hunt, we follow Mikkelsen as a teacher going through a rather different situation, though this one far more pleasant by just any measure for his character. His character here, though once again an average teacher, is quite a bit different particularly in the execution of it by Mikkelsen. We actually open here in the midst of Mikkelsen giving one of his least charismatic performances. This is notable as Mikkelsen makes an impression pretty easily, but this is entirely within the intention of this performance. This as Mikkelsen gives an extremely realistic portrayal of a man stuck in a rut. We see him at school where he delivers his lesson with at best a minor disinterest. His delivery is just fumbling around and his whole manner is just a bored man. At home Mikkelsen shows Martin as just passively existing. Speaking to his wife Anika (Maria Bonnevie), who is working a suspicious amount of night shifts, and his family, he barely even looks at them. He rather just is looking down and just going truly through the motions with every word. There is no excitement within his Martin or in any way around, he's just going through what he thinks is his life at this point, without a real hint of enthusiasm towards it.
We get but a minor reprieve as he celebrates one of his friend's birthday, with his 3 other coworker/teacher friends, Peter (Lars Ranthe), Nikolaj (Magnus Millang), and his oldest friend Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen). There's just a glint of happiness upon his expression that Mikkelsen suggests in his interactions with his friends albeit minor. We do get a great hint of their chemistry as Mikkelsen speaks so truthfully in his quiet delivery of the man speaking of his insecurities regarding his relationship with his wife. Mikkelsen just delivers as this pondering thought of a man even too distant to even think anything more on the idea. I love though the chemistry here, which is an essential, brilliant, factor throughout the film, between the four actors. The sense of concern of the other men as Martin speaks these words is truly heartwarming, and the men try to take his mind off it, by changing the subject and actually having some fun. This leading to the discussion of a theory that everyone should have a degree of alcohol in their system for the benefit of mankind, leading Martin to finally join in his friends' drinking. Mikkelsen is terrific in the way we see him just easing up a bit of the man's tensions and starting to actually have some fun with the other guys. This something the film excels with as the sense of friendship feels absolutely authentic, and you feel as though you as the viewer are just hanging out with these guys. This as they create the sense of camaraderie in their interactions, and the as important sense of the fun they have together in this night.
After this time we follow Martin as he begins to drink at work. Mikkelsen portraying initially this certain mischievousness in it, this kind of "Why not" that seems natural to the man in such a desperate kind of boredom and disinterest. Mikkelsen is wonderful in portraying this level of drunkenness that suddenly carries a sharper smile and just general affability. This leading the four friends to come up with a plan to start drinking during work as a kind of science experiment to see if it will improve their lives. Most films, dramas at least, about alcohol take a wholly negative view of its implications, this film is rare as it doesn't mind showing some positive effects of this experiment. This as Mikkelsen reveals perhaps the old Martin as the now inebriated man takes on his class. Now Mikkelsen unleashes his full charisma in a lesson where he is not only loving the experience everyone else is taking to it as well. Mikkelsen's performance is infectious in the energy he brings, and shows in this moment someone absolutely loving his job. There is such a joy in his teaching that it is hard not to feel everything that Martin is feeling. Mikkelsen making it so pure in this sense and just creating the real sense of the man breaking from that claustrophobic state of mind. We follow this with Martin at home as well, where Mikkelsen just shows a man so happy to talk with his wife, his family, and just creates this endearing sense of man truly grasping what he has rather than taking it for granted. Mikkelsen so powerfully realizing the joys of life, in his performance that captures it so perfectly.
We follow then as each of the men continue to drink, and while there are some minor set backs here and there, the successes of the four seem real at first. This amplified by the performances of all four actors. This as each create such an empathy for each situation, but also create the sense of the group's joy of togetherness. We see the moments of them supporting each other, which are truly moving. This in just even the way the actors move as a group, you get the love and warmth of every interaction, to the point it is hard not to want to hang around with these guys, with the joy they exude. We see though the process of this, as positive as it is at first, begins to exhibit some less positive effects. What's great is the balance within the performances of showing this particular descent, mush like a night of drinking where one maybe says "Another Round" one too many times. This as we do get that sense of fun at first even as those around the men becomes suspicious of their activity or at least question it. The longer this goes the sloppier all the men get within this regard. This as we see their lax standards and even intentions in a certain sense. They are still having a good time, however it is becoming more insular and quite frankly less appealing after a certain point. This suggesting all the men kind of losing the perspective on the whole situation and we see the possibility of true alcoholism developing. This as the drinking appears to be taking over beyond themselves, and all four are great in just showing this process so naturally. It is never all at once, as they avoid easy melodrama to present it as a natural progression, or perhaps better described as degradation.
In terms of Martin's personal degradation we see, after the period of betterment with his family, the fall from it as his wife confronts him over his seeming alcoholism but also just the period of a man who was no longer present. Mikkelsen is downright amazing in this scene as he is one of the greatest performers in terms of turning on desperate and pained emotion so quickly, naturally and potently. This as his reaction as Martin asks his wife if she is having an affair, speaks towards such a terrible anxiety in the man, and shows so effectively the sheer desperation that grips the man once he considers this possibility. After this point we see Martin going along with the other guys, however even the drinking now seems to bring little to the man in terms of joy. There being a particularly wonderful moment where Martin visits Tommy, the latter whom basically encourages Martin to try to fix things with his wife, and to avoid Tommy's fate as basically a lonely bachelor. The chemistry between the two is next level this as you sense such authenticity in this moment of the two speaking with a simple honesty to one another. The near alcoholic diagnosis leading to eventually for the men to enter a period of sobriety. This though in the film presenting really the need of Martin to basically have broken out of the wall he created for himself, however while alcohol aided in this, it was really the break that was more essential then anything. Mikkelsen then offers basically what the film seems to be suggesting, which is a need for moderation more than anything in life. This as Mikkelsen shows a man who is no longer just getting by being drunk, but now seems to have a sense of himself and those around him.
We have a beautiful moment where Martin visits with his wife after they have separated. Where his wife thinks they're done, Mikkelsen brings so much tenderness within his gentle way of speaking for the two of them having another chance. Mikkelsen showing a man pushing himself outward and trying to truly connect with his wife again. We follow that as the downtrodden Tommy dies, having been unable to give up the alcohol, and Mikkelsen's reaction to the news is truly moving in showing the simple sadness that overtakes Martin in remembering his friend. Now it is here perhaps where the film becomes such a favorite of mine, as it achieves kind of the It's a Wonderful Life. This film finds a similar kind of path there, by creating a truly bittersweet ending. The film ends on an uplifting note, however you real feel the trials that got us there. The particular path earning that happiness, and a major reason why being Mikkelsen's performance. His performance that brings forth this genuine exploration of a man really examining and coming back to his life, having another round, after having fallen into the doldrums. I'll admit I was practically cheering when Martin finally gets a text from his wife suggesting the potential for them to rekindle their romance, this as Mikkelsen's work so truthfully just presented the intimate details of this kind of unlikely path to redemption. As heartwarming as that moment is, it is nothing compared to the glorious climax of the film. This as the three men go from mourning Tommy to celebrating with their students who successfully graduated from school. This leading to Martin, who was said to have a background in dancing, to finally cut a rug within the large celebration on a pier. Now I didn't know this, but I need Mads Mikkelsen to dance at the end of every single on of his films. This as it is just an amazing display here as he shows a man so fully embracing life now in every step that is this perfect combination of drunken manner and precise movements. Mikkelsen in this though showing a man finding balance, and wholly jumping head first into where life will lead him. I adore every second of this performance. This as he creates such an empathetic and tangible portrayal of this unlikely journey of his Martin. He simply lets us meet Martin, his friends, and lead us with them through all their pains but also all their joys.
