Another Round
Following up their Academy Award Nominated 2012 collaboration The Hunt, Danish film director Thomas Vinterberg and actor Mads Mikkelsen return to each other with Another Round. Inspired by a fictionalised theory that humans have an alcohol deficit of 0.05% in their blood which, when met, will unlock the full potential of the human brain in creativity and inspiration, 4 teachers decide to test this idea out on themselves and write a paper capturing their results along the way. What starts as an innocent experiment of keeping themselves drunk as often as possible slowly sees each man make their own breakthroughs and sacrifices as consequences ranging from genius lessons for the classroom to lives falling apart are found.
Whilst on the outside it would seem that Another Round would carry the identity of an anti-alcohol feature that is destined to show the toxic and lasting effects the substance can have on individuals, the actual viewing experience of the film feels much different. Despite not being afraid to show the tragic consequences and dangers alcohol can have, for the vast majority of the 110-minute runtime, Another Round stands as an almost celebration of the freedom and joy alcohol can give. To an almost manic degree at times, Another Round captures the freedom both in thought and emotion that alcohol can give individuals – which is why plenty drink in the first place – better than any film before. The film is clear in its message that alcohol is a complex piece of the human experience, and though it absolutely can be used for harm, that doesn't completely invalidate the positives of the experience. It is a fine line when it comes to a message that will undoubtedly rub certain parties the wrong way, but Another Round stands confidently in its honest expression of the subject it is attempting to capture.
This expression of unfiltered euphoria is felt in every crevice of the film. The editing from Janus Billeskov Jansen and Anne Østerud is subtle enough to feel natural while also being crafted enough to transport even the soberest of audiences into the mindset and perspective of a drunken elation, which when put alongside the incredibly smart cinematography from Sturla Brandth Grøvlen – who is having a truly incredible year – creates an experience that is cinematic yet honest. This sentiment is equally shared with the actors that bring these complex yet raw emotions to life. Though it might come as no surprise that Mads Mikkelsen is able to effortlessly hold the audience in the palm of his hands as he balances the joyful experience and cruel aftermath of his drunken adventures, the cast around him more than holds their own. Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe and Magnus Millang help bring these characters to life with not just endless charisma and chemistry but also with the ability to be reflective and thoughtful whenever the screenplay demands it.
It is in this visceral feeling that Another Round creates where the film succeeds to the largest degree. It is clear that the feature is capturing an honest expression and experience that most humans can relate to. For most, it will be nearly impossible not to connect with the film on some deeper and more emotional degree because of this. However, it is when the film attempts to find a more crafted and thought out thesis that it begins to falter. The screenplay from Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm feels consistently confused whenever it has to try and say something of true value within the film's drunken bender. The immediate mistake was using a fictionalised theology as a catalyst to show the positives of drinking. Whilst the film ultimately doesn't define the joy and breakthroughs of drinking with this idea that humans have an alcohol deficit of 0.05% in their blood, it feels clearly distracted by it. With no scientific backing or weight within the real world, this mindset immediately feels out of place and worthless. As the characters speculate and debate the ultimate value of alcohol, the root of the conversation is clearly disconnected from reality making the entire conversation feel unstable and drastically less important than it would otherwise. Plenty of the positives of drinking showcased in the film also feel devalued to a point due to the film's attribution of the results to this fictional idea.
The film is often caught in a strange and unneeded cross-section between validating and criticising an overabundant use of alcohol. Whilst it would be completely respectable for the film to refuse to fully commit to one side, it ultimately has to restrain itself thematically at multiple points to keep this debate as unbiased as possible. Rather than being able to fully appreciate the weight of the tragic results these men ultimately face because of their actions or fully appreciate the positives they experience, the film feels like it has to consistently keep one hand in each pot, never allowing either side of its conversation to feel fully fleshed out. Though this doesn't ruin any of these emotions or invalidate Another Round's emotional power as a whole, it undeniably holds it back from being as impactful and bold as it could be. Rather than making a truly bold statement regarding the personal justification of negatives to find positives or, alternatively, a sacrifice of positives to hide from potential negatives, it feels like it drastically lacks the boldness and, therefore, the confidence to really stand out as memorable and important.
Another Round works best as an experience to feel rather than an experience to analyse or really think about under a critical lens. The film features incredibly solid filmmaking when it comes to capturing the inexplicable emotions – both positive and negative – tied to alcohol but struggles to craft a thesis worthy of this filmmaking ability. To a disappointing degree, rather than just letting the audience feel the emotions within the film to find a deeper thesis, the film insists on having its voice heard even when that voice feels confused and disappointing. Another Round is far from a bad film and is ultimately worth checking out, but it also is rather forgettable at the same time.
