Another Round tests the waters of those in professional positions that are expected to maintain boundaries. Director Thomas Vinterberg transforms the Mads Mikkelsen we know from a framed predator in The Hunt (2012) to a hard-partying, satirical teacher. Another Round is a masterpiece due to how it portrays the radical behaviors as they begin and start to grow. As Mikkelsen consumes ridiculous amounts of alcohol, the laughs created are memorable. Another Round was set to be in the 2020 Cannes Film Festival.  If the festival had run, Another Round would have had its audience from across the world soaring with joy.

Another Round introduces us to four friends; Martin (Mikkelsen), Tommy (played by Thomas Bo Larsen), Nikolaj (played by Magnus Millang), and Peter (played by Lars Ranthe). All are teachers and colleagues at a Gymnasium (i.e. school) in Copenhagen, Denmark, and are at a breaking point due to facing a mid-life crisis. Then, however, they come across a discovery that having a low percent of alcohol in one’s system can lead to relaxation and creativity. This prompts them all to begin drinking consistently, testing their alcohol intake with breathalyzer tests, and living their lives to the fullest in many irresponsible and irreparable ways. As a result, disputes begin to build, and jobs are on the line.  Their increased alcohol consumption makes them feel that the party will never stop for them.

The brilliance of Another Round is how the humorous moments are also the serious moments. It is in those scenes where I found myself laughing hard, but also wondering where things are headed. The friends find theories of motivation to drink and to feel they are not in the wrong to do what they are doing. They link their decisions to connect with historical events, like Winston Churchill and World War II, which then leads them to believe their success as teachers can be impacted positively by consuming alcohol before work.  Another Round is spellbinding, because what they are doing is wrong, yet it is causing them to achieve more despite making the terrible choices as teachers.

There are some clever, unexpected twists in Another Round.  While I anticipated this film to be almost like The Hangover (2009), it is different in that the party goes on for days as do the consequences. The teachers’ motivation to keep drinking comes from what the friends think they know about their profession and history. Watching their antics kept me laughing out loud throughout the movie.

Another Round is one of those rare masterpiece films that is hard to come by. Not surprisingly, Vinterberg is one of those auteur directors with foreign films that earn tons of buzz throughout the globe. Another Round may be one of the best films I have seen him release. His clever mind paired with his ability to have actors deliver unexpected punch lines is what makes the film a pure joy. Another Round is worth the time and can be found on Music Box at Home. Four stars.

After going through another stage of cinema abstinence when most theatres in Illinois closed around thanksgiving due to COVID concerns, I was thrilled when a couple of cinemas recently reopened.  Almost immediately, I decided to go see The Marksman on the big screen. It is directed by Robert Lorenz and stars Liam Neeson. The Marksman may look like a repetitive hero film for Neeson, but it is clever and gripping due to its title, plot, and interesting twists throughout its 108-minute showing time.  The Marksman has many moments that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats wondering what conflict is around the next corner. The most intriguing element is that unlike many of Neeson’s other action films which are based on a one-day problem, the suspense in The Marksman goes on for multiple days.

Liam Neeson plays Jim, a widower and rancher living on the Arizona Border. He has different debts to pay and is trying to figure out what path is right for him in his life of solitude. All that changes when he comes across a mother and her son trying to flee from cartels along the border. He tries assist with the situation.  However, when the cartels get into a shooting spree, Jim does what he can to protect the boy and his mother, but only the son survives. This leaves Jim to make the dangerous choice to protect the boy and get him across the U.S. border where he can be with a member of his family and be safe for good. But as they make their treacherous journey with the cartels on their tail and border patrol challenges to deal with, Jim does all he can to cover his tracks and get the boy to safety. While they are being tracked, Jim becomes more resourceful.  This is when The Marksman becomes attention-grabbing, but the setup is somewhat predictable.

The cat and mouse game between Jim and the cartels is exactly what fans want. Any film that has Neeson involved in shootouts or fights to protect someone is precisely what his fans anticipate. I found the most exciting action scenes were when someone was being blindsided. for Although some seemed quite predictable, they still kept the audience wondering if things would become more dangerous or lead to more irreparable consequences.  Clearly, we are accustomed to Neeson being the hero and he continues to fit that label well.

The Marksman is a fun action film that provides viewing pleasure but is not amazing. While there is good acting and lots of action, the predictable plot makes it just a decent movie. Also, during a time when cinemas are facing financial challenges, these types of movies are what is needed to help cinemas slowly regain some business momentum.  Given the films is very commercial and has grade A actors, I give two and a half stars to The Marksman.

In Pieces of a Woman, the drama can be sensed before the tragedy happens. There are palpable communication deficiencies between husband and wife, Sean and Martha (played by Shia LaBeouf and Vanessa Kirby). When Sean says, “Penny for your thoughts,” that implies that there is tension building because they are not on the same page. Director Kornel Mundruczo utilizes many still-shots of the characters’ facial expressions to capture their inner emotions before and after the tragedy, which sets Pieces of a Woman in motion. The dramatic elements cause the film to be enticing. And the tragedy stirs the pot for more irreconcilable differences.

Sean and Martha are a couple that live in Boston. They are starting their life together as they are about to have their first baby. Martha’s mother, Elizabeth (played by Ellen Burstyn), tries to help them financially, but questions the couple’s judgement.  They decide to go the route of having a midwife for a home birth, and the midwife is Eva (played by Molly Parker). The challenging and painful process begins, but soon ends in tragedy, as the baby does not survive. This puts all the characters in a place of confusion and anger as they figure out how to navigate their lives. They are filled with emotions from the devastating tragedy and are burdened by the question of whether or not Eva is at fault. This causes Sean and Martha’s relationship to struggle, as they are unable to see eye-to-eye. Martha also struggles with her mother, as they are in the process of figuring out the legal issues with Eva and how to navigate the loss of their baby.

Pieces of a Woman displays a heavy theme of emotions that are enthralling but can also be hard to watch. As Sean and Martha try to figure out how to move forward after this loss, they begin to have resentment and constant disagreements. The emotions portrayed in the film caused me anxiety as I wondered what the outcome would be. However, I found myself more deeply connected to Marth because her family is more involved, specifically her mother. Martha’s mother pressures her to take Eva to court and tries to convince her that Sean is a dead-beat based on his past. I found that the film did not have much light, until the end when Martha finds herself.

If there were a way to define the couple’s conflicts, I would say the tragedy led to more discontent with one another. The conversations between Martha and Sean almost always fall into silence, which leaves them in solitude. Then, the film most often focuses on how Martha is feeling and thinking. She is devastated but cannot figure out what can make her life right and help her to progress after her terrible experience. Does taking Eva down in court make her happy? Does burning bridges with Sean make her issues different? Does her mother’s influence on her change the way she thinks? The film will leave you with many questions about where the light can be found, and that is why the harshness of Pieces of a Woman had me deep in thought. Three stars.