Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Another Round Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 25, 2021

After trying his luck with a more spectacle-oriented tale of a submarine disaster with 2018’s “The Command” (a.k.a. “Kursk”), director Thomas Vinterberg returns to his indie roots with “Another Round.” The filmmaker goes bleak with a story concerning four men and their abuse of alcohol for therapeutic purposes, creating a screenplay (with Tobias Lindholm) that examines the state of emotional stasis facing some middle-aged men, who play an extended game of justification just to feel again. Vinterberg make a semi-return to his Dogme 95 roots with the endeavor, going raw and real with the feature, which touches on a few areas of dark comedy before returning to the messiness of people dealing with personal issues and troubled relationships. In a career full of interesting movies, “Another Round” emerges as one of Vinterberg’s finest efforts.

In Copenhagen, Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) is a history teacher who’s lost his way over the years, losing command over his students, while his marriage to Anika (Maria Bonnevie) is loveless. Martin’s friends at the school are also struggling with unfulfilling lives, with Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen), Peter (Lars Ranthe), and Nikolaj (Magnus Millang) dealing with assorted issues. During a birthday outing for Nikolaj, the foursome elects to try something different, bringing up a psychiatrist study that theorizes how raised blood alcohol levels contribute to a more satisfying life, freeing drinkers from psychological issues. Creating a report about their findings, the group begins an alcohol odyssey, with Martin soon realizing how drinking changes the way he acts, making him a more engaged educator, husband, and father. Keeping tabs on their progress with breathalyzers, the men push onward, escalating the study with harder drinks during daytime hours, unaware of the trouble they’re heading towards as they unlock deep-seated emotional issues.

“Another Round” defines Martin’s existence with welcome clarity, meeting a mild man who no longer has a zest for life. He’s a teacher without presence in the classroom, glumly educating kids who worry his rigid style might interfere with their upcoming graduation. At home, Martin is a shadow, barely paying attention to his two sons while Anika works at night, keeping the husband and wife on separate schedules. He’s lost but doesn’t quite understand it, gradually coming to the realization as Nikolaj’s birthday approaches. This detachment is recognized by his friends, who openly debate the merits of alcohol, putting a plan into motion that finds the men drinking steadily during the day, inspired by their hero Ernest Hemingway, hoping to reach some type of breakthrough as booze loosens them up, using breathalyzers to carefully monitor their progress. It’s a mission of pure recklessness, but approached scientifically by the participants, who reenter their lives as newly sauced men.

Vinterberg doesn’t make a comedy with “Another Round,” but there’s a mild amount of humor in the insane imbibing plan. The writing charts Martin’s liberation, taking swigs of booze in the bathroom, returning to the classroom a newly alert teacher with delighted, engaged pupils. He becomes a hit, also reviving domestic fires at home, insisting the family take a canoeing vacation, helping him to reconnect sexually with Anika. Tommy becomes a more alert soccer coach, connecting to a shy kid. Nikolaj and Tommy also experience changes in their life, finding it easier to deal with life’s frustrations. Bigness of spirit is noted, but the screenplay doesn’t celebrate the lifestyle, making a point to underline that what all this drinking is really doing is pulling down defenses, exposing the friends to pain they’ve been denying. For Martin, keeping the world at arm’s length has been ruinous, suddenly aware of all that’s been lost, which pushes him to drink even more.

Another Round Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.00:1 aspect ratio) presentation preserves the warmer look of "Another Round," which favors natural light and dimly lit domestic interiors, giving the feature an appealing glow at times. Crisp white school interiors are present, along with woodsy household construction. Greenery is exact and skintones look natural. Costuming offers bright primaries. Detail offers a sharp look at facial wear and tear, with the film's use of close-ups retaining textured skin particulars and greasy hair. Exteriors retain dimension as the story visits athletic fields and tours the town. Delineation is satisfactory, with some slight solidification at times. Mild banding is periodically detected.

Another Round Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dialogue exchanges are distinct during the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix, supporting emotional performances that range from hushed confessions to rowdier drunken conversations. Subtle acts of communication are easily followed, and group activity is appreciable, with hallway and classroom bustle adding some life to the surrounds. Musical offerings deliver a nice wide presence, especially choral offerings. Soundtrack selections are sharp, with crisp percussion and heavier guitars. Low-end isn't challenged, but dance beats emerge with some weight. Naturalistic atmospherics are captured as the story heads to waterfronts and parks.

Another Round Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:20, HD) is included.

Another Round Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Another Round" doesn't get into the ravages of alcoholism, sticking primarily with depression and recklessness, with Peter actively encouraging a student to take sips of vodka before a test to calm his nerves. Matters don't grow ugly in the feature, with Vinterberg more interested in self-awareness and sadness, eschewing draggy melodrama to play everything as real as possible while the story takes a few turns. He also has an outstanding cast to realize such a horrifying adventure, with Mikkelsen sensational as Martin, using subtle body language to convey a primal scream building within the character. Vinterberg and Mikkelsen generated power in 2012's "The Hunt," and the do the same in "Another Round," which has something profound to share about coping mechanisms and communication, doing so with Vinterberg's restless style and distinct Danish setting.