Mads

When I left behind my hippie-wannabe pseudo-intellectual ways as I left Ann Arbor for the first time, I also left behind my taste for foreign movies (called “international” these days).  It was the mid-70s and Hollywood was still in its heyday, with Star Wars, Bonnie and Clyde, Flashdance, Carrie, Alien, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, The Exorcist, French Connection, Jaws, Close Encounters, The Deer Hunter, Animal House, Play Misty for Me, Little Big Man, Saturday Night Fever, Rocky, Nashville, All the Jazz, Being There, Coming Home, Shampoo, Kramer vs Kramer, Breaking Away (go Hoosiers!), Superman, Smoky and the Bandit, Every Which Way but Loose, Network, and so on.  Yes, I saw ‘em all.

Hard to say when the quality of American movies began to decline, but it’s no doubt they’re in the gutter these days.  Kathy and I haven’t been out to a movie for over a year and a half, when we ventured to Jackson to see Dennis Quaid’s portrayal of “Reagan”.  And nothing on the small screen, as the only thing close to a “streaming” service we pay for is Amazon Prime.  Our big TV stays cold for anything but Michigan football games.

About the only time I might catch a movie is on a plane.  Back-of-seat screens and airbuds don’t exactly replicate the movie palace experience, but you can see the flick o.k., and there’s always a huge directory.  But it’s like the old Springsteen tune “57 channels (and nothing on”)(1).  But sometimes you get lucky.  Scrolling through one time, I happened on a panel for “Another Round”, featuring a tall ruggedly handsome actor I’d never seen before taking a deep pull on an upturned champagne bottle.  

I learned from the info tile this was Danish film Druk.  “Druk” translates roughly as “binge drinking”.  The plot involves 4 middle-aged male schoolteachers who decide to test the theory of Norwegian psychiatrist Finn Skårderud: that humans are born with a blood alcohol content (BAC) deficiency of 0.05% and that maintaining a BAC of 0.05% makes one more creative and relaxed.  It won the Oscar for best International film in 2021.  Here’s the trailer if you’re curious (2).

While the movie is always engaging while ripping your emotions right and left, one key to its appeal is Danish dancer turned actor Mads Mikkelsen (3).  Follow his arc from sad, bored schoolteacher to ecstatic survivor and try not to love the guy.  I may have sent my friend Angie too many YouTubes of him, as she accuses me now of having a man crush.  If the shoe fits!

No, this movie won’t drive you to debauchery.  If anything, you might decide to temper your own consumption.  Should you wish to test Dr. Skårderud’s theory, you’ll need your own breathalyzer (4).  Even though the New Year is entering its second week, I’m sure you can shoehorn that into your resolutions somehow.

But don’t take my word for it.  See the movie!  It’s up for FREE on YouTube (5).  Great expenditure of time and you’ll surely get your money’s worth.  Be careful trying to mimic some of Mads’ moves!

References

1. Keith “Hollywood” Sousa.  57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN’ ON) – Bruce Springsteen – w/lyrics. YouTube 8/11/15. https://youtu.be/ZPEKbXNYWwE?si=CHtn0gM-9BTenD_V

2. StudiocanalUK.  Another Round | Official Trailer | Starring Mads Mikkelsen.  YouTube 9/21/20. https://youtu.be/40X5EX6Us7c?si=9j6M0QGEk2HEBmML

3. BabaYaga.  Mads Mikkelsen – Big Bad Handsome Man. YouTube https://youtu.be/ewoJ2iywSr4?si=NFAkN23QnVICCDcf

4. breathalyzer.  Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=breathalyzer&crid=2AQ2UI7TOO0XP&sprefix=breathalyzer%2Caps%2C266&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_ci_hl-bn-left_1_12

5. YouTube Movies & TV.  Another Round.  YouTube https://youtu.be/Qbl89-pUyuQ?si=R11U-d2Ov7Ex2DAS