Tag: Lars Ranthe

Alle For Fire (2022) | REVIEW

Anders W. Berthelsen and Mick Øgendahl in Rasmus Heide’s ALLE FOR FIRE — PHOTO: NORDISK FILM.

International title: All For Four — Directed by Rasmus Heide — Screenplay by Rasmus Heide and Mick Øgendahl.

In Denmark, comedies built around a group of relative stars or established comedians are extremely popular with audiences, and one of the recent successes of these has been the Alle For (meaning ‘All for’ with the first film being All For One, the second All For Two, and so on and so forth) film series. As these comedies are about small-time criminals and their attempts to make it big, there is an obvious comparison and that is Erik Balling’s Olsen Gang film series (original title: Olsen Banden), which is a beloved and iconic Danish crime comedy film series that spawned remakes in both Norway and Sweden, as well as several spin-offs. The Olsen Gang films are some of the most popular Danish films ever, and, even though the first film was released in the 1960s, most Danish millennials even know the franchise’s formula and their iconic lines by heart. The films are laugh-out-loud funny, well-made, and always supremely well-acted by the original cast. It is clear for all to see that the filmmakers behind the Alle For films desperately want them to be this generation’s Olsen Gang, but while the Alle For films are, admittedly, extremely popular with audiences, they are constantly negatively reviewed by critics, from film to film significant members of the original cast want less and less to do with it, and neither the comedy nor the heart ever comes close to touching what Erik Balling’s films were. Alle For Fire is the latest film in the series, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t come anywhere close to improving on what came before it in the series of films.

Continue reading “Alle For Fire (2022) | REVIEW” →

REVIEW: Kærlighed for Voksne (2022)

Dar Salim plays Christian, a cheating husband, in LOVING ADULTS — Photo: NETFLIX.

Directed by Barbara Rothenborg — Screenplay by Anders Rønnow Klarlund and Jacob Weinreich.

As a Dane, I’d love to be able to say that each and every Danish film is a must-watch. But that definitely wouldn’t be true. Not every Danish film is as good as Another Round, Riders of Justice, Queen of Hearts, or Speak No Evil — to name just a few of the recent Danish hits. Now that Netflix has started to produce Danish films, one would hope that their presence in the Danish film industry would be a really good thing. It could be. It’s certainly offering new opportunities for Danish filmmakers. But based on Toscana, Against the Ice, and now Kærlighed for Voksne (int. title: Loving Adults) it is becoming clear that the streamer is having a difficult time making truly memorable Danish films. Kærlighed for Voksne doesn’t work.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Kærlighed for Voksne (2022)” →

‘The Chestnut Man’ is the Best Danish Netflix Original Thus Far – Netflix in the State of Denmark

Mikkel Boe Følsgaard & Danica Curcic, the stars of Netflix’s THE CHESTNUT MAN — Photo: SAM PRODUCTIONS.

In recent years, Netflix has gained a foothold in basically all corners of the world. As it becomes a global streaming service, Netflix is also starting to churn out local foreign language content that can grow a global audience. In recent weeks, that has happened with a show like the South Korean survival drama Squid Game, which has been compared to everything from The Hunger Games to Saw. But, of course, the most famous non-English language Netflix original series are Money Heist from Spain and Dark from Germany.

Continue reading “‘The Chestnut Man’ is the Best Danish Netflix Original Thus Far – Netflix in the State of Denmark” →

REVIEW: Druk (2020)

Danish Theatrical Release Poster – Nordisk Film

International Title: Another Round.

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt) — Screenplay by Thomas Vinterberg & Tobias Lindholm.

With Thomas Vinterberg’s Druk, or Another Round as it will be known around the world, two of the Danish film industry’s most highly regarded individuals — Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen — have re-teamed to tackle mid-life crises. Mads Mikkelsen is the Cannes Film Festival Award-winning actor who has played Hannibal Lecter, a James Bond-villain, a Marvel Cinematic Universe-villain, and a pivotal supporting character in the Star Wars spin-off film Rogue One. But, as Danish audiences know well, Mads Mikkelsen is not just a great supporting actor and villain, he is also one of his generation’s finest actors, and he constantly turns out extraordinary performances. Mikkelsen’s remarkable talent has arguably made him, to quote A. O. Scott, the face of Danish cinema. Continue reading “REVIEW: Druk (2020)” →

REVIEW: The Commune (2016)

International Release Poster - Nordisk Film
International Release Poster – Nordisk Film

The following is a quick review of Thomas Vinterberg’s The Commune (Danish Title: Kollektivet).

The Commune takes place in Denmark in the 1970s and it follows Erik (played by Ulrich Thomsen) – a lecturer who teaches architecture – and Anna (played by Trine Dyrholm) – a television newsreader – who are married to each other and have a young daughter named Freja (played by Martha Sofie Wallstrøm Hansen).

When Erik inherits a large family house, Anna suggests that they could invite friends in to live with them, as that would be the only way for them to afford to live there. Erik somewhat reluctantly accepts, but soon he feels like he has lost his connection to his wife. Soon their relationship takes a turn for the worse.  Continue reading “REVIEW: The Commune (2016)” →