Two films — “Another Round” and “No Man’s Land” — open Jan. 29 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.
“Another Round” is a fun, moving, life-affirming and thought-provoking drama about friendship, freedom, love and alcohol.
Four friends, all teachers at various stages of middle age, are stuck in a rut. Unable to share their passions either at school or at home, they embark on an audacious experiment from an obscure philosopher: to see if a constant level of alcohol in their blood will help them find greater freedom and happiness. At first they each find a new- found zest, but as the gang pushes their experiment further, issues that have been simmering for years come to a head and the men are faced with a choice: reckon with their behavior or continue on the same course.
Underscored by delicate and affecting camerawork, director Thomas Vinterberg’s spry script, co-written with regular collaborator Tobias Lindholm, uses this bold premise to explore the euphoria and pain of an unbridled life. Playing a once brilliant but now world-weary shell of a man, the ever surprising Mads Mikkelsen delivers a fierce and touching performance.
“Another Round” is showing at the Ross through Feb. 11.
“No Man’s Land” is a modern Western inspired by the real-life “no man’s land” areas along the Texas-Mexico border.
Border vigilante Bill Greer (Frank Grillo) and his son Jackson (Jake Allyn) are on patrol when Jackson accidentally kills a Mexican immigrant boy. Bill tries to take the blame, but Texas Ranger Ramirez (George Lopez) sees through the lie, spurring Jackson to flee south on horseback across the Rio Grande to become a gringo “illegal alien” in Mexico. Chased by Texas Rangers and Mexican Federal Police, Jackson journeys across deserts and mountains to seek forgiveness from the dead boy’s vengeful father, as he falls in love with the land he was taught to hate.
“No Man’s Land,” which has been rated PG-13, is showing at the Ross through Feb. 11.
Show times are available on the Ross website or by calling 402-472-5353.
