Anders Thomas Jensen’s ‘The Last Viking’ Opens in US After Venice Premiere
The Story
The Danish crime comedy “The Last Viking,” directed by Anders Thomas Jensen and starring Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Lie Kaas, opened Stateside today following an out-of-competition premiere at last year’s Venice Film Festival. The film blends absurdist farce with hardboiled crime thriller elements and was a substantial hit in Denmark, outgrossing Jensen’s previous directorial efforts. It was shortlisted for Denmark’s Best International Feature submission but passed over for “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.”
Key Facts
- The film follows thief Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who, after prison, finds his brother Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen) has dissociative identity disorder and believes he is John Lennon.
- Manfred hid the loot from a heist but cannot remember the location, forcing the brothers to visit their childhood home with a psychiatrist and other patients.
- Additional cast includes Sofie Gråbøl, Søren Malling, Lars Brygmann, and Bodil Jorgensen.
- The film features extreme violence and tonal shifts that the reviewer describes as “diverting but never quite enjoyable.”
- Mikkelsen’s performance is noted as drastically against-type, with a “drastically against-type performance” and “star turn in a character-actor part.”
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Anders Thomas Jensen – director and screenwriter
- Mads Mikkelsen – actor (Manfred)
- Nikolaj Lie Kaas – actor (Anker)
- Sofie Gråbøl – actor
- Søren Malling – actor
- Lars Brygmann – actor
- Bodil Jorgensen – actor
Sources: Variety
