Mads Mikkelsen – an ode to.. The Actor

Mads Mikkelsen – The subtle powerhouse.

Most of us who know or recognize Mads Mikkelsen probably know him as the blood-crying villain Le Chiffe from Casino Royale. To be honest, this is certainly where I first noticed him as well. Since then I have taken to watching everything he is in (with the obvious exception of the new Three Musketeers) with enthusiasm. He does what most actors strive to do, and seems to do it effortlessly, which is to appear as if he is not acting at all. He also does something that is rarely seen, which is appearing to listen to what he is actually saying, while he says it. Most actors, even the best, seem to recite their lines on point without much contemplation of what they are saying. Mikkelsen seems to listen to himself and contemplate what is coming out of his mouth, as it exits. It is as if his lines are not even scripted, simply natural manifestations of his characters. His approach to all of his roles, even that of a cold blooded killer in Flame & Citroen is thoughtful and restrained, measured and even.

Mads hails from Denmark, a country that puts out a lot of good small, independent films. The three highlights of his career are listed below.

Casino Royale, and Mikkelsen in it, made me re-think the Bond franchise and how I saw 007. Prague and After the Wedding made me rethink how I saw myself, my life, and the people in it. If you haven’t already, check ‘em out.

The Green Butchers (2003),
Svend and Bjarne work for a butcher in a small Danish town. Fed up with their boss’ arrogance, they decide to start their own butcher shop. After dismal beginnings, an unfortunate accident happens which coincides with a large order of meat. One hasty decision leads to another and soon the business thrives. In the meantime, Bjarne has to deal with his twin brother who has been in coma for years following a gruesome car accident.

After The Wedding (2006)
Jacob Petersen’s (Mads Mikkelsen) life is dedicated to helping street children in India, and when the orphanage he leads may be foreclosed, he receives an interesting offer. A businessman offers Jacob four million dollars, with a few conditions. Jacob mustreturn to Denmark and take part in the wedding for the man’s daughter. This wedding is a crucial meeting of past and future and throws Jacob into the most intense dilemma of his life.

Prague (2006)
Christoffer and Maja’s trip to Prague to bring back Chistoffers deceased father, evolves into the story of a brake-up. With the dead father lurking in the background, secrets gradually emerge threatening to destroy their marriage.