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Official Competition

Original title: Competencia oficial
  • 2021
  • R
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz, and Oscar Martínez in Official Competition (2021)
A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit film.
Play trailer2:09
4 Videos
32 Photos
Quirky ComedySatireComedyDrama

A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit film.A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit film.A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit film.

  • Directors
    • Mariano Cohn
    • Gastón Duprat
  • Writers
    • Andrés Duprat
    • Gastón Duprat
    • Mariano Cohn
  • Stars
    • Penélope Cruz
    • Antonio Banderas
    • Oscar Martínez
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    17K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Mariano Cohn
      • Gastón Duprat
    • Writers
      • Andrés Duprat
      • Gastón Duprat
      • Mariano Cohn
    • Stars
      • Penélope Cruz
      • Antonio Banderas
      • Oscar Martínez
    • 45User reviews
    • 128Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:09
    Official Trailer
    Tráiler [OV]
    Trailer 0:53
    Tráiler [OV]
    Tráiler [OV]
    Trailer 0:53
    Tráiler [OV]
    Official Teaser
    Trailer 0:52
    Official Teaser
    Official Competition
    Trailer 2:09
    Official Competition

    Photos32

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    Top cast60

    Edit
    Penélope Cruz
    Penélope Cruz
    • Lola Cuevas
    Antonio Banderas
    Antonio Banderas
    • Félix Rivero
    Oscar Martínez
    Oscar Martínez
    • Iván Torres
    José Luis Gómez
    José Luis Gómez
    • Humberto Suárez
    Manolo Solo
    Manolo Solo
    • Matías
    Nagore Aranburu
    • Julia
    Irene Escolar
    Irene Escolar
    • Diana Suárez
    Pilar Castro
    Pilar Castro
    • Violeta
    Koldo Olabarri
    Koldo Olabarri
    • Darío
    Juan Grandinetti
    Juan Grandinetti
    • Ariel
    Jean Dominikowski
    • Coach defensa personal Félix
    Amanda Goldsmith
    Amanda Goldsmith
    • Novia Félix
    Mary Ruiz
    • Novia Félix
    María Guinea
    • Novia Félix
    Isabel García Lorca
    • Directora de arte
    Xana del Mar
    • Asistenta de arte
    Melina Matthews
    Melina Matthews
    • Directora de fotografía
    • (as Melina Mathews)
    Sue Flack
    Sue Flack
    • Directora de vestuario
    • Directors
      • Mariano Cohn
      • Gastón Duprat
    • Writers
      • Andrés Duprat
      • Gastón Duprat
      • Mariano Cohn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews45

    7.016.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8cpx-58435

    Worth it!

    It starts with a not so original theme, a movie about making a movie, but with the quality of the participants you expect something well done and this movie is up to par. It has a good pace with lots of jokes and little twists. It makes fun of everything and everyone without taking itself too seriously.
    7percyporcelain

    A lot of familiar cliches but still pretty funny

    Opinion seems to be divided here about whether this is a comedy, possibly because the humour is pretty dark. Maybe some weren't laughing because they could see the jokes coming a mile off. But I still guffawed about half a dozen times, even if the portrayal of egotistical and vain actors was familiar and a little cliched. Possibly another reason some didn't laugh so much was on account of the robust, sometimes bracing humour which doesn't kow-tow to political correctness. Some laughed at the scene in which the elderly producer's daughter, cast to keep him on side and providing finance, is basically molested by each actor and finally ravished on the floor by Penelope Cruz, but I actually found it slightly shocking and unnecessary. There's also a lot of misogyny directed at Cruz by the warring male actors, although she does play several cruel tricks on them. So not 'light' but dark comedy, I would say. Great performances all round, I especially liked Oscar Martinez.
    8ferguson-6

    satire at its finest

    Greetings again from the darkness. Satire is one of the most challenging cinematic genres to get right. The script and performances are crucial, and the director must walk a fine line between too subtle and over-the-top. The long-time collaborative filmmaking team of co-writers and co-directors Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat, along with co-writer Andres Duprat, strike just the right chord and deliver a gem that is funny, insightful, and quite entertaining. The film was well received at last year's Venice Film Festival, but is only now getting distribution.

    We open on Don Umberto Suarez (Jose Luis Gomez), a wealthy pharmaceutical businessman, as he peruses the many gifts that have arrived for his 80th birthday. He's in a reflective mood and wonders what he can do to secure his legacy so as not to be forgotten. Suarez debates between building a bridge or financing a "great" movie, one that will stand the test of time. He knows nothing of the film industry, and doesn't bother to read the best-seller book he secures the rights to. He then meets with eccentric film director Lola Cuevas (Oscar winner Penelope Cruz, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, 2008), yet seems oblivious to what we see - her vision runs contrary to his, as evidenced by her production notebook that looks like a teenager's scrapbook from summer camp. She buys in to his "best cast" demands and leaves him believing "his" film is in good hands.

    Ms. Cruz is so perfect in this role that even her giant frizzy flame-red wig is simpatico with director Lola's intense personality as an auteur. Things really take off when rehearsal begins and her two lead actors arrive. Antonio Banderas plays Felix Rivero, a global movie star who lives the rock star life with women and sports cars. He's the personality antithesis of his co-star Ivan Torres, played by Oscar Martinez, a self-absorbed stage actor who views his world as prestigious, while mocking the glitz, glamor, and money that rules Felix's world. An architecturally stunning art institute funded by Suarez serves as the rehearsal site, since it sits empty and unused.

    Felix and Ivan are to play rival brothers, and the tension that develops between the two men is hilarious ... and further spurred by Lola's acting exercises. She prods Ivan on the simple line, "Good evening", forcing him to repeat it multiple times, just as she toys with Felix on his level of intoxication (a range of 1 to 10). To increase the tension, Lola has the men rehearse underneath a giant boulder dangling overhead by crane. As the two actors battle it out for respect from the other and favoritism from Lola, the humor escalates at the same pace as egos are wounded. After scoffing at the mention of Felix's awards, Ivan secretly practices his Oscar-acceptance speech in his dressing room. It becomes clear that each of the men want what the other has: Felix wants prestige, while Ivan wants recognition.

    There are so many terrific scenes and moments here, including a foreshadowed twist and a sequence that combines industry awards, an industrial shredder, and the strength of Saran Wrap. All three lead actors are having a blast, and the supporting cast lends authenticity to this skewering of wealth, ego, art, and the film industry. Especially effective in support are Irene Escolar as Suarez's daughter who has been cast in the film, and Pilar Castro as Violetta, Ivan's equally pretentious wife. This is satire at it's finest, and the filmmakers (and Ms. Cruz) even nail the ending. Kudos to one of my favorite movies of the year.
    TxMike

    Outstanding gem of a movie, Spanish with English subtitles.

    The three stars of this movie are Penélope Cruz as famous director Lola Cuevas, Antonio Banderas as famous actor Félix Rivero, and Oscar Martínez as another famous actor Iván Torres. In a stroke of good planning the three actors also are the producers.

    A wealthy businessman turning 80 wants to be remembered for something. Maybe build a bridge and name it for him? No, he finally decides to buy the rights to a novel and have a movie made. Lola will direct, Felix and Ivan will star as the brothers in a broken family relationship.

    The two actor characters each have large egos, the title could be a reference to their competition with each other during rehearsals. But also near the end, when a news conference is being held, it is at an "official competition."

    I will not say more about the contents of the movie, suffice to say it is brilliantly scripted and executed. Some small, seemingly insignificant, things we see during the middle of the movie return to be very important as the final scenes roll. A really entertaining and thinking person's movie.

    It is in Spanish with English subtitles, which isn't my favorite way to watch a movie, but it was not difficult to both read and watch.
    7paul-allaer

    Catch it for the top-notch lead performances

    As "Official Competition" (2021 release from Spain; 115 min.) opens, the now 80 yr old ultra-rich CEO of a pharmaceutical decides that he wants to be remembered for something special. Maybe build a bridge? No, he decides to finance a movie with the best director and the best actors. Shortly thereafter he is introduced to Lola Cuevas, and she suggests ti adapt a book called "Rivalry" to the big screen, and cast the 2 best actors in the world, Felix and Ivan, in the roles of the two brothers. At this point we are 10 min into the movie.

    Couple of comments: I can't say that I was familiar with the co-directors from Argentina, Gaston Duprat and Mariano Cohn, but all you need to know about this film is that it stars Penelope Cruz (as Lula), Antonio, Antonio Banderas (as Felix), and Oscar Martinez (as Ivan). Much of the movie feels like a theater play, as the movie plays out mostly among the three of them in rehearsals for the upcoming shoot. But then the last half hour comes... Just watch! As I was watching the movie, I was debating with myself who among these three performers was going the "best" job, but in the end that is an impossible task to determine. Instead, sit back, relax and enjoy the film for these outstanding performances, nothing more, nothing less.

    "Official Competition" premiered at last yea's Venice Film Festival to immediate acclaim, and it is currently rate 94% certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie opened this weekend at my local arthouse theater here in Cincinnati. The July 4 Monday matinee show was not attended well (exactly 8 people including myself). No matter. If you are interested in a foreign movie that featuring 3 performers at the top of their game, I'd readily suggest you check this out and raw your own conclusion.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie within the movie is based on a novel by Daniel Mantovani, the main character in The Distinguished Citizen (2016), played by Oscar Martínez. Mantovani even tells the story at the beginning of the movie.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Close-Up: Drive (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Sonata no.4 Op. 7: II
      Written by Ludwig van Beethoven (as Beethoven)

      Performed by Judith Jáuregui

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    FAQ18

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 25, 2022 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Competencia oficial
    • Filming locations
      • San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA)
      • Orange
      • Radio Televisión Española (RTVE)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $593,790
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $27,150
      • Jun 19, 2022
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,732,405
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39:1

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