Official Competition (2021) User Reviews (40)

Good satire

[isaacochoterena · 8/10 · 24 May 2022]

This movie criticizes movie actors and directors, but from a funny perspective where satire dominates the entire movie.

This story reflects in a funny way two different types of actors, although they seem caricatured, in reality they can have that personality, it also portrays how ridiculous and pretentious some directors can be, adding some exaggerated ways of directing the actors. The story also tells how to prepare the actors to make a movie, which is interesting and works as a starting point to create an unfriendly environment between the characters. The performances are spectacular, and the script doesn't ramble into unnecessary situations, although at the beginning it may be difficult to connect with the story, the rest of the time it is very enjoyable and funny.

It's a good movie that not only serves as a distraction, but also takes us a little deeper into the process it takes to make a movie, specifically the relationship between the actors and with their characters.

satire at its finest

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 16 June 2022]

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.

Worth it!

[cpx-58435 · 8/10 · 14 October 2021]

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.

Outstanding gem of a movie, Spanish with English subtitles.

[TxMike · 16 November 2022]

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.

A lot of familiar cliches but still pretty funny

[percyporcelain · 7/10 · 6 September 2022]

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.

Outstanding

[essrezzoni · 10/10 · 8 June 2022]

I watched this movie without any previous information and what a surprise! One of the best movies and acting performances of the year.

The movie-awards scene is over the top.

I wish more movies were like this (less Marvel and more marvelous, please).

I did enjoy the film, but... (Spoilers, obviously)

[agentk-77301 · 6/10 · 16 June 2022]

Let's start with the strong points- Penelope Cruz is absolutely stunning & enjoyable in most of the movie.

My first issue with it- Stylistic/Genre editing. Why the heck people/reviewers called it a "comedy" film? It's more of a niche-trying to be wild-drama with a biiiiiiiiiit of funny moments. The editing ruined any time they tried to be funny because most of the film was edited in "Drama" style and not "Comedy" style. And when they could do a comedy style - They didn't, which ruined so many potential punch-lines.

My second issue with it - Predictable. As soon as the director read/explained the story, I KNEW the movie is going to directly reference it in the plot. Including what we saw in the ending. It was in no way subtle. I do like "predictable" endings where everything is subtly hinted so you can feel all smart for figuring it out, but this movie spoon-feeds you.

My third issue with it - Red Herring development. They tease us with the actors developing as people, starting to understand and even like each other in "rivals" sort of way, but they threw it all to the trash with a badly executed twist.

My fourth issue with it - Editing as a whole. From the middle to almost the ending, I felt lost. I stopped caring what was going on. They kept expositioning the lives of the actors in their homes, but... Why now? Why then? Shouldn't you do it and mix it in the beginning to make them more likeable?

My fifth issue with it - Some of the critique get's thrown into the trash (red herring?) - With the annoying pompous character - Ivan. I couldn't stand him. I wanted to see the change and their rivalry having any kind of fruit, but the movie purposely threw it to the trash.

I really wanted to like this film, and the only reason I give it 6 and not 4 is because I immensely enjoyed Penelope & most of the critique about the industry and actors.

A masterpiece

[samerabdallah · 9/10 · 21 February 2023]

A very original film with subtle humour. The film makers are clearly afficionados of classic art films and their work is positively influenced by masters like Luis Bunuel and Jacques Tati.

All three main actors (Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martinez) are at the top of their game. The script is brilliant and, without being didactic, is conducive to further meditation on what is acting, what is fiction and what is real. Although many films tackle the subject of "film within a film" showing the process behind the camera and the long preparations before actually shooting, "Official Competition" shows what actors' egos is really like (even the character played by Oscar Ramirez who pretends not to be interested by awards, secretly rehearses a speech in case he wins an Oscar...), and we get a glimpse into the director' s mind and vision and insistence on perfection, with doubt never too far away (brilliantly conveyed by Penelope Cruz).

A treat ! Not to be missed !

Overrated film about sibling / artist rivalry

[chong_an · 6/10 · 11 July 2022]

This movie had lots of hype, but I did not find it tremendously thrilling. Maybe I was outside the Hollywood circuit, and the subtleties went over my head.

There is this famous director directing a billionaire's ego-legacy film, that hires a famous film star, and a famous theater actor twice his age, to play a pair of similar-age brothers. The story of the film within the movie is about sibling rivalry, but there is rivalry among the two main actors. Meanwhile, the director is showing who's the boss by bullying both of them, and it seems a miracle that neither actor felt sufficiently disrespected to walk off the job.

Oh, and "Official Competition" is a misleading title, based on one scene in the movie.

A fantastic argentinian-spanish movie

[grondonamanu · 10/10 · 24 March 2022]

I think I've never laughed in the cinema as hard as I did today. The three performances were incredible, Penelope Cruz was the most impressive because I saw her in a completely different character from what she normally does. But Oscar Martínez and Antonio Banderas are also fantastic and extremely funny. Their feud during the film shows, in a very clever way, how directors usually deal with actors and actresses' egos.

Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn are truly the best filmakers Latin America can offer. Their films are exquisite. Bravo!

Catch it for the top-notch lead performances

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 5 July 2022]

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.

A film for movie lovers and actors

[thomas-leitha · 8/10 · 11 August 2022]

This movie is marketed as black comedy (it could be blacker for my taste) but it is basically a vehicle for great actors to overact, making fun of their profession but also show facets of their craft (there are many ways to say "Good Day"). On the other hand the movie draws attention to some facets of filmmaking that is usually neglectet, e. G. the importance of how sound is recorded.

We've seen many films about filmmaking and art, and this is definitely not one of the worst of its kind.

An enjoyable and twisted black comedy with three greatest Hispanic actors : Cruz , Banderas and Martínez

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 11 February 2023]

A wealthy businessman (José Luis Gómez) in search for fame and social prestige decides a new aim , to hire a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit picture. To achieve this goal, to make a unique, groundbreaking film he hires the best of the best : A stellar team consisting of famous filmmaker , the bittered , weird Lola Cuevas (Penélope Cruz) and two well-known actors who boast not only an enormous talent , but also an even bigger ego: Hollywood star Félix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) and aging theater thespian Iván Torres (Oscar Martínez) . They're both legends, but not exactly the best of friends . Through a series of increasingly hilarious tests set by Lola, Félix and Iván find themselves entangled into discorcenting and usettling experiences .

A charming and sympathetic Dramedy about a troubled shooting that goes wrong . Argentines Cohn and Duprat direct this satire on the world of art and cinema starring three of the most recognized Spanish-speaking actors worldwide : Antonio Banderas , Penelope Cruz , Oscar Martínez . As in their previous films , the pair of directors addresses in this film issues such as limits in the world of art , hypocrisy , ego , and the prejudices that some artists have against others , issues that on this occasion revolve around the film process. A nice and interesting drama/black-comedy , in which two actors , directed by an extremely rare filmmaker , must confront not only each other, but also their own legacies and resulting in fateful , unpredictable consequences . This is a nice movie containing drama , humorous elements , irony and satirical events. Here stands out the terrific acting by this great trio starring : Penelope Cruz , Antonio Banderas and a great Argentinean actor , Oscar Martinez , playing perfectly a proud and really serious actor . Oscar Martinez is considered to be the most famous Argentine actor with Ricardo Darin, Rodolfo Ranni and Dario Grandinetti. Being well accompanied an attractive support cast , such as : José Luis Gómez as a billionaire businessman , Irene Escolar as his daughter and brief appearances from Manolo Solo , Pilar Castro , Koldo Olabarri , Juan Grandinetti , Melina Matthews , among others.

The motion picture was competently directed by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn , they formerly made some decent films . As they have directed a dozen movies , with which they obtained more than thirty international awards, among which stand out The Artist (2008) , The Man Next Door (2009), The Distinguished Citizen (2016), My Masterpiece (2018) and Official Competition (2020). Their big hit was ¨El ciudadano ilustre¨ (2016) , it was No. 1 at the box office Argentine comedy of the year , getting submission of Argentina for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 89th Academy Awards in 2017 and won several prizes and nominations , such as : Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Argentina 2016 Winner Award of the Argentinean Academy Best Actor Oscar Martínez , Best Supporting Actor Dady Brieva , Best Screenplay - Original Andrés Duprat . While this Official Competitio (2021) getting a number of prizes and nominations , such as : Chicago Indie Critics Awards (CIC) 2023 Nominee Windie Best Foreign Language Film Jaume Roures ; Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards 2022 Nominee DFCC Best Screenplay Mariano Cohn ,Andrés Duprat ; Feroz Awards, ES 2023 Winner Feroz Award Best Film: Comedy ; Film Club's The Lost Weekend 2022 Winner Lost Weekend Award Best Supporting Actress Penélope Cruz ; Goya Awards 2023 Nominee Goya Best Cinematography Arnau Valls Colomer ; San Sebastián International Film Festival 2021 Nominee Sebastiane Award Best Film Mariano Cohn , Gastón Duprat; Spanish Actors Union 2022 Nominee Award of the Spanish Actors Union Best Actress in an International Production Penélope Cruz , among others.

The usual cliches

[berndgeiling · 5/10 · 11 July 2022]

I didn't find this satire acid or funny at all, the cliches around actors, their directors and the movie business are well-known meanwhile, lacking originality. Actors are presented as dumb and vain, their director as manipulative and tyrannical. We have seen all those prejudices before. The actors do their best to keep the story alive, but the result still left me unsatisfied and a bit bored.

Very meta

[CarolineFR69 · 6/10 · 25 June 2022]

A very meta film, with actors rehearsing for a movie, you see what happens before a movie happens, with a few nice twists, and amazing actors, quite nice.

A prestigious and intelligent comedy

[gemfesty · 9/10 · 16 May 2022]

Not a film for the general "mass of ignorant people with no ideas". (Sorry from the film)

Two egotistical masters of film clash under the unusual demands of an artistic director.

Wonderful wardrobe on Cruz, and very much enjoyed the set created for Ivan's home.

Bandares was great but I can't help feel an alternative casting for that role could have been much better. He has become a little predictable in his craft, brilliant but very predictable.

Absolutely worth watching.

Actors on actors.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 8 February 2024]

'Official Competition (2021)' is a satire that sets its sights on the film industry, specifically the sometimes absurd approaches different creatives (actors and directors, in this instance) take to making their art. It's not particularly biting or even all that keenly observed, and it actually doesn't say all that much about the movie business other than that it's all a bit silly if you stop to think about it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Not every picture needs to make some grand statement about its subject matter, and - though it's arguable this attempts to do that (especially as it heads towards its finale) and perhaps fails - it's nice to watch something that just makes you laugh. Although never hilarious, the feature is frequently funny and has plenty of knowing moments that will delight anybody interested in the filmmaking process. It's somewhat meta, but not overtly so, and it features three fantastic lead performances. It's a really enjoyable time, even if it could have done with a bit of tightening up in the editing room.

A Humorous Look at How the Sausage is Made

[leftbanker-1 · 10/10 · 17 May 2022]

You really should be able to judge a movie on its budget, at least to a certain degree, and although I couldn't find any financial information regarding this film, I'd guess that they could have made a few dozen gems like Competencia Oficial for what they spent on one pointless superhero movie. What did we get for this modest film that was mostly three actors literally putting on an acting clinic? First of all, I found it to be wildly entertaining at every turn. It's also a film worthy of the time of an educated adult--something that doesn't come around often these days.

This had three wonderful actors and a script, that while not original, was fun and interesting. I laughed at loud at many points in the narrative as the eccentricities of three larger-than-life personalities clash during the embryonic stages in the production of a film.* Purposefully pretentious at several points as the directors mock their own industry and the "creative" energies that go into making a movie.

I can't believe how few reviews there are for this fine movie, while an overrated dog like Licorice Pizza has 685, a mind-numbingly boring and pointless film that was slobbered over by critics...and had a big budget for some reason.

*This is where the film goes off the rails at times. They run a few of these eccentricities into the ground a bit. At 1h54m, it's a full thirty minutes too long, a fault that is almost unpardonable. Why have movies become so bloated these days? I notice this so much in recent years with streaming services carrying the bulk of movie traffic. Even if I'm watching a movie in the comfort of my own home, don't bore me with excess footage that should have been left on the floor of the editing room, or however the cut movies these days. Or do they even edit movies anymore and just let directors leave in every frame of film they shoot?

Brilliant and entertaining

[boboceaelena · 9/10 · 14 August 2022]

I didn't knew that this movie existed but fortunately I found it on HBO.

This is how you critique the society and the modern trends but still making an entertaining movie.

Really good script, acting, decor, wardrobe, lighting, image etc.

The characters are very well flashed out, you understand why they are like that, what drives them, how they mask their issues behind gestures.

I really appreciate also the part where they make you realize what is behind a movie preparation and how a small subtility in acting, lighting can create a huge difference.

oh, those stars

[cdcrb · 9/10 · 25 June 2022]

Oscar martinez holds his own against these two super stars of cinema. A woman director making a film on her own terms. Dealing with two super ego males. Much inside movie stuff and many laughs. Can't believe penelope and antonio have never worked together before. Must see.

When . . . . Will This Movie End?

[lbenot · 1/10 · 27 July 2022]

2-3 brief entertaining moments. The rest was obnoxiously simple-minded, witless, and punishingly drawn out. A tortious two hour ode to itself with a plot that could/should have been played out in 30 minutes. Subtitled for those who don't speak Spanish. Cruz's hair rates a 10, but as usual, her one-note acting - a 1.

Where's Pedro ?

[stuartbunce · 8/10 · 29 October 2022]

Good Almodovar Film.

Oh hang on its not one of his.

Could have fooled me.

I liked it. Pedro would be proud of his acolytes.

Good cinematography. The full face close ups are exactly like an Almodovar film

The mise en scene exactly like an Almodovar film.

The colour palette, the set design, the location choices, the humour, all exactly like an Almodovar film.

The casting...you know what.

All that being said, it's nice to watch an almost Almodovar film. Beats most other films made at the moment.

Come on, maybe the final joke of this film is the two directors are actually fictional characters, and really the director is Pedro Almodovar?

Not a comedy, but a great black satire - though not for everyone's taste

[dragosu · 9/10 · 15 August 2022]

Although in the comedy genre, this is not a comedy, it is really a black satire on the egos, snobbery, and ridiculeseness which takes no mercy on self-entitled geniuses that can be seen in the artistic world (I don't think it is limited to movies, and to some extent also not only to the artistic area either ;)).

It is ironical, absurd, dark and sooo entertaining (for me at least). The perfomance of the actors is really flawless. I do wonder how they felt playing in a movie like that... I hopr it was refreshing for them as well!

The story is somewhat predictable (my girlfriend guessed the ending after 20 minutes) but that doesn't reduce the entertaining value.

If you want a light comedy, this is not. If you have a darker (not black, but grey rather) sense of humour and want to see a not-sugarcoated commentary on the world around us, you might really like it.

PS for other people that seen the movie, my favourite scene is the one where someone says something like "those atemporal tribal rythms", and the following replies... that was golden!

wonderful fun, crisp and real

[darkhairedfemme · 8/10 · 3 July 2022]

Thoroughly enjoyed this...lots of light comedy, dueling egos, accurate portrayal of actors' world. Great performs by the 3 lead characters...also a twist at end, so rather profound. I pretty much ONLY watch indie arty movies and this was a light delight! Highly recco!

Best movie (of all time)(?)

[kosmasp · 10/10 · 6 July 2022]

No pun intended - actually it is what the movie itself is being called in Germany. Title wise that is - so your ticket in Germany would read or say that as a title. Kind of crazy and not nearly as subtle as the movie itself is. To be fair, the movie is not just subtle. It has a few laugh out loud moments. There was one, where another individual could not contain himself and was laughing for a minute straight - totally justifiable.

The three central performances of this movie are so good - and fresh in my memory since I watched the movie earlier today. Sublime, pitch perfect and really walking the thin line as good as humanly possible, without falling for the cliche traps ... that is quite the achievement the movie and the actors are able to ... well achieve.

Humor of course is always in the eye of the beholder and you may feel that some scenes do not work. Or that the jokes/twists (the big ones) are being telegraphed. But that is the fun in watching and exploring how it all evolves (or is it devolves?) ... tightly written and edited, the movie may be about two hours long, but never feels close to a drag or anything like that.