Official Competition

Name: Official Competition
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: June 17, 2022
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Carlos Hipólito, Irene Escolar, José Luis Gómez, Ken Appledorn

2022

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Official Competition (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: June 17, 2022 | NR

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Carlos Hipólito, Irene Escolar, José Luis Gómez, Ken Appledorn, Koldo Olabarri, Manolo Solo, Melina Matthews, Mónica Bardem, Nagore Aramburu, Oscar Martínez, Penélope Cruz, Pilar Castro

Summary: In search of significance and social prestige, a billionaire businessman decides to make a film to leave his mark. To do so, he hires the best: a stellar team formed by famous filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Penélope Cruz) and two renowned actors, both enormously talented, but with even bigger egos: the Hollywood actor Félix Rivero (AntonioIn search of significance and social prestige, a billionaire businessman decides to make a film to leave his mark. To do so, he hires the best: a stellar team formed by famous filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Penélope Cruz) and two renowned actors, both enormously talented, but with even bigger egos: the Hollywood actor Félix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) and radical theater thespian Iván Torres (Oscar Martínez). Both legends, but not exactly the best of friends. Through a series of increasingly eccentric challenges set by Lola, Felix and Iván must face not only each other, but also their own legacies.… Expand

Director: Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: NR

Runtime: 114 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Tara Brady

Aug 26, 2022

Everyone on screen is having a ball — albeit behind the straightest of faces — in this uproarious gallimaufry of movie-related pretentiousness. Read full review

David Fear

Jun 16, 2022

The movie would hit every bullseye it needed to even without her near-surgical deconstruction of the narcissistic monsters who scream “action” and “cut.” With Cruz’s take on artistic “genius,” however, this satire officially becomes a work of actual genius. Read full review

Slashfilm Hoai-Tran Bui

Jun 12, 2022

Cruz is the film's MVP as Lola, kookier than she's ever been, and playing well into the character's question mark of a persona — is she a true auteur or a hack? You never really find out, but watching Lola become increasingly disillusioned with the whole project makes her the closest we get to a relatable character in this whole heightened satire. Read full review

The Observer (UK) Wendy Ide

Aug 28, 2022

It dismantles the lofty ambitions of cinema as great, important and significant, a monument on the cultural landscape. Instead, it shows us art for ego’s sake, and it has a lot of wickedly spiteful fun doing so. Read full review

Mark Keizer

Jun 15, 2022

Consistently amusing, if about a reel too long, it’s a tightly controlled, low-boil send-up of the acting process. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Jun 27, 2022

Argentine filmmakers Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn (who wrote the film in collaboration with Duprat’s brother, Andrés) direct Official Competition with a sophisticated understanding of its tone, which is essentially realistic and deadpan. The world isn’t crazy, just the people in it. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

May 7, 2022

As a fan of Cohn and Duprat’s tighter, darker previous collaborations I was keenly aware of the passage of screen time and slack pacing here. “Official Competition” feels like an 80 minute spoof bundled in the gauze of a 115 minute film. Read full review

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User Reviews

Mlottman

Jul 5, 2022

Huge fun! See it in a movie theater, where the contrast between grand architectural spaces and wry farce ramps up the humor.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ODballin11

Aug 31, 2022

Bravo

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kikedvs

Jun 21, 2022

Penélope is amazing. Great movie and so funny. I love movies about cinema.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

katezoe

Aug 7, 2022

If you are movie fan you must see this satirical look the film industry, actors, directors, producers, etc.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alanpotter17

Nov 9, 2022

O tom metalinguístico, a competição entre a cultura de massa e erudita, os três atores em performances perfeitas, a trilha silenciosa e crua quase o tempo todo... É como se fosse o "Um ponto de mutação" da cinefilia.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LisaLR1

Jul 10, 2022

OFFICIAL COMPETITION offers a satirical look into the making of a movie involving all its egos and eccentricities. A wealthy businessman at the twilight of his life and career decides to leave his legacy by producing a film. He hires well known director Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz), known forOFFICIAL COMPETITION offers a satirical look into the making of a movie involving all its egos and eccentricities. A wealthy businessman at the twilight of his life and career decides to leave his legacy by producing a film. He hires well known director Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz), known for her eccentric filmmaking style, to direct his movie. Lola chooses 2 leading men to headline the movie, the famous, pretentious film actor Felix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) and seasoned theater actor and acting teacher Ivan Torres (Oscar Martinez). What follows are funny, satirical pokes at the trials, tribulations, quirky rehearsals and ever looming egos involved in the world of cinema and filmmaking. OFFICIAL COMPETITION is an intelligent film, offers smooth comedic timing with masterful performances and great chemistry between actors Cruz, Banderas and Martinez.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Mauro_Lanari

Sep 2, 2022

(Mauro Lanari)
"Irresistible laughs", "hilarious comedy, "refined wit", "gem of divertissement", "poisonous, sour and ferocious satire", "arsenic badness", "caustic sarcasm": where, how, when? Metacinema that dilutes, in lengthness and in a gaunt "Dogma"-like setting, small smiles and some(Mauro Lanari)
"Irresistible laughs", "hilarious comedy, "refined wit", "gem of divertissement", "poisonous, sour and ferocious satire", "arsenic badness", "caustic sarcasm": where, how, when? Metacinema that dilutes, in lengthness and in a gaunt "Dogma"-like setting, small smiles and some flashes of grotesque irony.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS