Official Competition

As with the previous film by the Cohn/Duprat duo The Distinguished Citizen, the funniest moments are hidden in various apt details, and it's very likely that everyone will end up laughing somewhere else. Sure, the very idea of a bit where a "non-conformist thespian intellectual" who despises awards practices publicly rejecting the Best Actor award in front of a mirror is fucking hilarious, and yet seeing it in such a static and academically oriented film suddenly feels pretty paper thin. For me, though, any passage with Irene Escolar, for example, who here perfectly captures the dreamy daughter of a millionaire trying to be an actress, is pure gold, and I kept thinking of the Spring Breakers press junkets with the bored wife of the director, Rachel Korine, trying to look focused and soulful and never getting asked any questions. But the static and consistent composition gives the film a certain irritating self-importance in places, in which it's Oscar Martínez’s character that's most fitting, because the film is told in his language. All while trying its hardest to mock him the most. But I don't think it does this intentionally. (10/08/2022)

I guess I had expected more from the movie than I ultimately got, so I was pretty disappointed. Concerning the acting performances, I can't fault the film; my issue was with the script. It seemed too thin for such a runtime, so I was sometimes bored, which was a shame because I enjoyed myself in certain moments. If the creators had maintained the whole thing at that level, I would give it a more generous rating. Both main male characters were interestingly written. While Félix was a typical star enjoying fame and everything that comes with it, Iván was a typical poser, thus more annoying. The most interesting (and entertaining) character for me was undoubtedly Lola. Penélope Cruz really stood out. But even quality actors couldn't hide that the film was largely uninteresting, so it won't get more than two stars from me. / Lesson learned: Never start a fight/brawl in the kitchen, on the stairs, on the roof, or above a tank with acid or unquenched lime. (21/01/2023)

The humor in Official Competition is absolutely brilliant. I enjoyed watching almost every scene. The magic of the movie is in its simplicity and precision. Tightly imagined characters with excellent chemistry, a well-flowing plot, chilling and funny moments, Penélope Cruz and her vicious hair, and excellent cinematography. (05/06/2022)