It is rare for me to recommend a movie without helicopter scenes, but on the Paris-JFK leg of our recent trip, I enjoyed Official Competition, a movie about a rich old guy (comically characterized as a “millionaire” and therefore rich enough to buy a tract house in South Florida?) who funds an enfant terrible director (Penélope Cruz, with spectacular hair) to make a movie from a novel by a Nobel literature winner. The director chooses a popular star (Antonio Banderas) and a brooding acting nerd (Oscar Martínez) to play brothers. The nerd actor lives in an apartment surrounded by books and plays vinyl LPs of avant garde music. He condemns the mass audience for not appreciating great art. Memorable line from an angry actor: “I’ll turn your face into a Picasso.”
All in Spanish with subtitles.
Penélope Cruz with crazy red hair? I’m in! Wait, unshaved armpits? I’m out 🙁
@Anonymous: Oh, c’mon man – it’s European: It HAS to be a little skeevy! I think since most guys (or whatever) in the audience would drink Penélope Cruz’ bath water in real life, a little pit hair wouldn’t stop them from seeing the movie. Maybe I’m crazy. Can we send her some Dorco products along with roses?
https://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Refills-Interchangeable-Cartridge-Sensitive/dp/B097NJQV2W/ref=sr_1_1_sspa
@Anonymous: BTW if you missed the “Dorco vs. Gillette” chronicles here circa 2019, just type “Dorco” into the search box. Based on that series of rigorous tests conducted by our generous and self-sacrificing host, I am still a happy Dorco customer using my trusty Pace 7.
OK I watched it via Amazon Prime. and the first thing I’ll say is that it cost an extra buck compared to most U.S. based Amazon movies ($4.99 vs. $3.99 for a 48 hour “rental”.) Despite that, I enjoyed it and don’t want to spoil the ending by talking about some of the foreshadowing, Anyone who watches it digitally could, of course, easily spoil it for themselves by skipping through to the end. But you shouldn’t. Instead watch it from end to end as it was released.
I do question why this movie is available on Amazon but other US movies are “not available in my region” but I’ll chalk that up to the machinations of the film business.
I think it mixed absurd humor with reality pretty well, and the sets and cinematography were excellent. I would watch it again with someone who hasn’t seen it, which is my minimum standard for whether or not a movie is any good at all, and this was better than that. I’ll recommend it too and save the analysis for later. Suffice to say there is enough “in there” for intellectuals to enjoy while keeping others awake and laughing.
Thank you for the suggestion! This is the first new movie I’ve watched since “No Country for Old Men.”