Penélope Cruz
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Antonio Banderas
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Oscar Martínez
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Irene Escolar
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Melina Matthews
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Pilar Castro
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Manolo Solo
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Carlos Hipólito
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Karina Kolokolchykova
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Koldo Olabarri
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Ken Appledorn
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José Luis Gómez
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Penélope Cruz | Antonio Banderas | Oscar Martínez | |||
Irene Escolar | Melina Matthews | Pilar Castro | |||
Manolo Solo | Carlos Hipólito | Karina Kolokolchykova | |||
Koldo Olabarri | Ken Appledorn | José Luis Gómez |
Penélope Cruz | Antonio Banderas | ||
Oscar Martínez | Irene Escolar | ||
Melina Matthews | Pilar Castro | ||
Manolo Solo | Carlos Hipólito | ||
Karina Kolokolchykova | Koldo Olabarri | ||
Ken Appledorn | José Luis Gómez |
Alternating between exacerbating the actors’ mutual antipathy and uniting them in their discomfort with her psychologically tumultuous rehearsal techniques, Lola seeks to capture the drama of two alpha males vying for the limelight – but it won’t be long before the gambit goes off the rails.
Awash in egomania and deliciously absurd behind-the-scenes hijinx, Argentine writer-directors Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat’s Official Competition is an ingenious, icy satire. Largely a chamber piece, the film provides its central trio with ample opportunity for both vulnerability and scenery chewing. Martinez deftly reveals the childish wounds underlying Iván’s high ideals, while Banderas utilises his star power to craft a portrait of a man consumed by his own celebrity. But it’s Cruz, sporting a magnificent cloud of ginger curls, who becomes the film’s anchor as a master manipulator looking on as her grand scheme spirals out of control.