One of the leads is an Oscar winner.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Thursday, 28 November) is Official Competition, the acclaimed 2021 black comedy-drama starring Oscar-winner Penélope Cruz (Vicky Christina Barcelona) and Oscar-nominee Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory).
A Spanish film, it centres on two rival actors (Banderas and Oscar Martínez) pitted against each other by an ambitious director (Cruz).
“When a billionaire entrepreneur impulsively decides to create an iconic movie, he demands the best. Renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas is recruited to mastermind this ambitious endeavour,” the plot synopsis reads.
“Completing the all-star team are two actors with massive talent but even bigger egos: Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero and radical theatre actor Iván Torres. Both are legends, but not exactly best friends.
“Through a series of increasingly eccentric trials set by Lola, Félix and Iván must confront not only each other but also their own legacies. Who will be left when the cameras finally start rolling?”
Holding a very impressive 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, critics lavished praise on Official Competition for its satirical portrait of actors and filmmaking and for its fun central performances.
The movie is airing on TV tonight/tomorrow morning on Channel 4 at 12.35am.
After it airs, it should also be available to watch on Channel 4’s website.
Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:
A Matter of Life and Death / The Red Shoes – BBC Four – 8.30pm / 10.10pm
It’s a double bill of iconic movies from legendary filmmaking duo Powell and Pressburger.
Brian and Charles – Film4 – 9pm
The acclaimed British comedy-drama about a lonely inventor and the robot he makes.
US Marshals – ITV4 – 9pm
Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes star in this spin-off/standalone sequel to The Fugitive.
Grown Ups 2 – Comedy Central – 9pm
Adam Sandler and his pals headline this comedy sequel that was a hit at the box office but not with critics.
Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey – Sky Sci-Fi – 9pm
Another comedy sequel, except this time from the ’90s and starring Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves.
Under Suspicion – Legend – 9pm
Gene Hackman plays a wealthy man in Puerto Rico suspected of committing a shocking crime and Morgan Freeman is the detective investigating him in this decent thriller.
Sweeney! – Legend Xtra – 9pm
The ’70s big screen version of British cop show The Sweeney.
Blade II – DMAX – 10pm
Wesley Snipes stars again, this time as Marvel’s half human / half vampire.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Film4 – 10.50pm
The beloved comedy odyssey starring John Candy and Steve Martin.
Tales that Witness Madness – Legend Xtra – 11pm
A ’70s anthology horror movie from Britain featuring amongst its cast Donald Pleasance, Joan Collins and Kim Novak.
Crank – Legend – 11.10pm
Jason Statham stars in one of the craziest action flicks ever.
Sudden Death – ITV4 – 11.35pm
A ’90s cult favourite action flick with Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Read more:
- An epic new sci-fi series is climbing up the streaming charts
- Netflix has added a 2022 sci-fi show with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 22
- One of the best thriller movies of the decade is on TV tonight
