The Great Vazquez

2010 Spanish film
The Great Vazquez
Theatrical release poster
SpanishEl gran Vázquez
Directed byÓscar Aibar
Written byÓscar Aibar
Produced by
  • Gerardo Herrero
  • Miriam Porté
Starring
CinematographyMario Montero
Edited byFernando Pardo
Music byNacho Mastretta
Production
companies
  • Tornasol Films
  • Distinto Films
  • Castafiore Films
Distributed byAlta Classics
Release dates
  • September 2010 (2010-09) (SSIFF)
  • 24 September 2010 (2010-09-24) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

The Great Vazquez (Spanish: El gran Vázquez) is a 2010 Spanish biographical comedy-drama film directed and written by Óscar Aibar which stars Santiago Segura as the title character alongside Álex Angulo, Mercè Llorens and Enrique Villén.

Plot

Set in 1960s Barcelona,[1] the plot follows the vicissitudes of Vázquez, a cartoonist and wastrel whose rogue way of living is threatened by the arrival of a foe, Peláez, an accountant hellbent on setting things right in the publishing house.[2][3]

Cast

Production

The film is a Distinto Films, Tornasol Films and Castafiore Films production, with the participation of TVE, TVC and Canal+ España.[7] Shooting locations included Barcelona and the Ciudad de la Luz studio in Alicante.[8][9]

Release

The Great Vazquez was presented at the 58th San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2010, screened as part of the festival's main competition.[10] It was theatrically released in Spain on 24 September 2010.[6]

Reception

In the view of Mark Adams, of ScreenDaily, the film constitutes "a delightful mixture of genial period comedy mixed with comic strip characters bouncing out of the screen".[5]

Carlos Marañón of Cinemanía gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, presenting it as a "Lopezvazquez-esque version of Catch Me If You Can full of city guards", considering that the imbrication of the setting with the lead character's spirit is so-so, while the supporting cast performs well.[11]

Sergi Sánchez of Fotogramas score 3 out of 5 stars, considering that the "faithful portrayal" of the working environment in Franco era and Santiago Segura's "spectacular performance", balancing "tenderness and cynicism", make the film a "pleasant surprise", while considering the animated segments to be "expendable".[12]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2011 3rd Gaudí Awards Best Non-Catalan Language Film Nominated [13]
Best Costume Design Maria Gil, Sonia Segura Nominated
Best Special/Digital Effects Josep Maria Aragonés Nominated
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Blanca Sánchez, Pepe Quetglas Nominated
25th Goya Awards Best Supporting Actor Álex Angulo Nominated [14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "'Versión Española' estrena 'El gran Vázquez', de Óscar Aibar". rtve.es. 19 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Ciudad de la Luz presenta el rodaje de 'El gran Vázquez'". El Periòdic. 18 November 2009.
  3. ^ Brito, Sara (18 September 2010). "Segura vuelve a vestirse de pícaro. El actor interpreta a Manuel Vázquez en un biopic de Óscar Aibar que compite por la Concha de Oro". Público.
  4. ^ a b c d e Maldivia, Beatriz (27 September 2010). "'El gran Vázquez', un gran sinvergüenza". Espinof.
  5. ^ a b c d e Adams, Mark (22 September 2010). "The Great Vazquez (El Gran Vazquez)". ScreenDaily.
  6. ^ a b c d Caviaro, Juan Luis (24 September 2010). "Estrenos de cine | 24 de septiembre | La semana de Julia Roberts... y del regreso de 'Avatar'". Espinof.
  7. ^ "Catalan Films & TV presenta 13 films a compradors internacionals". Cultura21. 15 November 2010.
  8. ^ "El Gran Vázquez". Acadèmia del Cine Català. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Santiago Segura inicia el rodaje en Alicante de 'El Gran Vázquez'". Las Provincias. 19 November 2009.
  10. ^ Puyó, Carmen (19 September 2010). "'El gran Vázquez', homenaje al tebeo y al dibujante". Heraldo.
  11. ^ Marañón, Carlos (24 September 2010). "El gran Vázquez". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  12. ^ Sánchez, Sergi (3 September 2010). "El gran Vázquez. Para los que crecieron con Anacleto". Fotogramas.
  13. ^ "Nominadas - III Premios Gaudí". Acadèmia del Cine Català. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  14. ^ "El gran Vázquez". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 24 April 2022.