{"id":2575,"date":"2007-03-18T17:40:30","date_gmt":"2007-03-19T00:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2575"},"modified":"2020-12-31T17:52:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T00:52:53","slug":"competition-the-1980","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2575","title":{"rendered":"Competition, The (1980)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;<em>That<\/em> is your first husband &#8212; that! You marry it, the way a nun marries Jesus &#8212; you cleave to it because it gives your life a center that no man &#8212; that very few men &#8212; can possibly give you.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-31435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Poster.jpg 493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nTwo rival pianists (Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving) fall in love while rehearsing for a competition in San Francisco.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amy Irving Films<\/li>\n<li>Aspiring Stars<\/li>\n<li>Lee Remick Films<\/li>\n<li>Mentors<\/li>\n<li>Musicians<\/li>\n<li>Richard Dreyfuss Films<<\/li>\n<li>Rivalry<\/li>\n<li>Romance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>The Competition <\/em>tackles an interesting and provocative question: is it possible for rivals to carry out a successful romance? As someone who studied classical music for several years, I can vouch for the authenticity of the dilemma facing these two young musical hopefuls, who find themselves torn between mutual admiration, genuine attraction, and intense rivalry. Director Joel Oliansky doesn&#8217;t try to provide pat answers to this dilemma; and while Dreyfuss&#8217;s petulant behavior towards Irving may be difficult to watch, it&#8217;s realistic. Unfortunately, however, the film is marred by constant forays into the lives of the other competitors &#8212; most notably a Russian student who must deal with her teacher defecting to the West (surely included for its political timeliness rather than any other reason). These subplots distract us from the film&#8217;s primary characters, who should have remained the sole focus. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Richard Dreyfuss as Paul<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus-1024x485.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"303\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-47827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus-1024x485.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus-128x61.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus-768x364.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus-1536x727.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Dreyfus.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Amy Irving as Heidi<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving-1024x494.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"309\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-47828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving-1024x494.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving-128x62.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving-1536x742.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Irving.png 1837w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Lee Remick as Irving&#8217;s piano teacher<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick-1024x480.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-47829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick-1024x480.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick-128x60.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick-768x360.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick-1536x720.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Remick.png 1845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Plenty of beautiful piano music, well &#8220;performed&#8221; by Dreyfuss and Irving (who trained for four months for their roles)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music-1024x480.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-47831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music-1024x480.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music-128x60.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music-768x360.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music-1536x720.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/03\/Competition-Music.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended for classical music fans. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0080556\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1981\/01\/04\/movies\/the-competition-stirs-memories-of-music-in-movies.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/the-competition-1981\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/69565.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;That is your first husband &#8212; that! You marry it, the way a nun marries Jesus &#8212; you cleave to it because it gives your life a center that no man &#8212; that very few men &#8212; can possibly give you.&#8221; Synopsis: Two rival pianists (Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving) fall in love while rehearsing for a competition in San Francisco. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Amy Irving Films Aspiring Stars Lee Remick Films Mentors Musicians Richard Dreyfuss Films<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2575"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60799,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575\/revisions\/60799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}