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.

The Great Vazquez
Theatrical release poster
SpanishEl gran Vázquez
Directed byÓscar Aibar
Written byÓscar Aibar
Produced by
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

Plot

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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

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Production

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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

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  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.