The Competition

Fabulous film about the lives of pianists vying in a major competition that shall allow the winner an open-door to success. Dreyfuss must have had a thing with music for years later he starred in the also very good "Mr. Holland's Opus," In that flick he dedicated his life to teaching music in the schools; in this film, he lets an opportunity of teaching go by to vie in this important musical contest. Amy Irving is also wonderful as Dreyfuss' competitor and lover. The part with the Russian assistant applying for asylum should have been played up more. Too bad that the Russian lady who loses just stands there as a wall-flower at picture's end. Lee Remick shined in a supporting role as an imperious pianist, turned teacher who still has a heart by the end. That contestant from the Bronx just couldn't get that Bronx way of life out of him and that scene where his mother slaps him for revealing his delinquent past from very funny at best.

Good drama with great classical music. Not an incisive examination of the cutthroat world of music competition although they do delve into it somewhat. More a drama of a selfish man letting down his defenses and a young girl who learns more than she bargains for when she lets down her guard. Excellent performances from the leads with Lee Remick adding her special brand of class but putting an icy edge to it as Amy's teacher. The only rough patch is when the two leads, who are remarkably free of rhythm for supposed musicians, dance to contemporary and quite awful music. They're glue-foots. For classical music lovers this will be a treat.

I loved 'The Competition', though the characters and situations were predictable and stereotyped, (i.e. domineering teachers and butthole conductors) mostly because it told me that there are many people interested in music and 'behind the scenes' of what it means to devote your life to music. Most of all, the movie piqued my interest in Prokoviev, so that I now collect his music. Not bad for the price of a movie ticket!

To begin without thanking the principals for awesome piano faking would be horrendous, likewise to not applaud their training by Jean Evensen Shaw. There is a precision to what they do, with Amy and Richard to be sure but with all of them, that is astounding. It's a sweet tale but also an insight into the cruel world of music competition where the real hero this time around has to be Ludvig himself. If you have music and performing in you; if you have been classically trained; if you believe in love; then you will in turn love this movie and its music.

The stars of this film spent months learning how to play piano and mimic the finger movements of piano prodigies. That is one reason it feels authentic. Its two stars, Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving, do a good job of balancing the drama of a prestigious piano competition with the joys of young love. Lee Remick is wonderful as the protective mentor of Irving. And Sam Wanamaker is convincing as the Bernstein-like conductor who oversees the competition and rules his own little musical kingdom. The story has to do with whether or not the two young pianists can compete in the cut-throat world of career-making competitions and still maintain a relationship. The script never becomes too mawkish. And the musical excerpts are a bonus.