Jacques Audiard is not a director or screenwriter of which I’m familiar even though he’s raked in two BAFTA Awards (The Prophet and The Beat that My Heart Skipped). But I thoroughly enjoyed Emilia Perez which makes me want to seek out the aforementioned films.
In a nutshell, the story is: a drug lord who has battled sexual identity issues his entire life transitions and begins a new life with the help of an intelligent lawyer.
Here’s what was fantastic:
Zoe Saldana’s performance shows her versatility. She’s not just a blue gal from Avatar, but an actual actress, singer AND dancer!
Karla Sofia-Gascon was also an acting marvel. The subtleties in her performance, especially in the scenes with Selena Gomez were mesmerizing. Selena Gomez was a bit of a disappointment, but I think it was the way her role was written, more Spanish soap opera floozey than genuine woman.
The tonal shifts were a bit much, one minute we’re in Moulin Rouge mode and the next Umbrellas of Cherbourg. But still, the film held my attention, was entertainingly suspenseful and I cared what was happening to the characters. And considering the device I watched it on (an IPAD which begs me to ask-Sarasota theaters why the H E Double Toothpicks did you miss out on getting this here on the big screen?), is a true testament of how riveting it was.
And unfortunately, this musical makes the United States musicals this year look really, really stupid…(Joker a Deux, Wicked). Megalopolis is the exception to the US=2024 musical dunces rule.
I’d go so far as to put Emilia Perez at Number 5 in my Top 5 of the Year:
The Substance
Sing Sing
The Dead Don’t Hurt (does this one count, I’m confused about when it came out and if it could be a contender)
Between Two Temples
Emilia Perez
