January 6th 2025.
Could 2025 be the year that belongs to Emilia Pérez during awards season? The first major awards ceremony of the year, the Golden Globes, has just finished and Netflix's record-breaking film has emerged as the front-runner for the season – against all odds. While there wasn't one film that swept the awards like La La Land did in 2017, it was still an impressive showing with Emilia Pérez taking home four major wins, including Best Film – Musical or Comedy, Best Non-English Language Film, Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, and Best Original Song.
Emilia Pérez's success at the Golden Globes may seem like a muted triumph considering the film had 10 nominations going into the ceremony. However, with the lower number of awards to beat and the prestige of the categories it won in, it solidifies Emilia Pérez as a top contender for the upcoming Academy Awards in March. Close behind is my pick, The Brutalist, with its three Golden Globe wins.
Even before the glitzy Golden Globes ceremony, Emilia Pérez was already making waves with its impressive collection of 10 nominations. In fact, it is only the second movie in history to receive this many Golden Globe nominations, with the first being the 1975 musical comedy drama Nashville. Emilia Pérez only took home one win, Best Original Song for I'm Easy, but its record-breaking number of nominations speaks volumes about its potential success.
It's no surprise that the Golden Globes love a musical, as evidenced by the success of La La Land in previous years. The separate categories for drama and musical or comedy in Best Film and Best Leading Performances also show a clear appreciation for the genre. However, there was some controversy during the ceremony with the inclusion of an awards leaderboard on the wall, ranking studios by the number of Golden Globes they won. Some fans found it tacky and took issue with openly celebrating the competitive aspect of judging art.
But, regardless of the controversy, Emilia Pérez marked Netflix's first success in the Best Film – Musical or Comedy category. And it's not just the Golden Globes where Emilia Pérez is considered a favorite. It also tied an impressive record at the BAFTAs, receiving 15 nominations in various categories. While not all of these longlist mentions may turn into official nominations, it sets Emilia Pérez in a strong position as it has been well-received by critics since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last May, even before Netflix picked it up.
In fact, at Cannes, Emilia Pérez won the Jury Prize and was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or. It also received a joint Best Actress prize for its four leading ladies – Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Adriana Paz. But, despite all the accolades, there were some obstacles that could have held Emilia Pérez back. For one, it is a unique blend of genres, including crime thriller, drama, musical, and dark comedy. While it has been well-received so far, it was a risk to combine these genres, especially since musicals have struggled to regain mainstream appeal.
Additionally, the film is in Spanish, not English, which has historically been a barrier for international movies to break into the US and English-speaking markets. Director Bong Joon-ho even acknowledged this barrier while accepting the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 2020, stating that it stops fans from discovering amazing films. He went on to win Best Director, Screenplay, and Film at the Oscars, making history as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.
Another aspect that has received both praise and backlash for Emilia Pérez is its portrayal of transition and the casting of Karla Sofía Gascón. While some see it as a progressive representation of a trans woman, others have criticized it as a "profoundly retrograde portrayal." There has also been criticism of a French filmmaker telling a Mexican story and Selena Gomez's involvement as a non-fluent Spanish speaker, despite her Mexican heritage. Nevertheless, Emilia Pérez has made a remarkable run and could potentially make history at the Oscars.
Could 2025 be the year that Emilia Pérez takes the awards season by storm? The first major awards show of the year, the Golden Globes, has just passed and it looks like Netflix's record-breaking film has emerged as the front-runner, against all odds.
While there was no one film that swept the awards like La La Land did in 2017, Emilia Pérez still had a strong showing, earning four wins in major categories. With best film - musical or comedy, best non-English language film, best supporting actress for Zoe Saldaña, and best original song, Emilia Pérez proved to be the clear winner of the night.
Despite having 10 nominations, some may see Emilia Pérez's success at the Golden Globes as a muted triumph. However, when compared to previous years and considering the competition, it solidifies Emilia Pérez as a strong contender for the upcoming Academy Awards in March. Close behind is The Brutalist, with three Golden Globe wins.
Even before the glitzy Golden Globes ceremony, Emilia Pérez had already been making waves with its impressive 10 nods. It's worth noting that only one film in history has received more Golden Globe nominations, the 1975 musical comedy drama Nashville, directed by Robert Altman. However, it only ended up winning one award for best original song.
But it's not just the Golden Globes where Emilia Pérez is considered a favorite. It also recently made headlines for tying an eye-opening record at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) longlist, with 15 nominations. This is the most ever achieved, alongside other notable films like 2022's All Quiet on the Western Front and 2023's Oppenheimer, both of which went on to win the BAFTA for best film. This is a strong indication of Emilia Pérez's potential to also dominate at the upcoming BAFTA awards.
Despite its success, Emilia Pérez has faced some challenges that could have held it back. For one, it's a unique blend of genres, including crime thriller, drama, musical, and dark comedy. However, this bold mash-up seems to have resonated well with awards voters so far. Additionally, being a Spanish-language film, it may face difficulties breaking through in the US and English-speaking markets, as seen in the past with other international films. Director Bong Joon-ho even referenced this issue while accepting a Golden Globe for best foreign language film last year, stating that "the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles" has prevented many amazing films from reaching a wider audience. However, he would go on to make history at the Oscars, becoming the first non-English language film to win best director, screenplay, and film.
There's also a lot of buzz surrounding Emilia Pérez lead star Karla Sofía Gascón, who could potentially make history as the first trans woman to win best actress at the Oscars. She portrays a powerful crime boss who undergoes gender confirmation surgery and then disappears into a new life, creating a nonprofit to help the families of those targeted by the cartel. However, the film has also faced backlash for its depiction of transition and its casting and creative choices.
Despite these challenges, Emilia Pérez has been receiving widespread critical acclaim since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last May, before it was even picked up by Netflix. But with its unique blend of genres, being a Spanish-language film, and the controversy surrounding its portrayal of a trans character, it remains to be seen whether Emilia Pérez will continue to dominate the awards season.
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