The nominations for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards have been announced. This year’s Oscars race looks wilder and more unpredictable than last year, when Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer nearly swept the event with 13 nominations and seven wins.
This year, the story is quite different. There doesn’t seem to be an Oppenheimer-like frontrunner, as a variety of bold, wildly creative, and audacious movies have been nominated for Best Picture, including Emilia Pérez, which leads the race with 13 nominations.
With this incredible feat, Emilia Pérez has become the most-nominated non-English film in Oscars history. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film stars Zoe Saldana (nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role), Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón (nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role), Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramirez, and others.
While critics and Hollywood have showered Emilia Pérez with praise, the film’s reception among viewers has been highly polarising.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a ‘fresh’ critic score of 76%, based on 237 reviews. However, its audience score currently stands at a ‘rotten’ 34% rating (based on over 2,500 ratings), showcasing a striking contrast.
Emilia Pérez has also faced strong criticism from both the LGBTQ community and Mexican audiences. LGBTQ critics, including GLAAD and Reanna Cruz, condemned its portrayal of trans women as retrograde and inauthentic, while Them magazine noted that the film promotes harmful stereotypes.
Reception from Mexican viewers has been even harsher, with casting decisions and comments about local talent sparking backlash.
There’s no denying that the Zoe Saldana starrer benefits from terrific performances and Jacques Audiard’s bold direction. However, its depiction of Mexican people and the LGBTQ community invites significant controversy. And a movie as polarising as Emilia Pérez receiving 13 Oscar nominations? It simply doesn’t make sense.
Is the Academy trying too hard to showcase its commitment to diversity and the LGBTQ community? While Emilia Pérez is an enjoyable film at best, does it truly deserve 13 nominations? The answer seems to be a resounding no.
Meanwhile, Wicked (starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande) and The Brutalist (led by Adrien Brody) both received 10 nominations. A Complete Unknown (starring Timothée Chalamet) and Conclave (starring Ralph Fiennes) earned eight nominations each, while The Substance (featuring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley) and Anora (featuring Mikey Madison) garnered five and six nominations, respectively. Stay tuned for more updates.