EMILIA PEREZ is a story of love and an F.U. to masculinity. It’s beautifully complicated in all the right ways only director Jacques Audiard could make. It has been twenty-four hours since I saw it, and I still can’t shake its haunting music, themes, dance numbers, and, most importantly, the lead performances. Karla Sofía Gascón will surely be nominated, Zoe Saldana delivers the best performance of her career, and Selena Gomez reminds us that she can sing and dance.
With that said the soap opera story of EMILIA PEREZ is challenging to review without spoiling. This is the type of energetic musical that’s best seen with three requirements:
- A big screen with premium sound to enjoy the toe-tapping operatic song and dance numbers.
- With an audience that gasps at each of the film’s twists and turns.
- Knowing as little about the movie as possible. Do yourself a favor and avoid the trailer. I did, and it was all the better for it.
EMILIA PEREZ is a near masterpiece that transcends genres. It would be a perfect film if it weren’t for some pesky pacing and the overuse of “fade to blacks” in the second act. Even with that complaint, you won’t find a more original, feminine, challenging film in 2024.
It’s available in limited theatres and on Netflix starting November 13th.
