Emilia Perez movie review: Incredulous storyline, mediocre melodies drag this film down

Much water has flown down the bridge since Emilia Pérez first burst onto the awards landscape. However, the social media furore over posts by its star Gascón, or its incredulous storyline about a drug lord who after transitioning becomes an angelic woman benefactor, or the mediocre melodies of this unnecessary musical, have not prevented the film from lapping up 13 Academy award nominations.

In the interesting times that America is living through, it’s anybody’s guess what the Academy’s appetite remains for this film, which ticks many of the boxes the outgoing dispensation swore by.

That said, there are few performances that come close in recent films to Gascón’s tour-de-force act as Emilia, or as her earlier avatar Manitas. She strides in and commands every scene she is in, and not just because of her towering, unapologetic physical presence. That she is in the company of more famous Hollywood names doesn’t daunt Gascón.