Emilia Perez sets Golden Globe nominations record — even though critics hated it
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Soon after Emilia Pérez was released on Netflix on November 13, after a brief time in theaters, The Atlantic described it as a film that evokes strong emotions. It appears that the Golden Globes agreed, as the film received a positive response from voters.
Jacques Audiard's Spanish-language musical featuring a transgender cartel leader, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, earned an unprecedented 10 nominations on Monday (December 9). This achievement makes it the most nominated comedy or musical film ever in the history of the awards show.
The movie is nominated for several awards, including Best Motion Picture in the Musical or Comedy category, Best Director for Audiard, Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, and Best Actress for Karla Sofia Gascón. It’s also in the running for Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, among other categories.
Emilia Pérez received strong support, sparking mixed reactions among critics, during an event that many believe is a key indicator for the Oscars.
In her two-star review for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey critiqued Audiard’s portrayal of the transgender experience. “He seems to present Emilia and her pre-transition self as completely separate entities, suggesting that he views his transgender protagonist more as a symbol, a way to delve into his own ideas about renewal and new beginnings,” Loughrey remarked. “There’s a hint of simplistic gender views here: the belief that true womanhood embodies pure traits, as if Lady Macbeth was always free of her guilt.”
Other reviewers shared her opinions, with one even labeling it the “Most Unique Cis Nonsense You’ll Ever See.” Loughrey contended that Gomez was poorly cast and lost the “deadpan charisma” that makes her so captivating in Only Murders in the Building, despite her receiving nominations for both works.
This year saw a remarkable number of double nominations, with Sebastian Stan receiving recognition in two categories. He was nominated for his portrayal of the president-elect in Ali Abbasi's film The Apprentice, which takes a critical look at Donald Trump, as well as for his role as an aspiring actor dealing with neurofibromatosis in Aaron Schimberg's dark comedy, A Different Man. Similarly, Kate Winslet earned nominations for both Best Lead Actress in a Drama for her performance in the biopic Lee and for Best Limited Series Actress for her role in HBO's The Regime.
Following Pérez, who received seven nominations, was Brady Corbet’s monumental A24 film The Brutalist, which garnered praise as “the next Godfather” following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. Spanning three decades, the movie tells the story of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Jewish architect from Hungary who survived the Holocaust. After moving to the United States with his wife (Felicity Jones), he encounters the enigmatic Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), a meeting that significantly alters his life path.
The newest film by Edward Berger, known for directing All Quiet on the Western Front, received six nominations. Titled Conclave and featuring Ralph Fiennes, the film has earned the British actor a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama for his role as a cardinal who vapes and is responsible for electing a new pope.
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The Globes also honors television, and Hulu's The Bear stands out with the most nominations (five), surpassing all other shows. It received nods for Best Musical/Comedy, as well as acting recognition for Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Liza Cólon-Zayas.
Hulu's shows Only Murders in the Building and Shogun each scored four additional nominations, while new entries Baby Reindeer, Disclaimer, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story received three nominations each.
Several fans were puzzled by the nomination of Squid Game for Best Series Drama, especially since its second season won’t be released on Netflix until late December.
Last year, the Golden Globes successfully created an upbeat and lively atmosphere, mainly due to the engaging personalities of the stars in attendance. Award recipients like Kieran Culkin, Ali Wong, Emma Stone, Ayo Edebiri, Billie Eilish, and Cillian Murphy gave enthusiastic and vibrant speeches, making up for the lackluster reaction to the somewhat clumsy hosting by Jo Koy at the last minute.
The 2025 event is scheduled for January 5 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California. Comedian Nikki Glaser will be making her hosting debut.
