Emilia Perez sets Golden Globe nominations record — even though critics hated it
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Not long after Emilia Pérez made its debut on Netflix on November 13, following a brief theatrical release, The Atlantic described it as a film that elicits strong emotions. Clearly, audiences agreed, as evidenced by its positive reception at the Golden Globe Awards.
Jacques Audiard's Spanish-language musical, featuring a transgender cartel leader played by Karla Sofía Gascón, garnered 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 has been nominated for several awards, including Best Motion Picture in the Musical or Comedy category, Best Director for Audiard, Best Supporting Actress for both Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, Best Actress for Karla Sofia Gascón, as well as accolades for Screenplay, Original Score, and additional categories.
It's a significant endorsement for Emilia Pérez, stirring mixed reactions among critics, during an event that many consider a key indicator for the Oscars.
In her two-star review for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey raised concerns about how Audiard portrays the experience of transgender individuals. She stated, "He treats Emilia and her identity before transitioning as if they are two separate, unrelated individuals, suggesting that he perceives his trans character more as a symbol to delve into his own themes of renewal and new beginnings." Loughrey also highlighted a problematic idea of gender essentialism, implying that womanhood equates to a form of purity, akin to insisting that Lady Macbeth was always free of her guilt.
Other critics shared her views, with one describing it as the "Most Unique Cis Nonsense You'll Ever See." Loughrey believes that Gomez was not the right choice for the role and that she lost the "deadpan charm" that makes her so appealing in Only Murders in the Building, although she still received nominations for both projects.
This year saw a notable number of double nominations, with Sebastian Stan earning recognition in two different categories. He was acknowledged for his performance as the president-elect in Ali Abbasi’s biopic about Donald Trump, titled The Apprentice, and for his role as an actor facing challenges due to neurofibromatosis in Aaron Schimberg’s dark comedy, A Different Man. Additionally, Kate Winslet received nominations for Lead Actress in a Drama for her work in the biopic Lee, as well as for Limited Series Actress for her role in HBO’s The Regime.
Following Pérez, which received seven nominations, is Brady Corbet's ambitious A24 film, The Brutalist, celebrated as "the next Godfather" after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. Spanning three decades, the movie tells the story of László Tóth (played by 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 the trajectory of his life.
The recent film Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, known for his work on All Quiet on the Western Front, received six nominations. Ralph Fiennes, the British actor, received a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama for his role as a cardinal who vapes and is responsible for selecting a new pope.
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The Golden Globe Awards also celebrated television, with Hulu's *The Bear* leading the pack by receiving five nominations, more than any other show. The series was nominated for Best Musical/Comedy and earned acting nominations for Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Liza Cólon-Zayas.
Both *Only Murders in the Building* and *Shogun* received four additional nominations for Hulu, while the new shows *Baby Reindeer*, *Disclaimer*, and *Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story* each garnered three nominations.
Some fans were puzzled by the nomination of Squid Game for Best Series Drama, especially since its second season isn't set to premiere on Netflix until late December.
Last year, the Golden Globes successfully created an exciting and uplifting atmosphere, largely due to the charming celebrities attending. Winners like Kieran Culkin, Ali Wong, Emma Stone, Ayo Edebiri, Billie Eilish, and Cillian Murphy gave vibrant and engaging speeches, despite a lukewarm reaction to host Jo Koy's somewhat clumsy delivery.
The 2025 event is set for January 5 at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, California. Comedian Nikki Glaser will be hosting the ceremony for the first time.
