Viral Hatch US/UK No.1 News Portal
With more than 10 Oscar nominations and a wave of controversy trailing its success, “Emilia Perez” has become one of the most polarizing films of the year, igniting debates over its cultural impact and artistic merit.
The 96th Academy Awards have become a hot topic of discussion, with “Emilia Perez” taking center stage. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the French film has garnered a remarkable 13 nominations, including several of the most prestigious categories.
While this achievement cements its place as one of the most recognized films of the year, it has also sparked criticism from some viewers who feel the movie's accolades may not be fully deserved.
According to the official Oscars website, “Emilia Perez” is nominated for Best Picture and International Feature Film, representing France. Karla Sofía Gascón has made history by earning a nomination for Actress in a Leading Role, while Zoë Saldaña is nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role.
Jacques Audiard has received nods for both Directing and Writing (Adapted Screenplay), the latter in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius, and Nicolas Livecchi.
The film's technical achievements also stand out, with Paul Guilhaume nominated for Cinematography and Juliette Welfling recognized for Film Editing. In the Makeup and Hairstyling category, Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini are honored for their work.
The sound team, including Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta, has also been nominated.
The music of “Emilia Perez” plays a significant role in its success. Clément Ducol and Camille have been nominated for Music (Original Score), while two songs from the film — “El Mal” and “Mi Camino” — have been nominated for Music (Original Song).
The former features music by Clément Ducol and Camille and lyrics by Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard, while the latter is written and composed by Camille and Clément Ducol.
Despite its broad recognition, some have questioned whether Emilia Perez truly deserves its 13 nominations. The backlash against the movie has been particularly evident on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
One user wrote, “God selena gomez's spanish in emilia perez is so funny every clip i see is worse than the last [sic].” Another commented, “Emilia Pérez???????? I really like Selena but this is probably the worst thing I have ever seen and it's even worse watching it while being a latina and speaking Spanish… [sic].”
Criticism of the film's casting and cultural representation has also surfaced. “crazy to think how emilia perez was nominated in the internation feature film when 2 of the main actresses are from the usa, aren't native spanish speakers but also the other main actress is spanish, not latina, i mean from SPAIN if you don't get it [sic],” one user pointed out.
Concerns about the film's performances were a recurring theme. “Emilia Perez is one of the worst musical. Very bad acting from Zoe – can't even do a Mexican accent, & and selena, i can't even understand what she's saying in Spanish even though I fluently speak it. This year's Oscars are not worth watching it. [sic]” one user wrote.
More blunt remarks included, “Sorry but Emilia Perez does not deserve all these award nominations,” and, “So disappointed, Emilia Perez was the worst movie of the year.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by users on Instagram. One user criticized the film's cultural representation, “because it's an insult to Mexican culture and I'm not even from there. The Spanish dialogues are terrible, nobody speaks that way and Selena's acting is bad [sic].” Another added, “selena gomez deserved a nomination for worst spanish [sic].”
However, not all feedback was negative. Some viewers praised the film's artistic merit. One enthusiastic user wrote, “I called it from day one! I have NEVER seen anything like it! It's a phenomenal film from an artistic point of view!”
“Emilia Perez” tells the story of four women in Mexico as they navigate their individual paths to happiness. Emilia, portrayed by Karla Sofía Gascón, is a cartel leader who seeks freedom by faking her death with the help of Rita, an underappreciated lawyer played by Saldaña.
Emilia's journey to live as her true self forms the film's emotional core. The cast also features Adriana Paz as Epifania and Selena Gomez as Jessi, whose performances have received polarized reactions from audiences.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly ahead of the film's AFI Festival premiere, Gomez shared her motivations for taking on the role of Jessi. “I was eager, and I was hungry for something that was thought-provoking,” she said. “I tend to be drawn to things that are a little audacious and maybe dangerous in a way, but I felt like it was something extremely special, and I wanted to be a part of it so badly.”
The 32-year-old songstress acknowledged the challenges she faced due to her limited fluency in Spanish but emphasized her pride in her heritage. “What's really difficult about my position is that I am really surrounded by predominantly white English-speaking people. So, to be a part of something like this was truly meaningful because I'm very proud of who I am,” she explained.
“I may not be fluent, but that doesn't make me less proud or less Mexican in my eyes. I think it's about what my last name has always meant to me: it's my family. It's everything that's a part of me,” added the “Love On” singer.
She also expressed her hope for future Spanish-language projects, “That's the only bummer thing for me personally, but I hope it's not my last project I do in Spanish. It is something that I feel I've gotten better at. I can understand a whole conversation now, so be aware of what you say in front of me.”
Gomez's Spanish-speaking skills in the film have been a point of contention. In a TikTok video from October 2024, she described her efforts to improve.
“I actually had a coach, but most of the time nobody understood me. So I was yelling and saying things and saying the dialogue over and over again,” she said. Gomez humorously recounted practicing lines with her father, who often misheard her rehearsals, adding, “It was actually hysterical at one point.”
When asked if there was a particular word that helped her get into the mindset of speaking Spanish, she replied, “Complicado (complicated), because I feel like it is what it is for me.”
Despite the criticism, “Emilia Perez” has already received significant recognition. The film won four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Motion Picture — Non-English Language (France), Best Original Song — Motion Picture for “El Mal,” and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for Zoë Saldaña.
While “Emilia Perez” has achieved significant recognition with 13 Oscar nominations and notable wins at the Golden Globes, its accolades have sparked widespread debate among viewers.
The film's performances, cultural representation, and language barriers remain at the heart of the controversy, dividing audiences over whether it truly deserves its place in this year's awards season spotlight.
