3 Reasons Why I Loved Emilia Perez As A Movie, But 2 Reasons I Didn’t Like It As A Musical

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As a music enthusiast who has spent countless hours curating my Spotify playlist, I found myself at odds with the soundtrack of “Emilia Perez”. Coming from someone who considers Gentle Giant, MF DOOM, and Masayoshi Takanaka as staples, I must admit that this film’s music failed to resonate with me.

I love musicals. It’s one of my favorite genres of film.

In recent times, musicals have been less frequent, with only a few trickles here and there. However, the year 2024 has brought a refreshing wave of these productions, some met with praise, others with criticism. We’ve seen films like “Joker: Folie a Deux“, which some have labeled as “a disaster”. The surprising musical remake of “Mean Girls” also made an appearance, and we welcomed the release of “Moana 2“, among others.

This year’s standout film was undeniably “Wicked“, but surprisingly, another movie that turned out to be a musical was “Emilia Perez“. It tells the story of a cartel boss who hires a lawyer for gender transition therapy and a fresh start in life. The narrative is captivating, and I found many aspects of it intriguing. However, there’s one element about the movie that I wasn’t particularly fond of – the musical numbers themselves. I’ll delve deeper into my reasons shortly, but first, let me share what I truly admired about the film.

Oh, and spoilers up ahead.

Why I Liked It As A Movie: The Plot Of A Transitioning Cartel Boss Is Fascinating And Pulled Off Effectively

Initially, I’m really enjoying this film’s narrative and overall production (with a few exceptions). It draws inspiration from Boris Razon’s novel “Ecoute“, and it offers an intriguing perspective on storytelling. The plot initially revolves around a lawyer who feels unacknowledged, portrayed skillfully by Zoe Saldana. However, as the story progresses, it largely shifts focus when Emilia Perez enters the scene.

In the story, Saldana’s character, Rita Mora Castro, receives a phone call and subsequently engages in conversation with a cartel leader known as Juan “Manitas” Del Monte. The nickname “Manitas,” which means “handyman” in Spanish, is used to describe him. This individual desires to break free from the Cartel lifestyle and transform into a woman. Consequently, we primarily follow the character that “Manitas” has become – Emilia Perez, brilliantly portrayed by Karla Sofia Gascon.

I appreciate the way everything unfolds in this narrative. The gender-confirming surgery serves as a backdrop, not the main focus. In the story, we find “Manitas” transformed in her new physical form. Later on, the plot revolves around Emilia discovering a fresh meaning (and a new romantic interest) in her life.

Emilia recognizes her role in ruining numerous families in her past, so she chooses to establish a non-profit organization aimed at finding victims of Cartel violence with Castro’s assistance. At the same time, she encounters difficulties with her ex-spouse (portrayed by Selena Gomez), as she rekindles a relationship with the man she had an affair with during their marriage to “Manitas.

All of this is really fascinating, and I loved every minute of it. Well, that is until…

Why I Didn’t Like It As A Musical: The Musical Numbers Are Too Abrupt

To put it simply, I’m usually not drawn to unconventional musical productions. However, exceptions exist, such as my fondness for “Little Shop of Horrors” and “The Blues Brothers”. The notable difference is that the music in these films is an integral part of their narratives. For instance, “Little Shop of Horrors”, a horror-comedy from 1960 directed by the late Roger Corman, was remade into a musical in the ’80s. This transformation was deliberate, as the songs were intended to enhance the story, and significantly altered the original film’s tone.

Currently, let me clarify that although the music in Emilia Perez may be deliberate, it seems much more startling compared to other movies mentioned previously.

Indeed, several musical sequences in this production appear unexpectedly, such as the instance when Perez and Castro are at a charity event, followed immediately by an impromptu song and dance routine involving Saldana on tables. While amusing, it was jarring and temporarily disrupted my immersion in the scene.

Throughout the movie, I found myself consistently immersed in this manner. This film could potentially offer a richer experience on a second watch, as I frequently got distracted during each musical scene, disrupting my engagement with the narrative.

Yet, there’s a silver lining here. A particular song named “Papa” plays a crucial role in the narrative, and incidents such as these make me yearn for the other songs to be as naturally incorporated.

Why I Liked It As A Movie: The Acting Is Exceptional

2025’s Golden Globe nominees have been revealed, with Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, and Gascon each earning a nod in their designated categories.

Absolutely, I agree that each of these nominations seems fitting. The acting drew me deeply into the story, given its high quality. When characters spoke or clashed, their interactions felt authentic, and Gascon’s performance stood out particularly for me. It seemed incredibly realistic, perhaps because Gascon herself is a trans actress.

As a movie enthusiast, let me share my perspective: I watched this film from a male point of view. My colleague, Corey Chichizola, had some reservations about the movie, and I can understand why. Yet, for me, it was all about immersing myself in the narrative, and I appreciated each actor’s performance in their respective roles.

At one point, Gomez’s character considers moving her kids to live with her future spouse, but Perez, who is also their parent, vehemently disallows this decision, even though Gomez isn’t aware of the fact.

The blowout between them is seismic, and I was absolutely riveted, which is definitely due to the phenomenal acting. But, that just makes me think about the music again…

Why I Didn’t Like It As A Musical: I Didn’t Find Any Of The Music To Be Very Good

Music preferences are entirely personal, and it’s likely that our Spotify playlists would vary greatly, unless we share a common taste for Gentle Giant, MF DOOM, and Masayoshi Takanaka. With this in mind, please understand that I didn’t find any enjoyment in the music of Emilia Perez. None of the songs appealed to me.

To clarify, the music isn’t criticized here; on the contrary, it has a lively yet solemn character that aligns well with the narrative’s tone. Although at times it may feel abrupt, the songs written by Camille and the score by Clement Ducol create a diverse soundtrack overall.

To be honest, this film didn’t resonate with me at all. None of the tunes stuck in my mind, and unfortunately, nothing about it seemed particularly appealing or memorable.

Ultimately, I found myself longing to appreciate the music because the choreography was impressive in certain upbeat performances. However, it left me feeling as though this production could have been successful without being a musical altogether. Oh, how I wish I enjoyed the tunes.

Why I Liked It As A Movie: I Was Emotionally Invested By The End Of The Film

Initially, I must admit that the music wasn’t my favorite part throughout most of the movie. However, by the climax, I found myself fully drawn into the plot. The conclusion was both heartbreaking and foreseeable, but still managed to surprise me with its emotional impact. To be honest, I found myself deeply involved in each character’s journey, and their stories had a stronger effect on me than I anticipated.

This is no small feat, because I spent a great deal of the film rolling my eyes and groaning whenever the music would kick in again. This is just another reason why I wish this film wasn’t a musical – I think it would have been so much stronger if it just played it straight.

“Ever since I saw it, I’ve pondered whether this film would still be a topic of conversation if it weren’t a musical. Despite my appreciation for it by the end, I question if there are enough unique elements in the movie to make it stand out without its musical aspect.

It could well be due to the music that I find the story more appealing. After a time, the tunes grew tiresome for me, and it was a relief when the narrative resumed its course.

However, in the end, the story itself is good enough that I do recommend the film, music notwithstanding.

I haven’t caught up with Emilia Perez just yet, but it’s definitely on my watchlist. Keep an eye out for updates on other Golden Globe-nominated movies by visiting regularly.

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2024-12-24 19:07