For nearly twenty years, Zoe Saldana has starred in some of the most financially successful films in history, including Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. One might think that an actress with such an impressive resume would always have notable scripts and roles. Yet in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, where Saldana plays Rita Moreau Castro, she sings and dances, and in the high-energy ballad “El Mal,” she displays a ferocity that belies the depth of her talent. It was a moment that left me deeply disappointed in Hollywood. Despite her box office success, Saldana has rarely been allowed to show the full range of her abilities. Why are we only learning about this now?
I expressed these sentiments to Telluride CEO Julie Huntsinger during an interview with diverse“All this will stop now,” she replied confidently.
ReadsYou can see all the Oscar predictions in all 23 categories on one page at: diverse Awards Circle: Oscars.
The Latina star is likely to be at the forefront of the Oscar race, depending on where she ultimately decides to play the lead or supporting actress. Saldana’s performance in “Emilia” is reminiscent of Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Velma Kelly in “Chicago” (2002). There’s a sense that Saldana could follow a similar path this awards season.
But the intriguing musical crime film isn't just about Saldana.
Writer, director and producer Audiard took home the silver medal at Telluride on Friday night, setting Netflix on a mission to snatch his long-awaited Oscar nomination. Sometimes described as the “French Martin Scorsese,” the 72-year-old has won the Palme d’Or twice but has never been nominated for an Oscar. This year, that could change, too, as Audiard could find himself in contention for best picture, director or screenplay. He would become the latest winner of a trilogy that has already yielded wins for The Daniels (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and nominations for Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”), who has won two of his three.
The cast includes Karla Sofia Gascón in the lead role, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz. Along with Saldana, the four actresses shared the Best Actress award at Cannes, making them strong contenders for an Academy Award.
Gascon is aiming to make history as the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for best actress. Her presence in the ring will help propel her into the lead actress race, which is sure to be filled with established performers and past nominees and winners, including Saoirse Ronan, who will also be honored in Telluride for her performance in “The Outrun.”
“Emilia Perez”
Netflix
Gomez's arrival in Telluride on Thursday did not go unnoticed by her fans. A neon orange sign was installed on a pole on Main Street, addressed to Gomez, and read, “Please sing the National Anthem at one of the [the] “Home games: Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.)” was signed by the Telluride High School volleyball team. Whether Gomez saw the sign or planned to surprise the team remains to be seen, but with Audiard being honored during the Friday period, Saturday may be their only hope.
However, the team may have to forgive her as the Emmy-nominated actress for “Only Murders in the Building” is likely to be busy chatting at the festival. As Jessie Del Monte, Emilia’s wife, Gomez has a couple of standout moments, particularly with the song “El Camino,” that could get the Academy to respond to her work. She’ll need to continue putting herself out there, shaking hands and mingling with voters, as campaigning can make a difference. Notably, the supporting actress category had two Oscar nominees for the same film, at a roughly 33% share. That could push Gomez into the lineup alongside her co-star.
In a year filled with musicals, including “Better Man,” “Piece by Piece,” “The End” and the upcoming “Wicked,” Audiard’s film stands out. Netflix took the film to Cannes and is doing its best, hoping to land its first Best Picture Oscar with this unique drama.
Emilia Perez is expected to be an Oscar contender, with possible nominations for Best Cinematography (Paul Guillaume), Best Editing (Juliet Welfing), and Best Music from the composer duo Clement Decolle and Camille.
The Spanish-language film is also vying to be France’s official selection in this year’s international feature film race. It’s been more than 30 years since France, once a source of Oscar winners, won in the category. After two straight years of controversial choices — “Titane” over “Happening” and “The Taste of Things” over “Anatomy of a Fall” — Netflix is still hoping the selection committee will recognize the potential of “Emilia Pérez” to bring France back to victory.
As the weekend continues, we'll see how audiences respond to the film as it begins its long journey on the awards circuit, and perhaps even the 97th Academy Awards.
