In the weeks leading up to the Oscar nominations, the race typically begins to narrow and a clearer picture of the films that will be selected for each category by Academy voters presents itself. But this year, the race only became hazier and more bizarre as time went on. Movies like “Anora,” “Maria” and “The Brutalist” — which looked like sure things for slots in the big five categories only a few months ago — became less certain as late-breaking wildcard contenders like “Wicked” and “Conclave” picked up steam among general audiences, and in turn, Oscar voters.
Then, there was the question of “Emilia Pérez.” Despite dividing critics and audiences with its controversial depiction of a trans cartel leader who uses gender-affirming surgery transition as a redemptive arc, the film scored big at this month’s Golden Globes. Though the Globes represent a body of solely international voters, it was impossible to ignore the whopping 10 nominations they bestowed upon the film. That was echoed this morning by the Academy, which honored “Emilia Pérez” with an even more astonishing 13 nods, including a history-making nomination for star Karla Sofìa Gasćon, who became the first openly trans actor to be nominated for an Oscar.
