It takes real guts to speak up and say something important when a lot of people refuse to acknowledge it, particularly if they're determined to ignore what's right in front of them. There are moments when that kind of honesty is essential, even when faced with an odd perspective that seems completely wrongheaded. That’s definitely the situation with the newest film from writer-director Jacques Audiard, someone who often gets too much credit. This movie feels lost, struggling to decide if it wants to be a quirky musical (the songs are forgettable and the score doesn't stick), a sort of silly comedy (it isn't funny, but the story is often ridiculous), a crime story (one that becomes increasingly pretentious, rambling, unbelievable, and dull as it goes on), or a serious exploration of forgiveness and redemption that feels overly concerned with political correctness. Basically, the film follows Manitas (Karla Sofía Gascón), a Mexican drug cartel leader who wants to transition to become a woman, with the help of an attorney (Zoe Saldaña) who quickly agrees to represent her for a large sum of money. After transitioning and becoming Emilia Pérez, she starts to regret some things from her past—her violent actions and leaving behind her kids and demanding wife (Selena Gomez gives one of the few good performances in the film). While it’s somewhat easy to understand this change of heart, it doesn't really seem believable. And because all the characters make terrible choices that are confusing and contradictory, it’s hard to care about what happens to any of them. This is especially true for the main character, whose actions don't do much to create understanding or sympathy for transgender people. Throughout the story, there are a lot of musical numbers that feel awkwardly placed and aren't particularly memorable; they really don't add anything worthwhile (they could have been removed entirely and it would probably be better). Ultimately, the film feels like an over-the-top Italian opera mixed with elements from movies like “Sicario” and typical Mexican soap operas. It’s hard to understand why this movie has gotten so much attention, especially considering all the awards it's received, including 10 Golden Globe nominations (an unusual number for any film), as well as recognition from the Critics Choice Awards, the American Film Institute, and major festivals like Cannes and Toronto. Don’t mistake the combination of different elements here for genuine creativity or originality. More importantly, don’t waste your time on this movie, no matter how fancy people claim its presentation is.

Source on TMDB