I went into 'Emilia Pérez' with the feeling it might not succeed, but I ended up having a good time watching it for over two hours. The musical numbers require some adjustment, and I’m not completely sold on most of them; however, surprisingly, they didn't detract too much from my experience. Without question, Zoe Saldaña is the film’s strongest asset. I appreciate her performances in many roles, particularly 'Ava…

How can a character who is white and Irish-American manage to speak more fluent Spanish than the native Spanish speakers in this film? And then there’s a musical featuring lyrics like "penis" and "vagina," while also promoting gender transitions? This movie seems disrespectful toward Spanish speakers, it promotes a Latinx ideology that many Latinos don't support, and it champions the use of “they/them” pronouns…

Could _Emilia Pérez_ be considered one of the most audacious films in recent memory? This Spanish-language musical, helmed by a French director, tackles themes of violence and corruption. It features a transgender actress portraying a Mexican cartel leader who leaves her family behind, disappears to protect herself, and undergoes a gender transition to become a woman. It’s quite something. And it's true that t…

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 of…

"Rita," portrayed by Zoe Saldana, is an attorney in Mexico whose professional life draws the attention of "Manitas," a drug lord wielding considerable influence over the country’s synthetic drug trade. He maintains a heavily guarded and mobile existence. The question arises: what does he want from "Rita"? Enticed by a substantial sum of money, she agrees to a risky meeting to discover his intentions. She receives an …