I certainly can see why "Emilia Pérez" is considered a strong Oscar contender. The genre mix of crime, drama, and, of course, musical alone makes for a consistently interesting film experience. Visually, it is also quite varied, and the very contemporary trans topic is certainly one that will be well received by the Academy.

In any case, it's the kind of musical movie I prefer, namely the kind where the songs drive the plot forward. Perhaps they are not particularly memorable and are unlikely to be effective outside the movie, especially as they are mostly spoken word songs. But they are well staged and fulfill their purpose here.

Meanwhile, the leading actresses Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón are quite convincing. And Selena Gomez is also pretty good. All three are able to carry the movie effortlessly and ensure that it never gets boring, even when the pacing isn't ideal. However, I have to add that I was more enthralled by the beginning of the movie than the end. I think that at some point it is relatively clear where the journey is going, and the movie takes much longer than it needs to actually take the steps that are hinted at.

Nevertheless, "Emilia Pérez" is a good movie that is compelling despite its fairly straightforward story. For me, it may not be one of the best overall works of the year, but given its individual strengths, I wouldn't mind if it received a few Oscar nominations.