Music producer Benny Blanco sang Emilia Pérez's praises on Friday, September 6, 2024, referring to the film, which stars his girlfriend Selena Gomez. He wrote it is "one of the best movies I have ever seen." This was in response to Gomez's post of a clip showing her singing "Mi Camino" from the movie on Instagram.
The Only Murders in the Building star shared:
Blanco, 36, was quick to gush about the movie, proudly doing so publicly. The move isn't entirely out of character from Blanco, who, with the couple going public last December 2023, is usually very open with their love on social media.
Blanco's remarks come when Emilia Pérez is picking up steam in the lead-up to its release this November. It received critical acclaim during film festivals like Cannes and Telluride, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Emilia Pérez aims to be a revolutionary musical drama
Emilia Pérez has been in the spotlight since its release and could fare well during this awards season. The Spanish movie by Jacques Audiard fuses genres while keeping the spotlight on the characters' feelings and moral dilemmas. Selena Gomez stars as Jessi Del Monte, wife of the cartel leader Manitas.
Karla Sofía Gascón plays Manitas, a hitman who tries to live down his past by hiring a lawyer, played by Zoë Saldaña. The lawyer helps come up with a secret plan: a sex change to live as a woman. It is divided into four parts and is a movie on crime stories. The music in this movie is originally by the actors.
The song Mi Camino is about the change in a woman's path. Gomez's version is being critically praised. Her song changed as it was being made. Gomez told People that it was almost like a ballad after working with singer-songwriter Camille.
Audiard's decision to tell the story through dialogue and music gives the film a special feel. This feeling is made stronger by consideration of gender identity and change. Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays Manitas, said that the film changed her career and mentioned it was one of those rare opportunities she found.
Emilia Pérez: Critical acclaim and reception at film festivals
Since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it received a standing ovation, Emilia Pérez has been well received. Gomez, Saldaña, and Gascón won the Best Actress prize at Cannes. It was a first, they said, due to their friendship on screen and strong bond off-screen.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Saldaña said their success came from helping each other:
“We were rooting for each other from the beginning, and that was palpable.”
Gomez added that it was not an easy project for her as an actress because it called for changing her voice based on how her character felt.
Gomez shared during a panel at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival:
“I had to try and, you know, in my mind to think, ‘Okay, these are the limits I could reach within my character.'”
According to People, the singer admitted Emilia Pérez inspires her in a way she hasn't felt since she worked with Harmony Korine on Spring Breakers.
Emilia Pérez will be in theaters from November 1, 2024. Then, watch it on Netflix from November 13, 2024, in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
