The 82nd Golden Globe Awards premiered on January 5, and the air was alive with excitement. Dazzling celebrities, memorable movies, and touching songs became winners, acquiring glittering trophies. One of the more prominent victors of the event was the film Emilia Perez. The widely popular flick earned four Golden Globes along with a dozen nominations. It was a shocking accomplishment you’d have to have seen to believe.
Looking Back at the Golden Globes
The first Golden Globes occurred in 1944 as an informal ceremony at 20th Century Fox. Jennifer Jones won Best Actress, and Paul Lukas acquired Best Actor during this breakthrough event. In addition to them, The Song of Bernadette took the award for Best Film. The Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association joined the following year and changed things drastically. They provided golden orbs on pedestals as the accolades, initially being scrolls. And they turned the ceremony into a formal gala complete with a catered banquet.
Aside from the pageantry, the Golden Globes underwent procedural changes like new categories and awards. These modifications occurred throughout the years and allowed for more specific winners. Of course, not all of them stuck and only lasted for a few years. But all this trial and error eventually led to the Golden Globes we know. The event is a massive celebration for all the stars idolized in entertainment. This statement remains accurate for the 82nd annual event earlier this month.
Recapping the 82nd Globes Ceremony
The 82nd Golden Globes started this year off with a bang. Countless entertainment idols poured into the Beverly Hilton, ready to be recognized for their work. Nikki Glaser, the comedian behind The Roast of Tom Brady, hosted the star-studded event. And as you guessed it, the night was filled with remarkable moments. Celebrities like Adrien Brody, Anna Sawai, and Fernanda Torres achieved their first Golden Globes. As did Sebastian Stan, Demi Moore, Jessica Gunning, and Tadanobu Asano.
Actors and actresses weren’t the only ones receiving these highly coveted golden statues. The movie The Brutalist and its director, Brady Corbet, won in their categories. 2024’s Wicked also won a Globe for cinematic and box office achievement. The shows Shogun, Hacks, and Baby Reindeer received awards as well. Celebrated musicians and composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross even joined the ever-growing winner’s circle. However, the biggest winner of the ceremony was the film Emilia Perez.
Delving into Emilia Perez
Emilia Perez follows Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer in Mexico stuck in a thankless job. The cartel leader, Juan Del Monte, suddenly contacts her to help in a high-risk venture. Juan wants to fake his death and get gender-affirming surgery to become a woman. They succeed in their plan, freeing him to live a new life as Emilia Perez. Rita and Emilia eventually meet again, and their lives quickly become complicated.
Directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez is a comedic crime musical. Taking the role of Rita is Zoe Saldaña from MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Opposite her is Karla Sofía Gascón as Juan, who transitions into Emilia. Selena Gomez also stars as Jessi Del Monte, former wife of Juan/Emilia. The movie contains 16 original songs created by Clément Ducol and Camille. And despite criticism from the LGTBQ+ community, this flick has acquired much praise.
Becoming a Big Golden Globe Winner
Emilia Perez won four Golden Globes at the 82nd annual celebration. It came out ahead and was titled The Best Musical or Comedy. The film also attained the crown of the best non-English language motion picture. ‘El Mal,’ one of the movie’s popular melodies, took home the Best Original Song Globe. Finally, the fourth award went to Zoe Saldaña for her role as Rita. Four might not be record-breaking, but they affirm Emilia Perez to be a fantastic film.
Gascón gave a moving speech in response to the movie’s impressive victory. The leading actress, Emilia Perez, spoke about how light always overcomes darkness. She became the voice of the trans community, encouraging its members to be themselves. Gascón tells them no one dictates their identity, and they must overcome all prejudices. No doubt her words were derived from her past experiences when she came out. Nevertheless, they were passionate and carried morals that we should exercise every day.
Final Thoughts
The fact Emilia Perez won four of these sought-after trophies is outstanding. I haven’t seen the film, yet the victories have piqued my curiosity. Plus, winning multiple Golden Globes isn’t an easy feat, adding to my intrigue. It also makes me smile to know Zoe Saldaña finally got her big win. After seeing her in Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar, Saldaña deserves it.
The same statement is true for Karla Sofía Gascón and her speech. Even if you’re not a transgender person, her words still carry power. A person’s gender identity is their business and theirs alone. If Gascón doesn’t become an icon of all genders, we’ve failed as a society. Congratulations to her, Saldaña, Audiard, and the entire Emilia Perez cast and crew. It’ll be amazing to see what these talented individuals do in the future.
