Bollywood Review: ‘Emilia Pérez’ Hits the High Notes in This Crime Thriller Extravaganza

Hello Bollywood buffs! It’s your favorite gossip queen, Khabree Kiran, back with another scoop straight from the heart of filmi duniya. Brace yourselves, because today we’re diving into the vibrant chaos of “Emilia Pérez,” a wild ride of a movie that mixes musical, melodrama, and crime thriller into one spicy masala. Jacques Audiard has truly gone all out with this one, leaving us both dazzled and a bit dizzy. Let’s unravel this tale, shall we?

Picture this: Mexico City, a backdrop of family drama, ambition, and some serious cartel action. But wait, there’s more! We’ve got human disappearances, gender affirmation, and a dash of corruption. Ab yeh locha toh maa kasam banta hai, na? 🎭💥

Sometimes, the characters burst into song like it’s Holi and Diwali combined—full of rage one moment, joy and hope the next. Other times, they’re whispering sweet nothings in musical form. Yet, amidst all this dhamaal, the audience might feel a bit left out, like we weren’t sent the RSVP to this emotional rollercoaster. Come on, “Emilia Pérez,” where’s the invite for the rest of us? 🧐

Here’s the scoop: A cartel boss named Manitas drags a sharp but sidelined lawyer, Rita Mora Castro, into a wild scheme. Manitas wants gender confirmation surgery, so Rita’s tasked with organizing it all—think hiring the hush-hush surgeon, faking a death, and relocating the family to Switzerland. In return, Rita’s set to become filthy rich. And that, my friends, is just the opening act! 🎬

Fast forward four years, and Rita’s got a makeover that could rival any Bollywood transformation sequence. She’s living the dream in London when she bumps into Emilia Pérez, another woman with her own dramatic backstory. Rita thinks she’s about to be offed, but Emilia’s just a mom missing her kids. Rita’s mission? Convince the kids to move back to Mexico, pretending Emilia’s their long-lost aunt. Sounds like a case for Mrs. Doubtfire, huh? 😏

Zoe Saldaña brings a fiery charm to Rita, though the character’s depth is as shallow as a monsoon puddle. She seems to exist just to serve others’ whims, with little personal growth. Early on, she debates with a Hong Kong plastic surgeon about the soul’s connection to the body. She believes in change; he doesn’t. The film attempts to explore this profound concept but ends up tripping over its own OTT drama.

Emilia’s transformation from a ruthless cartel leader to a caring, empathetic soul is dramatic, to say the least. She starts a foundation to help families find their missing loved ones, but can’t handle her ex, Jessi, moving on. It’s peak soap opera material, but be warned—it might come off as a bit oversimplified. 📺

Jessi’s story feels like a tribute to the likes of Almodóvar and Lynch, complete with a music video vibe. While it’s fun and wild, the film ultimately spirals into absurdity, leaving us with little emotional takeaway after tackling such grand themes. 🤯

“Emilia Pérez” is hitting the big screens this Friday, with a Netflix release slated for November 13. Rated R for its spicy content, it’s an ambitious two-and-a-half-hour rollercoaster. Two and a half stars out of four from yours truly. ⭐⭐✨

KIRAN’S GYAN: In Bollywood, sometimes the script goes on a world tour, picking up a bit of everything along the way. But remember, dosto, it’s not just about the journey—it’s about giving the audience a seat on the plane! 🎢🎬