Quick hits on Oscar hopefuls: ‘Anora,’ ‘A Real Pain,’ ‘Emilia Pérez’

More and more of the year’s most critically acclaimed films are arriving on local screens, including three Best Picture contenders in “Anora,” “A Real Pain” and “Emilia Pérez.”

“Anora” begins as a wild, explicit, modern-day spin on “Pretty Woman” with a Brooklyn stripper, Ani (Mikey Madison), catching the attention of the son (Mark Eydelshteyn) of a wealthy Russian oligarch. After a whirlwind week of debauchery, the pair hastily marry in Las Vegas, which triggers the arrival of a trio of “henchmen” hired by the oligarch to strongarm Ani into annulling the marriage.

The henchmen, however, aren’t exactly the standard tough guys you’d expect from such a premise, including the leader, Toros (Karren Karagulian), an Orthodox priest who happens to be the new groom’s godfather. Toro’s brother, Garnick (Cache Tovmasyan), and his friend, Igor (Yura Borisov), round out the “goon squad,” and none of them are well equipped to handle Ani’s explosive personality.

Written and directed by Sean Baker (the celebrated filmmaker behind memorable character studies “The Florida Project,” “Red Rocket” and “Tangerine”), “Anora” is a distinct and often hilarious comedy fueled by a star-making performance by Madison, who commands the screen in nearly every frame with profane charisma. “Anora” won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is as uniquely crowd-pleasing as it is artfully constructed. The final scene, propelled by Madison and fellow breakout Borisov, recontextualizes the movie and seals its status as one of the year’s more adventurous and satisfying films.

“The Social Network” star Jesse Eisenberg makes a huge leap in his second directorial effort, the comedy “A Real Pain,” co-starring Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as cousins who join a Holocaust tour group in Poland to learn about the origins of their recently passed grandmother. While Eisenberg’s David obsessively masks his generalized anxiety, Culkin’s Benji galivants through life with equal doses of charisma, charm and self-righteous obnoxiousness. Benji’s been struggling with the death of their grandmother, and David feels guilty that their once close relationship has drifted during Benji’s struggles.

Culkin and Eisenberg make for an amusing Odd Couple in some stretches, but “A Real Pain” has much more on its mind (not surprising given the family history they learn about on the trip). The film’s familiar travelogue structure eventually steers into a much broader story about pain and loss that is both universal and richly distinct to the culture at its center.

Hoping to garner attention before the bombastic debut of “Wicked,” Netflix’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez” takes some of the biggest creative swings of the year, chiefly in its mix of style and tone. Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard (“A Prophet”), the film follows a Mexican lawyer (Zoe Saldana in one of her best roles) who helps a notorious crime boss disappear from their criminal life and transition into living as a woman. After multiple surgeries and years away from her family, Emilia (breakout Karla Sofia Gascón) attempts to reconnect with the children she left behind, inviting her former wife (Selena Gomez) and the kids to come live with their long-lost aunt, Emilia.

The performances by the trio of stars, combined with Audiard’s wild shifts in story and style, make “Emilia Pérez” an undeniably original experience. Unfortunately, few of the film’s numerous original songs make an impression, with much of the performances playing out in muted, “talking” style that often halts the film’s momentum. The movie also loses focus on its titular character, who often disappears behind the story of Saldana’s conflicted attorney.

Some will justifiably celebrate the film’s audacity and performances. Others will wonder why the movie contains so many lackluster songs.

“Anora” and “A Real Pain” are now playing in theaters. “Emilia Pérez” is streaming on Netflix.

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.

    This image released by Neon shows a scene from "Anora."
  

    This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Kieran Culkin, right, and Jesse Eisenberg on the set of "A Real Pain."