The China Mail - 'Emilia Perez' tops Oscar nominations in fire-hit Hollywood

French director Jacques Audiard's Mexico-set musical, released by Netflix, shattered the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a non-English-language movie.

It was followed by epic immigrant saga "The Brutalist," and show-stopping musical adaptation "Wicked," which each picked up 10 nominations.

Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" and Vatican thriller "Conclave" bagged eight nods apiece.

Voting deadlines had to be extended this month, as Los Angeles -- the US entertainment capital and home city of the Academy Awards -- was devastated by multiple blazes that have killed more than two dozen people and forced tens of thousands to flee.

Nominees were unveiled in subdued circumstances, as a town that typically fixates on the Oscars race was instead fixated on yet more new fires burning north of the city.

Even so, the glitzy Oscars ceremony itself is still set for March 2, and the stars and studios who have spent months and millions of dollars campaigning learnt if they have made the coveted final shortlists.

"Emilia Perez," in which a narco boss transitions to life as a woman and turns her back on crime, picked up nods for best picture, best director, and best international film, as well as multiple song, score and sound nods.

Its star Karla Sofia Gascon became the first openly trans acting nominee in best actress, and Zoe Saldana was nominated for best supporting actress.

Their more famous co-star, Selena Gomez, who has been criticized for her Spanish-language dialogue, missed out.

Even so, the Netflix film easily surpassed the most nominated non-English-language movie ever -- a record previously held by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Roma," each with 10.

- 'The Apprentice' -

In best actor, firm favorite Adrien Brody was nominated for ("The Brutalist") along with Timothee Chalamet ("A Complete Unknown"), Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave") and Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing").

But in an unexpected pick sure to ruffle a few feathers in the new White House, the fifth and final spot went to Sebastian Stan, for his unsettling transformation into a young Donald Trump in "The Apprentice."

The movie drew threats of lawsuits from Trump's attorneys, particularly for a scene in which the new US president is shown raping his wife.

In arguably the morning's biggest surprise, Jeremy Strong, who plays the youthful Trump's sinister mentor Roy Cohn, was also nominated in his supporting role.

He edged out the likes of Denzel Washington ("Gladiator II").

Meanwhile, in an intense race for best actress, A-listers Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman -- who went all-out with their performances in "Maria" and "Babygirl," respectively -- missed out entirely.

Instead, comeback queen Demi Moore, who charmed the industry with her Golden Globes acceptance speech for body horror-satire "The Substance," was nominated and is seen as the favorite.

Her rivals include Gascon, "Anora" star Mikey Madison, "Wicked" lead Cynthia Erivo, and Brazil's Fernanda Torres for "I'm Still Here."

- 'Lost homes' -

The Los Angeles wildfires have cast a somber shadow on this year's Oscars.

The chaos and displacement they caused could have prevented many Academy members from voting, Pete Hammond, awards columnist for movie trade outlet Deadline, told AFP.

He predicted the upheaval at home could have increased the influence of the Academy's many overseas voters -- who often opt for more artsy fare from outside of the US-centric Hollywood orbit.

And it was indeed a strong morning for international films. Beyond "Emilia Perez," "I'm Still Here" scooped an unexpected best picture nod.

T.Luo--ThChM