Guilty Pleasures
By Associated Press
‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked’ advance in Oscars shortlists
The Selena Gomez ballad “Mi Camino,” the Will Ferrell and Harper Steele road trip documentary “Will & Harper” and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s pulsating “Challengers” score are one step closer to an Oscar nomination. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled shortlists in 10 categories Tuesday, including for documentary, international feature, best song and score.
Two musicals, “Emilia Pérez” and “Wicked,” were well represented in the categories. Netflix’s audacious transgender drug-lord drama “Emilia Pérez” was most named, advancing in international feature, original score, two original songs including “Mi Camino” and “El Mal” (performed by Zoe Saldaña), sound and hair and makeup.
“Wicked” also moved forward in several categories, like hair and makeup, original score, sound and visual effects. The adaptation of the Broadway musical did not include original songs and therefore wasn’t eligible in that category.
The song semifinalists include several notable artists, like Pharrell Williams for “Piece by Piece,” Lainey Wilson for her “Twisters” song “Out of Oklahoma,” Elton John and Brandi Carlile for “Never Too Late” and Robbie Williams for “Forbidden Road” from “Better Man.” Diane Warren may also be heading for a 16th nomination for her song from “The Six Triple Eight.” Nicholas Britell’s “Winter Coat,” performed by Saoirse Ronan in “Blitz,” was also included, as was Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tell Me It’s You” from “Mufasa: The Lion King,” performed by Aaron Pierre and Tiffany Boone.
Among the 15 documentaries eligible for nominations are “The Bibi Files,””Daughters,” “Eno,” “Frida,””The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” “Dahomey,” “Union,” “Porcelain War” and “No Other Land.”
There are also 15 international features advancing, including “I’m Still Here” (Brazil), “Universal Language” (Canada), “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Germany), “Kneecap” (Ireland), “Vermiglio” (Italy), “Flow” (Latvia) and “Dahomey” (Senegal).
As most of the shortlists are in below-the-line categories celebrating crafts, there are also films that aren’t necessarily the most obvious of Oscar contenders. “Deadpool & Wolverine” was singled out for both sound and visual effects, as was “Alien: Romulus” which also got a nod for score.
“Dune: Part Two,” included in visual effects, sound and makeup and hair, was notably not among the 20 score finalists. Hans Zimmer’s work was not eligible because it contained too much preexisting music from the first “Dune.” He did make the cut for “Blitz,” however, as did Danny Elfman for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Kris Bowers for “The Wild Robot,” Bryce Dessner for “Sing Sing” and Daniel Blumberg for “The Brutalist.”
For the most part, shortlists are determined by members in their respective categories, though the specifics vary from branch to branch: Some have committees, some have minimum viewing requirements.
These lists will narrow to five when final nominations are announced on Jan. 17. The 97th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will be held on Sunday, March 2, broadcasting on ABC and streaming live on Hulu.
Young Miko proves the tide is changing in Latin trap. Grammy nom backs it up
NEW YORK | Who are the top reggaeton musicians in the world? Or throughout history? Does Bad Bunny come to mind? Daddy Yankee? What about Wisin & Yandel, Rauw Alejandro, Farruko and J Balvin?
For years, it seems, urbano music has been defined solely by its male superstars. But that’s not the case, and certainly not in recent history.
Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito” is undeniable — Spotify’s fourth most-streamed album, globally, in 2024 even though it was released in 2023 — and a crop of newer talent from Puerto Rico, like Villano Antillano, RaiNao and Añasco’s Young Miko, demonstrate that the tide is changing — and music once associated with a certain kind of machismo is getting a makeover.
Since releasing her 2022 EP “Trap Kitty,” leading to her debut full-length “Att,” Young Miko has stood out. Not only for her braggadocious Latin trap flows that aim to empower the LGBTQ+ community — though that is certainly a factor — but also for her super viral hits, like “RiRi” and “offline,” featuring Feid.
Last month, “Att” earned Young Miko her first-ever Grammy nomination in the best música urbana album category, traditionally a boys’ club. She’s the only woman nominated in the category. The Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 2, 2025.
So, how did she react to the Grammy news?
“It was definitely unexpected. It’s definitely always been a dream,” she recently told The Associated Press at Variety Music Hitmakers Brunch, adding that it is not only her dream, but the dream of her entire team. “So, the moment we got that news, it was such an exciting moment. We were all together and we just want to be able to enjoy it. And we’re just happy to even be considered. So yeah, it’s amazing.”
Earlier this year, Karol G became the first woman to win a Grammy for best música urbana album.
“As a woman, I have to say, like in my experience, it was tough… to be a girl in this industry, in the music that I do, urban music,” Karol G told AP backstage at the 2024 Grammys in February after she took home the trophy. “I know I represent a lot of girls, not just in music, a lot of women in the world that are fighting to represent themselves.”
Young Miko says the industry is changing, “definitely,” she says.
“I think everything happens for a reason and evolution is a part of absolutely everything, so I’ll just leave that there.”
McGregor says he’s in negotiations with Paul for boxing exhibition in India
Conor McGregor says he’s in negotiations to fight Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India.
McGregor said early Tuesday morning on social media he’s in “preliminary agreements” with the family of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani to fight Paul.
“I have agreed,” McGregor said.
McGregor also said that rumors of a potential bout with Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Ilia Topuria were false. McGregor said he would make his “return to the Octagon” after his boxing exhibition with Paul.
Topuria also denied any speculation he’d fight McGregor.
“The rumors of bout with mchicken are false,” Topuria said on social media. “I don’t fight nor am I interested in fighting with a rapist.”
McGregor’s announcement comes less than a month after a civil court jury in Ireland ruled he must pay nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) to a woman who said he “brutally raped and battered” her at a Dublin hotel penthouse in December 2018.
Nikita Hand said the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex.
The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done.
The 36-year-old McGregor was once the biggest UFC star, but he hasn’t fought since injuring his leg during a bout with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He pulled out of a scheduled UFC 303 match with Michael Chandler last June and said later that it was due to a broken toe.
Paul is a YouTuber-turned-boxer. He previously fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an exhibition, among others. His brother Jake Paul won a unanimous decision over 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson last month in Arlington, Texas. The Jake Paul-Tyson fight was the first live sports event on Netflix, which announced that the bout was viewed in 60 million households.
—From AP reports
