It may have been embraced by the Academy, but just a day after its debut in Mexico, the acclaimed "narco-musical" Emilia Pérez was already drawing sharp rebukes for superficial portrayals of sensitive subjects.

The French musical scored the most nominations of any movie this year, but it also faces criticism on multiple fronts.

With a baker’s dozen nominations, including the first for an openly transgender actress, “Emilia Pérez” has emerged as the Oscar front-runner.