There was a period there where — despite its more controversial tendencies (which is to say, yes, it’s more than a little troublesome, if not downright disastrous, with regards to racism and gender issues) — Netflix’s Emilia Pérez was seen as being the movie to beat at the upcoming Academy Awards. And then the movie’s lead, Karla Sofía Gascón, had to face up to some of her own ugly past, which changed the conversation significantly. But before the bubble burst, it’s worth wondering: what made people so excited?

Could it have been that people just were thrilled to see Zoe Saldana get a chance to shine without having to get into action movie mode? Were we all just distracted by the movie’s promise versus its execution…? I have a different thought, however: I think it’s the movie’s musical