bbc.com
Julia Roberts shines in Luca Guadagnino's flawed campus drama, "After the Hunt
Julia Roberts delivers a powerful performance as a Yale philosophy professor grappling with a sexual assault allegation against a colleague in Luca Guadagnino's "After the Hunt", a film that, despite its flaws, offers a compelling exploration of contemporary issues.
- How does the film utilize its setting and characters to explore broader themes beyond the central conflict?
- The film uses the prestigious Yale University setting to highlight themes of power dynamics, status, and institutional responses to such allegations. The diverse cast of characters, including a queer, Black student, allows for the exploration of intersectionality and differing perspectives on the situation. The film also touches upon the complexities of cancel culture and the difficulties in navigating such situations within an academic context.
- What is the central conflict driving the narrative of "After the Hunt", and what are its immediate implications for the characters involved?
- The central conflict revolves around a sexual assault allegation made against a professor by a student. This creates immediate tension and uncertainty for the accused professor, the accuser, and the professor who is tasked with addressing the situation, leading to strained relationships and professional uncertainty.
- Despite Julia Roberts' acclaimed performance, what aspects of "After the Hunt" detract from its overall impact, and what are the potential consequences for its reception?
- The film suffers from an overabundance of subplots and philosophical jargon, along with some questionable directorial choices and uneven acting from supporting cast members. These flaws could hinder its widespread appeal and limit its potential for critical acclaim, despite its strong central performance and relevant themes.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The review focuses heavily on Julia Robert's performance, framing her as the "best thing" about the movie and the central element around which the plot revolves. This emphasis overshadows other aspects of the film, such as the plot itself and the performances of other actors. The headline and opening sentences immediately highlight Roberts's role and her status as a megastar, potentially influencing the reader's perception of the film's overall quality before considering other aspects. The repeated praise for Roberts's performance may create a bias, leading the reader to expect a higher rating than the film might otherwise deserve based solely on its plot and direction.
Language Bias
The review uses language that is largely positive toward Julia Roberts, using superlatives like "megastar" and "easily the best thing." Words like "monumental," "regally," and "alpha female" describe her character in glowing terms that aren't purely descriptive but carry positive connotations. Conversely, the descriptions of other actors' performances are far less complimentary; for instance, Andrew Garfield is described as employing a "quantity-over-quality approach" and Michael Stuhlbarg's delivery as "irritating." The use of words such as "miscast" is also not objective.
Bias by Omission
The review primarily focuses on the acting performances, especially Julia Roberts', and largely overlooks a critical analysis of the film's handling of serious themes like sexual assault. While the plot is summarized, there is no in-depth discussion on the film's portrayal of these sensitive issues or its potential to perpetuate harmful stereotypes or misrepresent the complexities of such situations. The film's handling of potentially problematic aspects, such as the portrayal of Maggie's character, warrants further examination, but this is absent from the review. There is also no consideration of the source material or similar works.
False Dichotomy
The review presents a false dichotomy by contrasting Julia Robert's performance (deemed excellent) with the rest of the film (deemed lacking). It suggests that the film would have been better if others had matched Robert's level of control, implying a simplistic solution to the film's perceived flaws. This ignores more complex issues in the plot, direction, and screenplay. The review also implicitly presents a false dichotomy between a film being "an admirable project" and an "engaging drama," suggesting these qualities are mutually exclusive.
Gender Bias
The review focuses heavily on Julia Roberts's appearance and mannerisms, describing her as "striding regally" and mentioning her "chic white suit" that "matches her blonde hair." This level of detail regarding her physical attributes is not mirrored in descriptions of the male actors. This disproportionate attention to Roberts' appearance could be considered a subtle form of gender bias, perpetuating the idea that a woman's appearance is more relevant to her performance than a man's.
Sustainable Development Goals
The movie directly addresses gender equality issues by portraying a complex scenario of sexual assault allegations in an academic setting. It explores the challenges faced by the accuser and the accused, highlighting the complexities of navigating such situations within power dynamics and the importance of fair investigation and consideration of all perspectives. The film also features a strong female lead who is a philosophy professor and whose reactions, dilemmas, and choices drive the plot. This provides a platform to discuss issues related to women in academia and leadership roles.