The MeToo Drama Disappoints - Luca Guadagnino's 'After the Hunt' Divides Critics at Venice Festival
Luca Guadagnino's 'After the Hunt' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, generating buzz as a potential Oscar contender. The film boasts impressive technical aspects and a star-studded cast, but its script and central focus have sparked debate.
The film, starring Julia Roberts as philosophy professor Alma Olsson, explores Alma's involvement in a sexual assault accusation against a student. Despite Roberts' commanding performance, critics argue that Alma's central role dilutes the impact of the assault narrative, with the victim, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), becoming less prominent.
Technically, 'After the Hunt' excels. Production design and cinematography are praised, while Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross deliver a compelling score. However, the script fails to do justice to its serious subject matter and impressive cast. Many undeveloped ideas leave the story feeling incomplete. Guadagnino's direction, while solid, doesn't reach the heights of his previous work.
Despite its technical prowess and stellar cast, 'After the Hunt' struggles with a weak script that fails to fully explore its important themes. While Julia Roberts' performance is commanding, the film's central focus on her character rather than the victim leaves a complex issue feeling underdeveloped.
