Julia Roberts' Polarizing Role in 'After the Hunt' Ignites Debate

The upcoming film "After the Hunt," directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Julia Roberts, is set to premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival on October 10th. The film, produced by Amazon/MGM Studios, is intended to spark conversations and elicit a range of emotions and perspectives from viewers.

Roberts, who won an Oscar for "Erin Brockovich," plays Yale University philosophy professor Alma, who finds herself caught in a conflict between her favorite colleague, Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield), and her favorite student, Maggie Price (Ayo Edebiri). The film explores themes related to the #MeToo movement and cancel culture, though it has been criticized for not fully addressing these complex issues.

While Roberts' performance is not expected to earn her any major awards, Garfield's portrayal of the volatile Hank has generated significant awards buzz. His character, an assistant professor, is accused of assaulting Edebiri's character after a party, leading to his rapid mental dissolution and disgraced academic status. Garfield's standout moments, including a hallway tantrum scene against Roberts' character, could make for a compelling awards-worthy excerpt.

The film's divisiveness, similar to Roberts' previous Oscar-nominated role in "August: Osage County," may actually play to her strengths, as voters could see her performance as a vote of confidence towards her purposefully polarizing character. However, the film is unlikely to earn director Luca Guadagnino a Best Director nomination, though it does serve as another example of how he tees up his stars to succeed.