by Samuel Nichols (Contributing Writer)
Reality is objective. Perception is not. Luca Guadagnino’s newest movie After the Hunt shows us many perspectives on one event, and how people believe it or not. After an ill-fated encounter between a young PhD student Maggie (Ayo Edebiri) and a gruff philosophy professor Hank (Andrew Garfield), their respective idol and co-worker Alma (Julia Roberts) has to take a side. On one hand, she has years of friendship with Hank, and they have come up together at this university. On the other, she has a reputation of supporting and believing women, and that’s why Maggie has looked up to Alma for so long. Both of these relationships are why they both have come to Alma for support. Both of their careers are in her hands.
If you wanted more proof that Julia Roberts has range like Victor Wembanyama has wingspan, look no further than After the Hunt. Roberts is still a queen of rom-coms, and just comedies in general, but here she is calculating and guarded, while still maintaining her classic charm. Most of that charm is saved for earlier scenes in the movie prior to the alleged encounter, but Roberts is still showing off her terrific wit later on when she dissects her relationships with both Maggie and Hank.
Garfield and Edebiri round out this trio of strong performances. With the objective truth being unclear, it makes their actions and motivations muddier. They both bring an uncertainty to their characters’ believability that works very well with the story. Garfield’s macho and headstrong performance makes him unlikable. But as that headstrong-ness melts into sheer desperation, he garners a certain empathy. Edebiri is the reverse, as she has an innocent nature about her at first, and seems to be in emotional distress when talking about Hank. But as our story continues, she flips and has some pent up anger for having to even explain herself in this situation. There are even a few moments where her guard seems to drop and a more sinister nature is revealed.
That theme of conflict is a good one, and very relevant to where our society is today. When you are in the middle on an issue, it can feel like everyone is pulling for your support and not for you. It makes for compelling story in a movie when that objective truth is hidden. So props to the writing for being clever with that. But the second half of the movie truly feels copy and paste from Tár,with Alma struggling with something greater than just what truth to believe. While this part of the story keeps up the theme of questioning different narratives, it is so much about an abuse of power that it feels as if we’ve pivoted into a different kind of story. I would have preferred if we stayed and kept the movie all in one place.
What’s really a reach is the older director trying to make something of the cancel culture narrative surrounding liberal college campuses. Does stuff like this happen? Absolutely. Am I tired of seeing it used as a device from European directors? Also yes. Seriously, please think of a different way to work up a conflict between a student and a professor. That’s not the only way people can try to screw each other over, especially in the academic world.
The other side plot is about a mysterious illness that Alma is dealing with throughout the movie. Just randomly for no reason she finds herself keeled over in pain. She even has a trip to the hospital at one point. But for the life of me, I could not figure out the significance of this. Maybe it’s meant to be some kind of a metaphor for being held back just by the nature of being a woman in a male-dominated field, but who knows?
Ultimately the talented stars make up for a lot, making the movie interesting, but I wanted something more. And as long as it doesn’t keep Edebiri from filming season 5 of The Bear, fine.
Rating: Liked It
After the Hunt is currently playing in theaters
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