Julia Roberts Claps Back on ‘After the Hunt’: “We’re Losing the Art of Conversation”

At the Venice Film Festival earlier this week, Julia Roberts found herself in the hot seat. She was discussing her latest project, After the Hunt. The Pretty Woman star wasn’t having it when reporters came for her new film in a tension-filled press conference. When a journalist had the audacity to suggest that Roberts’ #MeToo-themed thriller was somehow “undermining feminist principles,” our girl Julia came back swinging with the grace of someone who’s been navigating Hollywood for decades.

 

Julia Roberts Fires Back

“Not to be disagreeable, because it’s not in my nature,” Roberts said with that signature smile we all know and love, before proceeding to calmly school everyone in the room. The sass was real, folks.

What’s the Fuss About in After the Hunt?

Julia Roberts stars in the film as Alma Olsson, a respected college professor who gets caught in the middle of a sexual assault allegation. Her mentee, Maggie, played by The Bear‘s Ayo Edebiri, accuses Alma’s friend and colleague (portrayed by Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault. It’s a highly complicated situation, and apparently, it’s got Venice festival-goers all worked up.

Director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) crafted this psychological thriller to do exactly what it’s doing – stir the pot and force uncomfortable conversations. It looks as though Guadagnino’s goal was accomplished.

The Art of Conversation is Dead, According to Julia

During the Venice interview, when asked about the film’s controversial elements, Julia Roberts dropped some hard truths which hit harder than her character Alma’s moral dilemmas.

We’re kind of losing the art of conversation in humanity right now,

Julia declared, and honestly? She’s not wrong. The Oscar winner made it clear that the film isn’t trying to make grand statements about the #MeToo movement. Instead, it’s holding up a mirror to show us how difficult and complicated these situations really are. Roberts continued:

We’re not making statements. We are portraying these people in this moment in time.

Venice Festival Drama Reaches Peak Intensity

The press conference got so heated that Roberts couldn’t help but throw some shade at the journalists questioning her. “I love the softball questions early in the morning,” she quipped, proving that even at 57, she’s still got that fire we fell in love with in the ’90s.

But here’s where it gets really interesting – Julia Roberts actually thanked the critics for proving her point.

The best part of your question is you talking about how you all came out of the theater talking about it, and that’s how we wanted it to feel…So, you’re welcome.

Julia literally thanked them for walking right into her trap. Iconic, intuitive, and intelligently stated.

Why This Controversy Matters More Than You Think

Julia Roberts has never been one to shy away from complex roles, but After the Hunt represents something different. This isn’t just another rom-com or legal thriller – it’s a film that dares to explore the gray areas of a movement that many prefer to see in black and white.

The fact that Roberts herself admitted to never experiencing the situations that sparked the #MeToo movement makes her involvement even more intriguing. Back in 2017, she told Today that she felt “spared” from such experiences, which adds another layer to her decision to take on this particular project.

The Real Message Behind the Madness

What Roberts and her co-stars are really trying to say is that life doesn’t fit neatly into social media soundbites or hashtag movements. Real situations involve real people with real complications, and sometimes the “right” answer isn’t immediately obvious. When asked about portraying troubled women, Julia said: 

Trouble is where the juicy stuff is…it’s like dominoes of conflict, once one falls, then suddenly everywhere you turn, there’s some new piece of conflict and challenge.

Ayo Edebiri backed up her co-star, adding, “That’s how you grow. That’s the type of movie I enjoy watching.” These women aren’t interested in playing it safe, and frankly, we’re totally here for it.

The Bottom Line on Julia Roberts’ Venice Moment

Julia Roberts didn’t just defend her new film at Venice – she owned the entire conversation. In a world where nuanced discussion has been replaced by Twitter outrage and vitriolic cancel culture, Roberts is demanding we sit with discomfort and actually talk to each other. Revolutionary concept, right?

The film premieres in the U.S. on October 17 and something tells us the tough conversations are just getting started. Julia Roberts might be stirring the pot, but she’s doing it with purpose, brilliance, and a bit of coyness. Her determination and her million-dollar smile reminds us why we became enamored with her in the first place all those years ago.