Julia Roberts won four Oscar nominations across her star-studded career. She won for 2000’s Erin Brockovich, and that win (widely assumed by Roberts to be her one and only shot at the award) now suffers from the art of revisionist history through GenZ and Film Twitter. They would now bestow that Oscar on Ellen Burstyn for her searing turn in Requiem For a Dream. But remember, the Academy in 2001 was not the same as the modern day Academy. Modern Academy members would be more likely to embrace that daring and difficult film. However, remember that Erin Brockovich was a Best Picture, Best Director (Steven Soderbergh), Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Screenplay nominee. Burstyn was Requiem‘s only nomination. I’m not even sure she would have won today honestly. Check Demi Moore versus Mikey Madison’s recent Oscar trajectory.
Anyway, Roberts returns to the Oscar race this year with what appears to be a shoo-in nomination in Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt. Here’s the film’s official description:
From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, AFTER THE HUNT is a gripping psychological drama about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light. AFTER THE HUNT is written by Nora Garrett.
Luca’s overdue for some Academy recognition after turning in three popular films that were largely passed over: Bones and All, Challengers, and Queer. He’s also on the record as saying he believes Roberts’s After the Hunt performance to be the performance of her career. Granted, some of that is film marketing hyperbole, but as the film readies for a fall festival premiere, rumors are flying that she may be the real deal.
Could she win another Oscar? We’ll find out when the film releases in theaters on October 10. We’re hoping it drops at the Telluride Film Festival after a likely Venice Film Festival launch.
Until then, here’s the trailer.
THAT trailer excited me about a Luca film (not easy)! And it's about time Julia gets her second Oscar. She should have won for AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY! And been nominated for BEN IS BACK!
She's best when she's bitter and angry.
Edibiri looks like a factor as well — maybe even bigger than Roberts.
Sevigny, just no on that wig, girl. No!
She's very popular in the industry, so you raise an excellent point.
Lol wig.
She is!
Great trailer and I think Edebiri will be a formidable contender.
I am, however, bracing for some absolutely gawdawful takes from aspects of right leaning film writers, and based on the one I have already seen from one particular corner, my fears are warranted.
You'd think that would be odd given that the trailer contains a good amount of both-sidesing.
But, of course, as I've said before, you can't make people happy if they don't want to be.
Edebiri could be on the Kieran Culkin track this year.