Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, a campus-set drama centered on a sexual misconduct allegation, struggles to find its footing despite a cast of celebrated actors. The narrative, which unfolds at Yale University, follows a revered philosophy professor, played by Julia Roberts, whose world is upended when a star student accuses a colleague of assault.
Roberts’s character, a longtime advocate for feminist causes, finds her loyalties torn between the student she mentors and the colleague she considers a friend. Andrew Garfield appears as the accused professor, while Ayo Edebiri portrays the student at the heart of the allegation. Despite the actors’ committed efforts, the film’s characterizations remain frustratingly vague, leaving the performers with little solid ground to build upon.
The story attempts to navigate the murky waters of modern campus politics and personal relationships, but its pursuit of complexity results in a muddled and often inert experience. A heavy-handed musical score frequently overwhelms key scenes, and a recurring, intrusive ticking sound fails to generate the intended suspense, instead highlighting the narrative’s lack of clear direction.
While the production was granted access to film at Yale, lending an air of authenticity to its settings, the plot’s central contrivances and a climactic confrontation that lands with a thud undermine its potential. The film ultimately feels like a collection of intriguing ideas that never cohere into a compelling or satisfying whole.
