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Ashley Judd Reassesses Heat, Calls Film’s Depiction of Women ‘Not OK’

In a new interview, she critiques 1990s portrayals through a lens that rejects the normalization of male sexual violence.

Overview

  • Speaking to Vulture, Judd said the portrayal of women in Michael Mann’s 1995 thriller is unacceptable and that she now reviews her past work for signs of internalized misogyny.
  • She stressed that her criticism addresses the real-world conditions the film reflects rather than placing blame solely on the movie.
  • Judd added that she loved being part of Heat and still considers it an iconic work despite its flaws.
  • Rewatching her career with her partner, she said there are scenes she would refuse today and would publicly challenge for unequal treatment, citing a moment in Norma Jean + Marilyn.
  • She questioned praise for titles like Kiss the Girls, asserting that male sexual violence is not entertainment and urging a focus on the structural inequality that enables harm.