Irrational Man

Name: Irrational Man
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Released: July 17, 2015
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Parker Posey

2015

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Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Critics

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Generally favorable reviews based on 94 Ratings

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 94 Ratings

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Irrational Man

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: July 17, 2015

Starring: Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Parker Posey

Summary: On a small town college campus, a philosophy professor in existential crisis gives his life new purpose when he enters into a relationship with his student.

Director: Woody Allen

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery

Rating: R

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

The Hollywood Reporter - David Rooney

May 18, 2015

Allen's dialogue is witty, his plotting zings along with forward momentum in all the right places, and his observation of elastic moral principles in flux is both mischievous and unsettling, yielding a tasty final-act Hitchcockian twist. Read full review

Screen International - Graham Fuller

May 18, 2015

Irrational Man heads to one of the most startling pieces of action he’s ever filmed. It hints where he stands now as a moralist or cynic in a corrupt world. Read full review

IndieWire - Eric Kohn

May 15, 2015

If the genre elements sustain the work as a whole, the plot suffers from the meandering quality that frequently plagues late period Allen work. Still, the filmmaking finds its groove in individual moments. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Chris Nashawaty

Jul 27, 2015

Allen isn’t completely on autopilot here. There are a couple of sharp, sting-in-the-tail twists near the end, and Phoenix is at least interesting. But Irrational Man would be lesser Woody even if we hadn’t seen most of it before. Read full review

Arizona Republic - Bill Goodykoontz

Jul 23, 2015

Allen builds to a climax that is ridiculous and a comment on … I don’t know. Fate? Folly? There are plenty of both in Irrational Man, but they’re not often a comfortable mix. Read full review

The Telegraph - Tim Robey

May 18, 2015

Allen has worked wonders in the past with superficially similar moral tales, but this one’s a sketchy rehash. Read full review

New York Post - Lou Lumenick

Jul 15, 2015

Irrational Man is so clumsily staged and lethargically paced that it makes such clunkers as “Small Time Crooks” and “Cassandra’s Dream” look like minor classics. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kayl_Braflovski

Jun 21, 2016

ОЧ понравился фильм! Фильм
очень филосовский ! 1010 ! особенно Эмма Стоун Офигительна! Великолепный, качественный фильм!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Szen

Aug 29, 2015

"Irrational Man" delivers some great dialogues and captivating performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, with an old time classic, Woody Allen, twist at the end. Although it doesn't break any new ground, at the director's filmography.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

BHBarry

Sep 10, 2015

"Irrational Man" stars Joaquim Phoenix, Emma Stone and Parker Posey in this mystery drama written and directed by Woody Allen. Although seeing this film late in **** distribution cycle and having heard various comments and reviews of it, I watched with an open mind as this ,in my opinion,"Irrational Man" stars Joaquim Phoenix, Emma Stone and Parker Posey in this mystery drama written and directed by Woody Allen. Although seeing this film late in **** distribution cycle and having heard various comments and reviews of it, I watched with an open mind as this ,in my opinion, pretty good film unfolded. The dialogue and plot were witty and fast paced and the acting by Mr. Phoenix held up to the standards of the role. By now most readers will probably have seen the film and formed their own opinions as to its worth. For me, it was entertaining, well edited and, with its Hitchcock-like ending, worthy of an 8.0 rating… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ledaumas

Aug 14, 2015

It's amazing how Woody Allentown gets away with taking other people's stories, and getting undeserved praise as a writer/director. "Blue Jasmine" was an update of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Names Desire." "Midnight in Paris" used quotes from the Lost Generation's words and writings asIt's amazing how Woody Allentown gets away with taking other people's stories, and getting undeserved praise as a writer/director. "Blue Jasmine" was an update of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Names Desire." "Midnight in Paris" used quotes from the Lost Generation's words and writings as the screenplay. "Magic in the Moonlight" combined the lives of famous magicians, Harry Houdini and Chung Ling Soo. And now we have "Irrational Man" which resembles the premise of Michael Douglas' "Star Chamber," except the characters are less likable. I don't understand how women would fall for Joaquin Phoenix's character. Yet, it's amazing what Joaquin does with an unlikable character. He made the character interesting and intriguing, instead of the whiny way his character was written. Some day, Joaquin wil win an Oscar. But not for this movie.… Expand

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nicholasbert

Jan 15, 2016

If Match Point hadn't existed, maybe Irrational Man would be considered differently; however, Match Point does exist, and Irrational Man is essentially a translation of it from British country clubs to American college campuses. The moral dilemma (including the importance of chance) isIf Match Point hadn't existed, maybe Irrational Man would be considered differently; however, Match Point does exist, and Irrational Man is essentially a translation of it from British country clubs to American college campuses. The moral dilemma (including the importance of chance) is autoreferential and a hallmark of Woody Allen's take on life. It maybe would be fair to assume Irrational Man to be the solidification point of the director's career, a sort of "this is what I do" stated in capital letters.

This being said, Irrational Man isn't despicable: what it lacks is a few adjustments to make Abe's dilemma and resolution clearer and perhaps more humour. It is essentially driven by Joaquin Phoenix's and Emma Stone's performances, without a doubt the proof they are good, if not great, actors. The dialogue is cultivated and relentless as you'd expect from Woody Allen - it's just not as funny or cynical.

One would do Irrational Man a dishonour to review it in light of Allen's past films and therefore downing its rating. It's not his best, but it's more pleasant and more insightful than so many more.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Timbaros

Sep 15, 2015

Woody Allen's 47th film, 'Irrational Man', sticks to several themes he's already explored in a few of his previous films, and is not one of his best.

An older man being pursued by a younger woman is a plot device that Allen has presented to us many times before (Magic in the Moonlight andWoody Allen's 47th film, 'Irrational Man', sticks to several themes he's already explored in a few of his previous films, and is not one of his best.

An older man being pursued by a younger woman is a plot device that Allen has presented to us many times before (Magic in the Moonlight and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger). In 'Irrational Man,' Joaquin Phoenix plays pot-bellied depressed middle age philosophy professor Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix). He's the newest teacher at a small town college in Rhode Island. He's single and doesn't seem to have much going for him. However, two women vie for his attention; unhappily married fellow teacher Rita (Parker Posey) who fantasizes them running away together to Spain, and student Jill (Emma Stone). Jill is in Abe's philosophy class, and she is mesmerized by his teachings and his stance on life. They start to spend lots of time together outside of the classroom, much to the dismay of Jill's perfect boyfriend Roy (Jamie Blackley). Abe tries and tries to resist the urge to sleep with Jill, though he has no trouble having sex with Rita. However, Abe's relationship with Jill is becoming stronger and stronger, until he can no longer resist her, and they eventually sleep together. Jill is so smitten with Abe that she breaks the news to her boyfriend Roy that she wants to break up. The plot then takes a turn: one day at a diner Abe and Jill overhear a woman talking about a local judge who has ruled against her in a divorce proceeding and has awarded custody of her kids to her husband. She also tells the people she is with how the judge has destroyed her life. At this point Abe decides he's going to do something about this woman's problem. His decision rejuvenates him, it transforms him from someone who is aimless and depressed to someone who is full of life and energetic. And he actually does go through with his plan. Of course his actions are irrational, but to him they are rational. But does he think he's pulled off the perfect crime?

There's not much more to the film's plot which is probably why it's only 95 minutes. But Allen does get more from his actors than what the script provides. Phoenix is perfectly cast as the loner professor who struggles with his identity but is lucky enough to have two attractive women vying for his attention. Stone overdoes it a bit as Jill, the student who has a good thing going with Roy but sees something attractive in Abe that we don't see. Stone played a similar role in Allen's last film - 'Magic in the Moonlight' - falling for Colin Firth's much older character. Posey is a delight as Rita, fantasizing about a life with Lucas in Europe. But Allen's script doesn't provide much magic, it's humdrum at the very best in a film that can be categorized as not one of his best. It also won't have much box office appeal here in the UK- in the U.S. the film has made a measly $3.7 million - a far cry from 'Magic in the Moonlight's' total gross of $32 million. At age 79, we're sure there's lots more films in Woody Allen's repertoire to redeem himself from this one.

By Tim Baros… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

royphishooh

Mar 30, 2016

Massively disappointing after the brilliant "Magic In The Moonlight" and "Midnight In Paris", this is the worst Woody Allen movie since "Scoop". Emma Stone's over-acting and the tired voice-over narrative ruined a potentially good film.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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