Irrational Man
Joaquin Phoenix stars in Woody Allen’s dark comedy-drama as philosophy professor Abe Lucas, caught in the midst of a grim existential crisis. Emma Stone co-leads the film as a bright student who takes a fascination to Abe, resulting in a unique relationship will change their whole perspectives of life… not necessarily in a good way.
Abe has a healthy reputation as a professor of philosophy, but not exactly a healthy outlook on life. He’s been welcomed by a small town university with open arms and invited back to the bedroom by his former flame (Parker Posey), though this does not steer him away from his own dark thoughts – ones he constantly drowns with alcohol. But when his student provides him with a golden reason to live, albeit by accident, Abe suddenly finds a profound purpose. And that’s when things really start to go wrong.
- Director:
- Woody Allen ('Annie Hall', 'Midnight in Paris', 'Blue Jasmine', 'Hannah and Her Sisters')
- Writer:
- Woody Allen
- Cast:
- Emma StoneJoaquin PhoenixParker PoseyJamie BlackleyEthan Phillips
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Liam Maguren
flicksWoody Allen takes a heap of existential woes and swirls them around like a single-malt in this black rom-com, using the mind of morbid philosophy professor Abe Lucas as the whiskey glass. It’s a mentality-exposing role that demands excellence, and where Blue Jasmine had the flawless Cate Blanchett, Irrational Man has the dynamic Joaquin Phoenix.
woody's still got it
This film is similar to woody's earlier work, like Crimes and Misdeameanors and Match Point. Its about Abe played by Joaquin Phoenix who is a professer who doesnt get much joy out of life. He one day over hears a conversation about someones tale of woe and decides to help them. This turns into a really interesting crime story, with great dialogue as always...
Satisfyingly engrossing film
Yep, the man was irrational all right, but he couldn't see it. We followed his weird thought processes, which defied logic at times. The contrast between the prof and his girlfriend made the film engrossing. I loved the irony of the torch coming to light (!) at the end (say no more). A well thought out film, satisfying.
Variety
pressWoody Allen contemplates the perfect murder (again) in a darkly funny, intellectually rigorous campus comedy.
Time Out
pressThere’s something sloppy and sluggish about Irrational Man, even by Allen’s uneven standards.
The Telegraph
pressAllen has worked wonders in the past with superficially similar moral tales, but this one’s a sketchy rehash.
The Guardian
pressIt's a tongue-in-cheek mystery which is neither quite scary and serious enough to be suspenseful, nor witty or ironic enough to count as a comedy.
Stuff
pressAfter the delightful, if frothy Magic in the Moonlight, Irrational Man feels like a step down for the prolific Woody Allen.
Rolling Stone
pressAllen has crafted a suspenseful mind-teaser that might feel too much like an intellectual exercise if Phoenix and Stone didn't infuse it with such raw humanity.
Little White Lies
pressCan be seen as one of Allen's cleverest films, but even the satisfying tidiness of its ending contributes to the sense that we're watching a simulation rather than a story.
Hollywood Reporter
pressStands among the better entries of Woody Allen's fourth-act career phase.
Flicks, Liam Maguren
flicksWoody Allen takes a heap of existential woes and swirls them around like a single-malt in this black rom-com, using the mind of morbid philosophy professor Abe Lucas as the whiskey glass. It’s a mentality-exposing role that demands excellence, and where Blue Jasmine had the flawless Cate Blanchett, Irrational Man has the dynamic Joaquin Phoenix.
Variety
pressWoody Allen contemplates the perfect murder (again) in a darkly funny, intellectually rigorous campus comedy.
Time Out
pressThere’s something sloppy and sluggish about Irrational Man, even by Allen’s uneven standards.
The Telegraph
pressAllen has worked wonders in the past with superficially similar moral tales, but this one’s a sketchy rehash.
The Guardian
pressIt's a tongue-in-cheek mystery which is neither quite scary and serious enough to be suspenseful, nor witty or ironic enough to count as a comedy.
Stuff
pressAfter the delightful, if frothy Magic in the Moonlight, Irrational Man feels like a step down for the prolific Woody Allen.
Rolling Stone
pressAllen has crafted a suspenseful mind-teaser that might feel too much like an intellectual exercise if Phoenix and Stone didn't infuse it with such raw humanity.
Little White Lies
pressCan be seen as one of Allen's cleverest films, but even the satisfying tidiness of its ending contributes to the sense that we're watching a simulation rather than a story.
Hollywood Reporter
pressStands among the better entries of Woody Allen's fourth-act career phase.
woody's still got it
This film is similar to woody's earlier work, like Crimes and Misdeameanors and Match Point. Its about Abe played by Joaquin Phoenix who is a professer who doesnt get much joy out of life. He one day over hears a conversation about someones tale of woe and decides to help them. This turns into a really interesting crime story, with great dialogue as...
Satisfyingly engrossing film
Yep, the man was irrational all right, but he couldn't see it. We followed his weird thought processes, which defied logic at times. The contrast between the prof and his girlfriend made the film engrossing. I loved the irony of the torch coming to light (!) at the end (say no more). A well thought out film, satisfying.
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