IRRATIONAL MAN (2015)

Genre: Drama/Mystery
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Parker Posey, Jamie Blackley, Meredith Hagner, Ethan Phillips, Ben Rosenfield
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Sexual Scene and Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 23 July 2015

Synopsis: Woody Allen’s IRRATIONAL MAN is about a tormented philosophy professor who finds a will to live when he commits an existential act. Philosophy professor Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) is at rock bottom emotionally, unable to find any meaning or joy in life. Abe feels that everything he’s tried to do, from political activism to teaching, hasn’t made any difference. Soon after arriving to teach at a small town college, Abe gets involved with two women: Rita Richards (Parker Posey), a lonely professor who wants him to rescue her from her unhappy marriage; and Jill Pollard (Emma Stone), his best student, who becomes his closest friend. While Jill loves her boyfriend Roy (Jamie Blackley), she finds Abe’s tortured, artistic personality and exotic past irresistible. Even as Abe displays signs of mental imbalance, Jill’s fascination with him only grows. Still, when she tries to make their relationship a romantic one, he rebuffs her. Pure chance changes everything when Abe and Jill overhear a stranger’s conversation and become drawn in. Once Abe makes a profound choice, he is able to embrace life to the fullest again. But his decision sets off a chain of events that will affect him, Jill and Rita forever.

Movie Review:

This reviewer is worried - he is concerned about his well being. As the phase of life known as mid 30s welcomes him, he finds himself in what many would term as a “first world” problem. With no accomplishment whatsoever in career or family, he finds himself oddly connecting with Woody Allen’s latest creation, Abe Lucas.

You see, Abe Lucas finds himself in an existential crisis, and cynically discusses seemingly profound topics like life and death on a minute by minute basis. He has the reason to do so actually, considering how he is a much respected and to a large extent, adored philosophy professor. Would his bleak outlook on the emptiness of life change for the better after joining a new school and meeting a new community of people? Is there something special between him and a positively chirpy student that will change both courses of life altogether?

If you are familiar with 79 year old Allen’s body of work, you would know what to expect from this mystery drama film dripping with dark humour. As usual, the movie is driven by dialogue so those expecting action and computer generated effects can sit this one out. The outlook on things, or life as a whole, is expectedly harsh and this seems to be a reflection on Allen’s controversial love life - the actor, writer, director, comedian and playwright, whose career has spanned more than 50 years, is no stranger to a number of complicated marriages, relationships and sexual allegations. Go read more on the Internet if you want a low down on the veteran filmmaker, whose past works include To Rome with Love (2012) and Blue Jasmine (2013).

In his latest feature, Allen has aptly cast Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Inherent Vice) as the protagonist. Sporting a huge beer belly, you see the man lounging from one place to another, spouting philosophical quotes that will make any young girl swoon in awe. Enter Emma Stone’s (Easy A, Birdman) Jill, a student who becomes romantically entangled with the man, who is feeling an increasing frustration in his mental space. Stone, who last worked with Allen in last year’s Magic in the Moonlight, is cast again as the optimistic and idealistic female character who turns the protagonist’s life upside down. 

In a dramatic turn that is almost similar to 2006’s murder drama Scoop, this 96 minute movie makes you sit up when Abe suddenly finds a purpose in life after eavesdropping on a woman’s complaint about how unjust a certain judge is. He takes it upon himself to rid the judge, with the objective of making the world a better place. As the film proceeds, one thing leads to another and the sharply written screenplay ends in a manner that is both cruelly hilarious and reflectively heartbreaking.

This reviewer, who can sometimes morph into Abe’s unwarranted cynicism at times, may not be successful with his job (and women!), but there’s this part of him which wishes to find the lost vigour in life. But after watching this film, he does wonder where all that will lead to eventually? Ah, the complexities of a “first world” problem.

Movie Rating:

(Those familiar with Woody Allen’s filmmaking style, or even his outlook in life, will connect with and enjoy this dark humour laden mystery drama)

Review by John Li