Irrational Man

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: July 17, 2015

6.7	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 114 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

TVJerryAug 10, 2015

Joaquin Phoenix plays a philosophy professor who's low on life when he moves to a new college. He spends much of the rest of the movie interacting with student Emma Stone (and a few scenes with Parker Posey), philosophizing and moralizing.Joaquin Phoenix plays a philosophy professor who's low on life when he moves to a new college. He spends much of the rest of the movie interacting with student Emma Stone (and a few scenes with Parker Posey), philosophizing and moralizing. When he makes a drastic decision, it changes him for the better but develops into a moral dilemma. As expected from a Woody Allen film, the actors are all good, but his endless early chatter makes staying around a challenge. The last third becomes more compelling, but you gotta sit thru the rest for the payoff. Oh yes, this is not one of Allen's comedies: not one laugh in site.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

nicholasbertJan 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 moralIf 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

All this user's reviews

ledaumasAug 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 quotesIt'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