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:
69
Mixed:
35
Negative:
10
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
7
beingryanjudeJul 20, 2015
While sure to be overlooked by many, Irrational Man deserves more than a shrug. It's as well-crafted as many of Woody's other murder mystery flicks and holds its own. Sure, I've seen better performances in the past, but Parker Posey more thanWhile sure to be overlooked by many, Irrational Man deserves more than a shrug. It's as well-crafted as many of Woody's other murder mystery flicks and holds its own. Sure, I've seen better performances in the past, but Parker Posey more than shines throughout. It's the type of mischievous and intelligent fun that reminds you why Woody Allen is such an important writer and director - and why he must continue to release his annual film.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
Brent_MarchantJul 24, 2015
By no means one of Woody Allen's best efforts (a little talky at times, a little forced in plot development in others) but certainly not the awful mess some have made it out to be. The intriguing story line gets better as the film movesBy no means one of Woody Allen's best efforts (a little talky at times, a little forced in plot development in others) but certainly not the awful mess some have made it out to be. The intriguing story line gets better as the film moves along, especially once one gets past the first 30 minutes or so. Don't go in with high expectations and you won't be disappointed.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
jhepAug 26, 2015
WOW ! What an EXHILARATING ride ! Thank you Woody for one of your absolutely finest films; up there with Match Point, Manhattan Murder Mysteries, Small Time Crooks, Manhattan, Shadows and Fog, Radio Days, You Will Meet a Tall Dark StrangerWOW ! What an EXHILARATING ride ! Thank you Woody for one of your absolutely finest films; up there with Match Point, Manhattan Murder Mysteries, Small Time Crooks, Manhattan, Shadows and Fog, Radio Days, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and- yes- Broadway Danny Rose !………Woody Allen when he‘s at home and reading Stendhal and Graham Greene……Having read the reviews I walked in expecting very little but I left the theatre having seen one of the most powerful, superbly acted and brilliantly directed films I have ever seen !

“Irrational Man” is a sort of Zen Master’s punch in the head. A “film noir” to rival Billy Wilder’s masterpiece Double Indemnity, Welles’ Touch of Evil or Carol Reeds‘ The Third Man…..….and what an amazing cast ! From the opening scene to the final shot this movie grabs you and fascinates you and has you eagerly anticipating the next plot twist. Both Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix grace this film with performances that can only be termed “jaw-dropping”; their talent defying you to sit back and say “well, it’s just a movie”, they COMMAND your attention every moment. What an amazing film ! What a gem!…..This is why people keep going to movies.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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9
SzenAug 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.
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10
Kayl_BraflovskiJun 21, 2016
ОЧ понравился фильм! Фильм
очень филосовский ! 1010 ! особенно Эмма Стоун Офигительна! Великолепный, качественный фильм!
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8
BHBarrySep 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"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
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8
preciouskikiAug 9, 2015
• PROS: Excellent performances from Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Parker Posey. And I was delighted to see journalist/actress/comedienne Nancy Giles in a small role in the beginning. (Fans of CBS Sunday Morning have enjoyed Nancy Giles'• PROS: Excellent performances from Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Parker Posey. And I was delighted to see journalist/actress/comedienne Nancy Giles in a small role in the beginning. (Fans of CBS Sunday Morning have enjoyed Nancy Giles' broadcast segments for many years). I'd love to see Nancy Giles in more movies. Loved the music, especially "The In Crowd" by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. And the Newport, Rhode Island seaside setting was gorgeous. And I especially enjoyed the way the movie treats the subject of right-or-wrong situations that pop up in our everyday lives. It gives you something to talk about later. The movie is only 94 minutes long, which seemed just about right, leaving you wanting more, like the old show business adage.

• CONS: There were one or two spots where I thought the plot stretched my suspension of disbelief just a bit too far, but I was willing to overlook those moments because I was enjoying the rest of the film so thoroughly.

• THE UPSHOT: I would recommend this as a highly entertaining drama with touches of Woody Allen's incomparable wit and a few surprises along the way.… Expand
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8
amboyAug 12, 2015
This study of an alienated academic philosopher doesn't become a murder story until half way through, and it never becomes much of one (any number of possible twists are overlooked). But the performances are full of wit and invention (EmmaThis study of an alienated academic philosopher doesn't become a murder story until half way through, and it never becomes much of one (any number of possible twists are overlooked). But the performances are full of wit and invention (Emma Stone and Parker Posey hit career highs and Joaquin Phoenix is dead right in a difficult role), and the jazz piano (especially the Ramsey Lewis Trio) is great.… Expand
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7
SpangleApr 11, 2017
With each passing critically maligned modern Woody Allen film that I watch, it becomes readily apparent that I am an Allen apologist. Either that or his films are never as bad as many see them. Known as a legend in the world of comedy,With each passing critically maligned modern Woody Allen film that I watch, it becomes readily apparent that I am an Allen apologist. Either that or his films are never as bad as many see them. Known as a legend in the world of comedy, Irrational Man finds Allen blending mystery - a genre who has some great affinity for - and blending it with straight drama. Though he is also certainly celebrated for his dramas, he had never really made a film that was a mystery and a drama with no comedy. Mysteries of his that come to mind include Manhattan Murder Mystery, Small Time Crooks, and Scoop, all of which included a heavy dosage of comedy. In his late period, Irrational Man stands alone as a film with no real comedy (Blue Jasmine is close, but can be categorized by some as black comedy). Yet, it comes with a plenty of that Allen philosophy that we have come to love over the years. Thus, though its genre may be a bit of a unique blend, it is always apparent that Allen is sitting there behind the camera, if the unique style and camera work did not tip you off right away.

Focusing upon a philosophy professor, Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix), Irrational Man tells the story of his time at a small liberal arts school as a member of its philosophy department. Known for his affairs with students and having a rock-and-roll reputation upon arrival, Abe is now quite the classic Allen misanthrope. Detesting the world, having no reason for living anymore, and unable to perform sexually due to how lost he is, Abe Lucas is a man that just floats through the day and complains about the world to students. While teaching, he strikes up relationships with student Jill Pollard (Emma Stone) and chemistry professor Rita Richards (Parker Posey). Yet, neither satisfy him. He still experiences writer's block and drowns his sorrows in a bottle of alcohol constantly. It is only when he overhears a conversation in a diner about a crooked judge that is taking away a woman's children because he is friends with her deadbeat ex-husband's lawyers that he figures out what will make him feel alive again: murder.

Clearly inspired by the works of Alfred Hitchcock, Allen shows Abe Lucas planning out the perfect murder. A constant theme in Hitchcock's work, Abe takes pleasure in the artistry of planning out the murder akin to films such as Shadow of a Doubt or Dial M for Murder where men joyfully plot out what the perfect murder would turn out to be. Similar to Strangers on a Train, Abe reasons that he is the perfect man to commit this murder since he has no ties to the judge. Finally, similar to the murderers in Rope, he revels in conversations about the murder after the fact as people try to guess who did it and how it was done, all while Abe can sit there with a sly grin on his face knowing that he was the one who had taken out the judge.

This murderous pleasure may reinvigorate Abe's reason for living, yet the key to Allen's film is always the philosophy behind the killing. In particular, how it relates to Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative. In an extended classroom scene, Allen quickly briefs the audience on the concept that suggests lying, in any situation, is wrong. If you are asked a question, it is imperative you respond truthfully because one lie opens the door and a slippery slope begins where one must then determine, situation-by-situation, when to tell a lie. However, Abe interjects that it is a fairy tale situation described by Kant, one that has no basis in reality because any moral person would lie if the Nazis came to their home and asked if Anne Frank was hiding in their attic or not. Foreshadowing how Abe would defend his murder - that it was a net positive to the world for an immoral person to be killed by a moral one - the categorical imperative comes back when Jill references how one murder inevitably leads to another as he must then cover it up. This philosophical concept is what kicks off the climax once Abe realizes that he must cover it up as the police close in on a suspect. Anybody who knows must go and everything is on the table as his supposed superior morality and place of judgment are thrown into question once he realizes the full ramifications of his actions.

Though Allen is an atheist, this film is yet another late period work where he seems to contemplate death, religion, and what life means. Repeated references to existentialism adorn this film with Abe repeatedly declaring that life is meaningless, while also playing with death via russian roulette and alcoholism. Yet, the film's ultimate moral tale that we are not to judge others and damn them to death simply because they are immoral feels inherently Christian, what with the whole "he without sin cast the first stone" portion of the Bible. Though perhaps not finding its roots in the Bible, Irrational Man certainly does apply this principle in formulating where Abe misstepped and where Kant's categorical imperative comes from: that we humans are no judg… Expand
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8
Benkoko11Feb 23, 2017
Woody Allen's knack for tight, thoughtful writing combined with Phoenix and Stone's wonderful on-screen chemistry makes for a delicious little murder mystery.
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7
qbasekostasApr 14, 2019
Θρίλερ, κωμωδία και ψυχολογικό δράμα, ο καινούργιος Γούντι Άλεν ανακυκλώνει χαριτωμένα, αλλά με ελάχιστη πια πρωτοτυπία, τα ίδια φιλοσοφικά ερωτήματα...Θρίλερ, κωμωδία και ψυχολογικό δράμα, ο καινούργιος Γούντι Άλεν ανακυκλώνει χαριτωμένα, αλλά με ελάχιστη πια πρωτοτυπία, τα ίδια φιλοσοφικά ερωτήματα...
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7
qbaseApr 14, 2019
Θρίλερ, κωμωδία και ψυχολογικό δράμα, ο καινούργιος Γούντι Άλεν ανακυκλώνει χαριτωμένα, αλλά με ελάχιστη πια πρωτοτυπία, τα ίδια φιλοσοφικά ερωτήματα...Θρίλερ, κωμωδία και ψυχολογικό δράμα, ο καινούργιος Γούντι Άλεν ανακυκλώνει χαριτωμένα, αλλά με ελάχιστη πια πρωτοτυπία, τα ίδια φιλοσοφικά ερωτήματα...
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7
NickTheCritickApr 6, 2022
This is a nice little piece of filmaking by Woody Allen starring Emma stone and Joaquin Phoenix who really fits this role. A nice black thrilling comedy.
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