Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2511. Irrational Man (2015)

    2511. Irrational Man (2015)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on April 6, 2019 2015, 6 - 7.9, 90-99 mins, Apr 19, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Movies Of 2019, Review, Romance, United States
    7.5 Flawed, but engaging
    • Acting 7.6
    • Directing 7.4
    • Story 7.4
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey

    Director: Woody Allen

    Running Time: 95 mins


    Irrational Man is an American film about a frustrated and troubled university professor who strikes up a friendship with one of his students. However, when he hears of trouble in someone else’s life, his own world takes a dramatic turn.

    The films of Woody Allen over recent years have become really hit and miss, with the director aiming to replicate the unique and fresh nature of his classic works in the 70s and 80s time and time again. In the case of Irrational Man, Allen succeeds with an engaging and easy-going story, bolstered by strong and likable turns from Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix, however the film struggles as it devolves into somewhat of a caricature of Woody Allen’s films, failing to really stand out as any genuinely original or striking.

    Let’s start on the bright side, though, with the fact that Irrational Man is, for the most part, an engaging and entertaining watch. Combining quirky romantic comedy with a little bit of crime and all of the philosophical introspection that many of Woody Allen’s classics are known for, it’s got all the ingredients to be a good movie, and it pulls that off fairly well throughout.

    With a light-hearted atmosphere and a fluttery musical score, it’s a film that allows you to sit back and relax, and as you follow the enjoyably ambiguous yet still engaging central relationship between Stone and Phoenix, Irrational Man delights with the odd good bit of humour, and a surprising degree of unpredictablility and genuinely intriguing drama in its middle act.

    It’s not perfect all the way through, and the first act struggles with some rather wonky dialogue, while the third act is a little much. However, at its peak, when we see Joaquin Phoenix’s character discover a whole new meaning to his ever more frustrated existence, the film develops a striking energy that proves thoroughly entertaining, even if it doesn’t quite last as long as would have been ideal.

    Also, we can’t forget the lead performances, which play a big role in making this an enjoyale watch throughout. Emma Stone is lovely in a rather light role, Joaquin Phoenix is a lot more grounded and palatable than some of his most outlandish roles, and the two work great together throughout, while supporting actress Parker Posey impresses with a memorable turn in a small role.

    However, while I enjoyed Irrational Man as a generally fluffy and pleasant comedy with a little bit of good drama, I can’t really escape the feeling that the film is all just a bit of a caricature of Woody Allen’s classic style. Lacking the nervous, quirky energy that makes classics like Annie Hall and Manhattan work so well, there’s a clash between the modern, polished production and Allen’s attempts to recreate the style of film he is best known for.

    What’s more is that that style itself never really sits perfectly with the story being told here. While the first act is a passably fluffy opening, the drama and darker ideas that come into play later on really clash with the light-hearted atmosphere, with the characters taking part in an ever more serious crime story that continues to be set to a fluttery musical score.

    If Allen had pushed the boat out a bit more, and brought a degree of crazed insanity into the story and the main characters, then that clash could have played out as a clever bit of irony, but as a film that seems like a much more light-hearted remake of Allen’s classic style, it feels like a real misjudgment, and proves a frustrating point throughout.

    Overall, I did like Irrational Man, mostly as an enjoyable and light-hearted watch that features three thoroughly likable performances, decent humour and a bit of good drama too. It never really ties itself together in brilliant fashion, and Allen’s attempts to recreate his classic filmmaking style create frustrating clashes with the story at hand, but the film proves a generally entertaining watch regardless, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.5.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.1
    Review
    August 31, 20130

    270. Chinatown (1974)

    8.9
    Review
    October 18, 20150

    1123. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

    8.0
    Review
    May 4, 20210

    3336. Adaptation. (2002)

    8.2
    Review
    February 27, 20190

    2471. Instant Family (2018)

    8.0
    Review
    January 8, 20180

    2010. Tag (リアル鬼ごっこ) (2015)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.