Irrational Man

This is a great film. Woody Allen revisits murder and its consequences. I enjoy his different takes on the theme in movies like "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "Match Point". Emma Stone is especially good here, as the smart and pretty but NOT neurotic young woman. I enjoyed this film immensely.

Some of my friends hate Woody because of his personal life. I like to think I'm an intellectual, and can separate art from all that. Anyway, I just watched Parasite, and was not in love with it like most people. So Irrational Man was a much needed break. I was a Philosophy major, so of course I loved this film. I'm not crazy about the way Woody writes some dialogue, but I do like the way he gets his ideas across. I thought Irrational Man was carefully plotted, and professionally organized. Not as good as Midnight in Paris, but better than Blue Jasmine, IMHO.

At this point in his career, a Woody Allen film is going to be hit or miss. Irrational Man is a "miss", but not by much. What momentum the film has is largely due to the forceful presence of Joaquin Phoenix. The story is all too familiar; it's basically the John Mahoney sub-plot from "Moonstruck" but goes back to the early 1930s with The Blue Angel and reached it's apex of banality in the 50s with Teacher's Pet..but I digress..Young, lovely spirited girl falls for rugged, pot-bellied, burned-out philosophy professor, as does the sleep around science professor whose academic husband bores her. The second act is foolishly constructed but brings about a life-affirming epiphany in the professor that involves the dark side of morality and karmic justice. The third act has nowhere to go but to a bit of slapstick irony as it's finale. Enjoy the first part, like I did, and jump off the ride at any point after your first yawn..yes..you know where this is going and it ain't good. Charming location give this film the extra half star.

This is a cute movie. FYI, there's content about drugs, sex and cursing, as well as affairs, depression, murder etc so keep going if you don't care for that stuff.This has great acting from many big named actors, the story flows well and kept my interest the entire time. I thought the Philosophy teachings would be boring, but its well done.The romance part is not as predictable as most stories which is a delightful change.I didn't realize it was a woody Allen film until afterwards so that was not factored in when looking for a movie to watch. I honestly don't go out of my way to watch his movies, he's not in my top ten of directors/writers. The acting in woody Allen films usually leaves a lot to be desired and need improved upon. This is strictly my opinion and based on his work and career.If I think of the shambles for his personal life I would not watch his films ever. I am willing to bet everyone in this world has issues and some have done worse than woody. That said, it's gross, and no I don't agree with it, but it is what it is.I say give the film a chance, it's a good movie.

The primary criticism of this film is that Woody Allen is repeating himself mining themes present in previous works. The response to that would be that it isn't uncommon for artists to have a connecting thread running throughout their work exploring variations of common themes that are of a concern to them. One would only have to look toward Shakespeare particularly the tragedies to see the verisimilitude of ideas that run throughout his work. I haven't been in a college classroom in over thirty years but I would almost be certain that in film courses focusing on Allen's repertoire any discussion would tackle ongoing themes present in not only the dramas but the comedies as well. I went into this film without any predisposition to love or hate it. Inevitably any discussion of plot or character would contain spoilers so I will conclude by giving this film my unqualified endorsement. This film should be rightly reevaluated and stake its place high in the Allen canon.

Terrific acting. The usual philosophical discourse from Mr. Allen but in this movie it is more than usual inherent to the setting & plot. Dramatic ending I was not expecting (and had not read or heard any spoilers. You shouldn't either!)

The dark side of thinking too much. This is another in Allen's oeuvre of "regular, ordinary folks, committing extraordinary crimes." Allen's "Matchpoint," and "Husbands and Wives," covers the same territory, with little or no dark humor. "Manhattan Murder Mystery," covers the topic with all of Allen's comic cylinders firing. Again, Allen is "searching for meaning in an uncaring and unforgiving universe." And our protagonist is completely at his mind's end, when the thought of doing good by doing wrong, inspires, motivates and incites him into a manic frenzy of irrational thinking. I thought Joaquin Phoenix, and Emma Stone were very good. I always enjoy Parker Posey, who is one of our most underrated actors. Not one of Allen's best, but worth the time.

This movie, like much of Woody Allen's recent work, is not as good as it should be. The actors are there and the story is good, but it is underwritten. Eric Lax's book From Start To Finish, which I highly recommend, is all about the making of this film.

Im ersten Viertel ein typischer Woody Allen : Ein Philosophieprofessor dem ein RUF vorauseilt,tritt einen neuen Job an und kann über das Leben an sich und philosophische Probleme schwadronieren...Dabei hängt er ziemlich durch,trinkt zuviel Alkohol und ist impotent...die Frauen fliegen trotzdem auf ihn.Dann,durch eine zufällige Begegnung kommt er auf die abstruse Idee, als Weltverbesserungsmaßnahme moralisch gerechtfertigt, den perfekten Mord zu begehen...Sobald er mit dem Mordplanungen anfängt,beginnt sich sein Leben zum Positiven zu wenden...er hört auf zu trinken,hat wieder Freude am Leben und im Bett klappt es auch wieder...Hieraus entwickelt sich eine überaus spannende Geschichte,bei der man sich ständig fragt, "tut er das jetzt wirklich?" und "wie mag das wohl enden ?".Ich fand das sehr unterhaltsam,auf morbide Weise(weil moralisch fragwürdig) amüsant und sehr spannend.Ein makabrer Film mit super Darstellern.

Okay, ich geb's zu: ich habe den Film in erster Linie wegen Joaquin Phoenix gekauft. Zudem schien mir die Geschichte ganz unterhaltsam.Abe Lucas kommt an einen alten Campus. Die Umgebung wirkt provinziell, die Landschaft reizvoll. Gemessen an seiner seelischen Verfassung, hätte Lukas auch am Nordpol unterrichten können, zumindest wenn da genug Malt Whisky zu trinken gibt. Obwohl er vom Leben angeödet ist, beginnt er zwei Affären. Mit einer Studentin und einer Kollegin. Seiner Lebensgeister kehren erst wieder zurück, als er einen Mord plant und schließlich auch begeht.Besonders 2 der Hauptfiguren (der Professor und die Studentin) sind sehr überzeichnet. Er musste mit extremen Schicksalsschlägen fertig werden, sie dagegen ist jung, hübsch, begabt und spielt hervorragend Klavier. Er wird von beiden Frauen begehrt, wobei die Affäre mit seiner Kollegin Rita eher durch körperliche Anziehung entsteht, fühlt sich Lucas emotional mehr zur Studentin hingezogen.In der Ermordung des Richters sieht er eine Chance, endlich aktiv etwas "Gutes" zu tun, statt immer nur zu philosophieren (sic!).Der Mord, in den er niemand einweiht, ist danach fast immer und überall das beherrschende Thema. Jeder hat Theorien, trägt zufällig was Entscheidendes zur Lösung bei, oder Abe verplappert sich. Letzteres wirkt nur durch das Schauspiel Phoenix' nicht zu platt. Nur die Polizei schläft ziemlich und würde nicht einen Tatort überstehen.Die drei Hauptdarsteller sind gut besetzt, wobei man die Verliebtheit des Professors kaum glaubt - hier spielt Phoenix erstaunlich leidenschaftslos. Ansonsten wirkt vieles im Spiel und den Dialogen plump und überzeichnet, so dass es auch der Allerletzte verstanden haben MUSS - was gerade für Phoenix untypisch ist. Seine subtilen Gesten, die er so gut beherrscht, sucht man hier vergeblich. Zudem sind die "Specials" dermaßen lieblos, fast peinlich.An die Musik am Beginn sollten sie sich schnell gewöhnen, sie begleitet den Film in angepassten Varianten.➡️ Ganz gute Idee, die allerdings ziemlich blutleer und plump umgesetzt ist. Die Kameraführung rettet den Film vor einer Zwei-Sterne-Wertung.

Ritorna Woody Allen con una prospettiva della vita dove la filosofia perde e dove la vita vince, finché forse, si muore.Può un professore di filosofia liberare il mondo da un essere indegno e, con un atto criminoso, migliorare il mondo è credere in un futuro denso di emozioni e senso dell'esistere? Oppure un omicidio perfetto implica ripensare la propria filosofia di vita e, in fin dei conti, fare i conti con il proprio karma?Non ve lo svelo ma vi invito a vedere il film, con una davvero splendida Emma Stone ed un tormentato Joaquin Phoenix.Appassionato dell'opera di Woody, vi raccomando la visione: va visto e meditato come un cognac d'annata e, come altri film, fa anche riflettere, come lo fece anche Match Point, sul senso dei rapporti umani e della giustizia.

Pellicola da molti sottovalutata, nella ricca recente filmografia del Newyorchese, si ispira a Delitto e Castigo, con un Joaquin Phoenix ben inserito nella parte del professore di filosofia nichilista e disilluso, infatuato della giovane allieva Emma Stone. Commedia nera con finale (più o meno) a sorpresa, merita più di una visione.

Il film appartiene al versante più serio e noir dell'opera di Allen. Il suo ordito drammatico è particolarmente ben congegnato e soprattutto stringato e dal ritmo sostenuto, con dialoghi mirati a fare luce sul profilo psicologico del protagonista, a pari passo con il dipanarsi di una situazione che presenta il personaggio ad un tornante importante e critico della sua vita. La trama evolve quindi verso un finale a sorpresa... e tragico. Un film da vedere.