Woody Allen continues to prove that he may just be the most prolific director working today. Every year, without fail, we get a new Allen creation. His 2015 offering is “Irrational Man”, and it’s one of the most engrossing movies of the year. About a half-hour into the film, after Allen establishes his standard, complicated love story, this time involving a “genius” philosophy professor named Abe Lucas (played by Joaquin Phoenix, with a heck of a gut), Jill, his brightest pupil (Emma Stone), who says she’s in love with her boyfriend, and Rita, a married professor (Parker Posey), who all teach/attend the same Newport, R.I. university, “Irrational Man” takes a rather dark and very welcome turn.
It’s not the most unique plot swerve by any means, but it is abrupt, quickly bringing all the film’s theorhetical conversations about the meaning and meaningless of life – to life. At that point I instantly bought into this melodrama, anxious to go along with Woody on this ride. Both Phoenix and Stone narrate this tale, and the classical music score (including a catchy, jazzed-up version of “The In Crowd”) keeps you in a fun, devious frame of mind.
Some of the elements of “Irrational Man” are a little far-fetched. Allen’s way of introducing the pivotal twist is a little clumsy. And the film includes many of his predictible elements, including yet another case of a young, attractive woman falling for an older, unattractive man. And, of course, this isn’t the first time Allen has mixed together the romance and mystery genres. But Allen deserves credit for providing Phoenix and Stone with a script that allows two of Hollywood’s busiest actors to showcase some very fine work. Once you figure out where the story is headed, it’s inevitable that their relationship will lead to complications and confrontations, and these scenes don’t disappoint. And the climax, which pulls everything together surprisingly well, is completely unexpected and one of the best of the year.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “Irrational Man” gets a B. It doesn’t have the charm of “Midnight in Paris”, or the standout performances featured in “Blue Jasmine”, but this is a highly satisfying effort from a man who shows that he can still create something surprisingly fresh out from his old formula.
Running Time: 95 min.