Rent Irrational Man (2015)

A disappointment - Irrational Man review by DW

Until I watched Cafe Society recently and which, to my surprise, I rather enjoyed because it was more like vintage Allen, there had been a lengthy hiatus in my Woody watching. Partly, I suppose, because his more recent films are no longer given general release (there are no Independent cinemas where I live) and also owing to the demise of LoveFilm. Thank goodness, then, for the arrival of Cinema Paradiso to provide access to an excellent archive as well as giving an opportunity to see films that otherwise would be unavailable to most film fans.

Irrational Man, however, was not to my liking at all. Not serious drama such as Crimes and Misdemeanors, and certainly not showing the originality of Annie Hall nor the warm romance of Hannah and her Sisters. These are, of course, vintage Allen but Midnight in Paris made it obvious that he still has much to offer.

Not here, however, and I quickly lost interest in the college campus setting and in the self-indulgence of the Joaquin Phoenix character. Better luck next time, I hope.

Campus Film. - Irrational Man review by Steve

Considering the amount of material Woody Allen has mined from his single term at NYU, it is perhaps surprising that this campus film is his first. It is set at a small university on Rhode Island, where the arrival of notorious philosophy academic (Joaquin Phoenix) unleashes debate about his teaching methods.

His reckless depression and affairs with a chemistry professor (Parker Posey) and student (Emma Stone) make him a volatile presence. The characters are archetypes, though Phoenix's charisma makes much of his role. Stone and- especially- Posey are appealing support.

The story proceeds like an illustrated philosophy essay (with lectures) as existentialism is played off against Kant. Phoenix chooses the former when he takes direct action to poison a corrupt judge. Stone adopts the latter when she threatens to turn her teacher in. And Allen builds up the suspense better than he ever has.

The intellectual theories aren't much of a stretch. But there's an interesting political twist. The philosopher concludes his life only has meaning if he intervenes to ensure right is done. With democracy in crisis across the world, the alternative of direct action has come into focus. Which gives the film some contemporary political relevance.