Irrational Man

A lot of the time, films, whether through the director or writer, follows the old adage: "life imitates art" or visa versa. Since Woody Allen is both writer and director, we surely can see his self-deprecating style in most of his films, and certainly is his newest, "Irrational Man". And believe me when I say, he doesn't have to star in the film for the movie to have a form of dysfunction abounding in it--his style and the way he writes speaks volumes of this.

When a burned-out, tormented, brilliant philosophy professor, Abe (Joaquin Phoenix)-- one who believes in lessons from life rather than from textbooks-- takes a position at a small college, everyone there is abuzz. He soon reluctantly becomes involved with a teacher, Rita (Parker Posey) as well as a precocious student, Jill (Emma Stone), but it takes a dramatic, existential act to turn his life around and make him see the world through a much rosier and more positive perspective. Little does anyone know that through his depressive and self-serving attitude, the existential act is truly a mind-bender that certainly shocks all.

Others to round out the cast are Jamie Blackley as Roy, Jill's boyfriend, Robert Petkoff as Paul, Betsy Aidem as Jill's mother, Ethan Phillips as Jill's father, Sophie von Haselberg as April, Jill's friend, Susan Poufar as Carol, Tom Kemp as Judge Thomas Spangler and Paula Plum as College President.

This was written and directed by the incomparable Woody Allen ("Take the Money and Run" '69, "Sleeper" '73, "Annie Hall" '77, "Manhattan" '79, "Broadway Danny Rose" '84, "Hannah and Her Sisters" '86, "Crimes and Misdemeanors" '89, "Bullets Over Broadway" '94, "Deconstructing Harry" '97, "Small Time Crooks" 2000, "Match Point" '05, "Whatever Works" '09, "Midnight in Paris" '11, "Blue Jasmine" '13, "Magic in the Moonlight" '14) plus many others. Through the decades, Allen has proved himself time and again with the many stories he has given us. Whether one agrees or doesn't with his style, choice of premises and quirkiness, not to mention his self-deprecating approach, one has to be objective enough to realize that this guy has struck a nerve in the very fabric of society--whether past or present. Love him or leave him, Allen is here to stay until he drops dead on one of his sets while shooting a film, and this may be a good thing or not--depending on how much one likes his particular brand of humor. In the case of "Irrational Man", we are given a pathetic, self-deprecating, but self-absorbed, crazy-as-a-fox man, and is thrown in the midst of these other seemingly 'normal' people to see if he will fit into their circles. But, with his dysfunction abounding, his sociopathic tendencies can be hidden but just so long and then, given the wrong situation at hand, ends up caught in a corner with not very far to go. Does he have choices here? Yes. Does he realize this? Probably not, hence the self-centeredness.
As far as Allen's writing, he is what one would expect--self-deprecating. Sound like a particular character here? Again life imitates art. This was a bit slow around the middle of the screenplay, however soon, the script goes into overdrive and before you know it, all hell breaks loose, and you are wondering how this story can end well at all. Have faith, Allen pulls it off and takes us on that ride only he can do so well.

As said prior, Allen--love him or leave him. He truly knows how to market dysfunction and cheap, tawdry characters better than the average writer, but hey, this is not his first rodeo, he has been and is the king of dysfunction--again, life imitates art.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                               Rated: R                                93mins.