Irrational Man (2015)

A tormented philosophy professor finds a will to live when he commits an existential act.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Abe Lucas
Emma Stone	...	Jill Pollard
Joe Stapleton	...	Professor
Nancy Carroll	...	Professor
Allison Gallerani	...	Braylin Student
Brigette Lundy-Paine	...	Braylin Student
Katelyn Semer	...	Braylin Student
Betsy Aidem	...	Jill's Mother
Ethan Phillips	...	Jill's Father
Jamie Blackley	...	Roy
Leah Anderson	...	Student Giving Directions
Paula Plum	...	College President
Nancy Giles	...	President's Assistant
Henry Stram	...	Cocktail Party Guest
Geoff Schuppert	...	Cocktail Party Guest

Storyline

A new philosophy professor arrives on a small town campus near Newport, Rhode Island. His name, Abe Lucas. His reputation : bad. Abe is said to be a womanizer and an alcoholic. But what people do not know is that he is a disillusioned idealist. Since he has become aware of his inability to change the world, he has indeed been living in a state of deep nihilism and arrogant desperation. In class, he only goes through the motions and outside he drinks too much. But as far as sex is concerned, he is just a shadow of himself now: depression is not synonymous with Viagra! For all that, he can't help being attracted to one of his students, pretty and bright Jill Pollard. He enters into a relationship with her which remains platonic, even if Jill would not say no to more. The situation remains unchanged for a while until, one day, in a diner, Abe and Jill surprise a conversation that will change the course of their lives dramatically...

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Plot Keywords:

teacher student affair | professor | russian roulette | judge | murder | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Braylin College scenes were filmed at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.

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Goofs

In piano recitals using a grand piano, the piano is placed with the soundboard open towards the audience and the performer on the audience's left, so the music is amplified and directed to the audience. In Jill's recital, the soundboard is open but facing away from the audience and Jill is on the audience's right.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Abe: [narrating] Kant said human reason is troubled by questions that it cannot dismiss, but also cannot answer. Okay, so, what are we talking about here? Morality? Choice? The randomness of life? Aesthetics? Murder?
Jill: I think Abe was crazy from the beginning. Was it from stress? Was it anger? Was he disgusted by what he saw as life's never-ending suffering? Or was he simply bored by the meaninglessness of day-to-day existence? He was so damn interesting. And different. And a good talker. ...
[...]

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Connections

References Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

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Soundtracks

Good To Go
Composed by Daniel May
Performed by Daniel May Jazz Combo
Courtesy of FirstCom Music

User Reviews

Commercial Moralist Conclusion

The philosophy professor Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) arrives at the Braylin University with the reputation of alcoholic wolf. However he is a nihilist man living an existential crisis after the losses of his best friend in Iraq and of his wife that left him with a friend while he was helping people in New Orleans. The promiscuous Professor Rita Richards (Parker Posey) unsuccessfully tries to have sex with Abe. However he feels a platonic attraction by his brilliant student Jill Pollard (Emma Stone) and spends most of his leisure time with her as a friend. One day, they overhear a conversation about a corrupt judge in a diner and Abe secretly plots the plan of a perfect crime. Will he set his plan in motion?

"Irrational Man" is a film by Woody Allen where he blends his style with the idea of Hitchcock´s "Strangers on a Train". The lovely Emma Stone has excellent performance. The plan of Abe Lucas based on the principle that a stranger without motive could commit the perfect crime works very well until the commercial moralist conclusion. Instead of making a thought provoking amoralist conclusion, Woody Allen makes a convential ending for the disappointment of his fans. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Homem Irracional" ("The Irrational Man")

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Woody Allen Project

Filming Locations:

Rhode Island, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$175,312, 19 July 2015

Gross USA:

$4,030,360

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$27,391,084

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gravier Productions, Perdido Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1