Irrational Man Review
RYAN: It’s Woody Allen’s latest starring Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone and what I liked about it was how there’s a dual narration. And they’re both the leads and it’s one story simultaneously from both of their perspectives. You kind of wait for the intersection of those stories where you, as an audience, shift in perspective from the inside to the outside. I thought was really creative and I can’t think of any other movie that’s done that.
LEAH: Yes, I totally agree. I cannot think of a dual narration in a film either. This made me think a lot about my own life and people that I don’t like in this world…
RYAN: I didn’t think you were going to say that.
LEAH: And I don’t want to go any further because you don’t do spoilers.
RYAN: True. What we can say is that it deals with philosophy. I took a philosophy class freshman year in college and enjoyed it; and this film has a lot of philosophical ideologies and tenets that I learned about. Philosophy is not so much about being right or wrong, it’s about taking a stance and being able to back up your stance with an argument that follows through. And it just made me appreciate philosophy again.
LEAH: I would agree it also gave a message of do not to wallow in depression and to take action and move forward no matter what.
RYAN: It also deals with morality. That’s the central philosophical theme, that and love. I enjoyed Emma Stone the most. Especially in comparison to last year’s Woody Allen Magic in the Moonlight. I disliked her in that. Overall, I liked this movie much more. This is a very darkly comedic but also disturbing film and she was fantastic in it.
LEAH: Also Joaquin – I love Joaquin as an actor and he almost plays two different characters in this movie, which I know he’s capable of doing.
RYAN: He also gained a lot of weight. At first I thought he was wearing a prosthetic, but then there’s a scene where he has his shirt off. And I was like wow! He actually gained the weight for this role! Or didn’t put it on for the role and he’s just that fat.
LEAH: [laughs] I think you never know with him. He’s a chameleon. Sometimes he’s skinny, sometimes he’s fat.
RYAN: And Parker Posey has a supporting role. She’s great, she’s not as funny. She plays more of a tortured soul than I’ve seen her before. She’s such a great actress.
LEAH: Who doesn’t love her? Her character’s quite weak in this but she’s another chameleon. As you talked to her about on the red carpet at the film’s premiere – she’s already been cast in Woody’s next movie. I’m excited to see how she’ll play out in that one as well.
RYAN: I also liked Jamie Blackley who plays the young boyfriend. A small role but very good.
LEAH: Yeah, he was good. He was very functional I’ll say.
RYAN: There are the typical Woody Allen touches. You pointed out right away, the split second it hit the screen, he uses the same font for the title cards, he uses music effectively in the same way. It’s shot beautifully, it’s a very New England americana film. it’s an imaginary Braden University which doesn’t really exist but looks sort of Harvard-esque and was cool. But there’s the typical interior design, the typical costumes. This is true to form for Woody Allen films, all giving you clues about each of these characters.
LEAH: Also, I’m assuming this was on purpose but I can tell from the lighting that they changed the lighting whether it was on Emma Stone or Rita, Parker Posey’s character… it was to represent their characters because Emma was a bit more idealistic, she was always lit brighter whereas Rita was a more weak, darker character, depressed. So that’s how I saw the lighting played out in this film.
RYAN: I tend to like disturbing movies. I like things that make you uncomfortable and movies that make you question things. And this is certainly a kind of movie just like the characters do in the film – you can walk out and try to dissect the meanings and implications and what would you do being in the position of several of these characters. It’s only 90 minutes long. But it feels longer because it takes so long to kind of catch up to the real action of the film. But when it hits, it sticks you in the gut.
LEAH: I will say that I was not expecting what happened in the end.
RYAN: Which is delightful.
LEAH: Yes it’s what should happen in an effective movie.
RYAN: I’m a fan of Woody Allen because whether I like his movies or not, he’s always an interesting and thought-provoking director with a perspective.
LEAH: I agree.
RYAN: He’s such a prolific, impressive writer and director. I liked this one.
