Review of Irrational Man (2015) by Hassan I — 09 Aug 2015

Despite a fantastic central performance from the always impressive Joaquin Phoenix, Woody Allen's "Irrational Man" is a somewhat slow, uneven and rushed film that will divide audiences in opinion.

Some audiences will be drawn to the intriguing premise and charming performances, while others will be impatiently checking their watch for the time. In my opinion, this is neither Woody Allen's best film nor his worst.

Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone are the main highlight, delivering charming performances that stick with you long after you leave the theater. Although by no means award-worthy, both are in wonderful form and have electric chemistry together.

Say what you will about Woody Allen, but what's undeniable is that he knows how to create fascinating characters. He also knows how to keep the audience at the edge of their seat through music, using an exciting jazz score as an attention-grabbing device.

Yet, it's not enough to compensate for a film that lacks the most important ingredient: an engaging story. It starts off slowly, builds to an exciting twist halfway through, but ends on a rather abrupt and unrealistic note.

As a result, it's not a film that will to everyone's tastes. If you're a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, however, it would be a mistake to miss out on this film. Even though the film is at best a rental, hopefully his performance won't be overlooked come awards season.