Irrational Man (Woody Allen, 2015)

Woody Allen's trailers in the last decade (at least) have all been terrible, so it's impossible to tell anything about this film really-- though it doesn't look very good, does it? Presumably (hopefully) the performances will feel more fitting in context

criterion10 · #11 Post by **criterion10** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:13 pm

Didn't watch this trailer (I don't watch any trailers -- no reason to when I'm going to see the film anyway), but I did notice that it is, like Allen's past few films, in 2.35:1 scope. Any idea why he's seemingly switched over to this ratio?

Professor Wagstaff · Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:20 pm

I feel like Sony Pictures Classics cuts a lot of weak trailers (Allen's films, Almodovar films, Before Midnight, and Only Lovers Left Alive to name a few) in the same style without offering much as to what the movies are about. Selling dialogue-driven films in particular does not seem to be their strong point.

hearthesilence · #13 Post by **hearthesilence** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:21 pm

mfunk9786 wrote:
hearthesilence wrote:Does Joaquin Phoenix play a prof who has an affair with one of his students? Almost feel that's how things are going to tilt.
Shockingly, you nailed it

When you're that predictable, you're pretty much dead as an artist.

#14 Post by **domino harvey** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:25 pm

That's enough of that

criterion10 · #15 Post by **criterion10** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:27 pm

hearthesilence wrote:When you're that predictable, you're pretty much dead as an artist.

I don't think that's fair to say. Allen has revisited the same themes in many of his films, and while some of his films turn out to be rather disposable (i.e. Magic in the Moonlight), they rarely are bad, and in many cases, he even manages to create a unique twist on such themes. Case-in-point: Match Point, one of his best films, dealing with a similar morality crisis as what is featured in Crimes and Misdemeanors.

FWIW, a dark romance involving Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone is enough to convince that this could potentially be one of his best films.

The Narrator Returns · Wed Apr 29, 2015 9:08 pm

Screw all this talk of predictability, I'm loving the fact that Allen appears to have fallen in love with widescreen, and especially his continuing collaboration with Darius Khondji (the scenes in the trailer look great). I'm there as soon as I can be.

Cronenfly · #17 Post by **Cronenfly** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 5:08 am

This looks disturbingly like the recent Hugh Grant vehicle The Rewrite, from the college setting to the older/younger woman fighting for the insecure male protagonist's affections to the presence of Allison Janney (who seems to be a magnet for college-set projects these days; the two titles in question, Liberal Arts, Masters of Sex...) I've no doubt the Allen will be a more worthwhile venture, but still another project that does not look to be keeping up with the current race/gender/class struggles that seem to me to be the meat of campus life today.

The Narrator Returns · Thu May 07, 2015 2:06 am

Grand Wazoo · #19 Post by **Grand Wazoo** » Thu May 07, 2015 2:19 am

Jese, is Twilight Time doing poster art now?

sir_luke · #20 Post by **sir_luke** » Thu May 07, 2015 3:08 am

To be fair, this is a breath of fresh air after the Magic in the Moonlight travesties.

#21 Post by **mfunk9786** » Thu May 07, 2015 2:03 pm

If this poster is what constitutes fresh air these days, I'm going to start visiting one of those oxygen bars.

Altair · #22 Post by **Altair** » Thu May 07, 2015 5:58 pm

I understand the reservations around the poster, it's not startlingly original, but I like it, it has a nice 70s vibe and a good use of Allen's patented font and the contrast between the blurry, "vintage" photo and the white background with black lettering works really well. Plus, Joaquin Pheonix playing a Woody Allen-surrogate character has to be a must-watch...

sir_luke · #23 Post by **sir_luke** » Sat May 16, 2015 4:46 pm

Scott Foundas gives a positive review

#24 Post by **mfunk9786** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 4:41 am

@mattzollerseitz: I saw IRRATIONAL MAN on Tuesday morning and haven't been able to write about it. It's so inert that even saying the title makes me tired.

#25 Post by **mfunk9786** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:26 pm

The Dissolve's Tasha Robinson re-emerges with The Verge to rip this movie a new one. Spoilers within.

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