Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Irrational Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Life from death.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 12, 2016

Woody Allen's (Midnight in Paris, Magic in the Moonlight) Irrational Man tells the story of a Philosophy professor stuck in the midst of an existential crisis. He's a man who is certain of what others know, feel, and believe -- he teaches them everyday -- but oblivious to what makes him tick, why he's stuck in a rut, what he can, what he must, do to escape the doldrums of a petty life that his him on the down-and-out. His immediate options include an empty affair with a fellow professor, an friendship -- and maybe more -- with a well-read beautiful student, or maybe he can find his life by taking another. Allen's latest film toys with the seriously dark side of life while still offering that same buoyant, whimsical façade that have come to define his pictures over the years. The film takes the darkly complex issues of self identity and the metaphorical spring of life and works them in a mix-up of love, lust, and murder in a film that's positively Allen but nevertheless a bit more out of left field than some of his more recent works.

Who poisoned the judge?

Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) is the new philosophy professor on campus. His reputation precedes him. He's known for his writing and originality but also for his radicalization and rumors of affairs with students. He's somewhat slovenly. He dresses down and always has a flask handy. He also suffers from depression brought on by what he perceives to be a directionless life. Jill (Emma Stone) is enrolled in his class. Her boyfriend Roy (Jamie Blackley) worries that she'll fall under his charms, which she does. He pulls her aside after class and congratulates her on a paper, praising her creativity and ability to argue the finer points of philosophy. The two develop a deep friendship that seems always teetering on the brink of something more, even as Abe fends off the not-so-subtle advances of one of his colleagues, Rita (Parker Posey). One day, Abe and Jill overhear a sob story about a corrupt judge who is tearing a family apart. Suddenly, Abe finds purpose. He plots to murder the judge and revitalize his own life. What could possibly go wrong?

Despite its foray into the darker recesses of the mind, which, in this case, permeates the body as well, Irrational Man plays with an infectious charm and innocence. One cannot help but root for Abe in a perverted and detached sort of way, curious as to how his decisions will change his life and the lives of those closest to him. Much of the reason why the film works as well as it does, despite its bleak underside, is Joaquin Phoenix, who manages to tightrope the character between approachable and mysterious, bleak and bright, insightful and clueless. His portrays a man who commands the room by reputation alone but who really shrinks into himself and his drink when the cards are down. He's suicidal but not actively so, in one scene taking his chances with life to prove a point about randomness and chance not so much to his students but to himself. He's smart, sharp, and well read but acknowledges that most of what he teaches is "bull***." But it's when he finds a purpose, even if that purpose is wholly nefarious and selfish (even as he operates under the guise of selflessness), not to mention illegal, things turn around. For Abe, purpose in life isn't about a profession, a position, or a person. The only question that remains, then, is how far he can take the charade and if it will cost him more than a seemingly fleeting splotch on his conscience.

Irrational Man also enjoys that trademark Woody Allen spunk and spirit. His films always find a way to leave the audience smiling, one way or another. This film is packed with quirks and idiosyncrasies, many of which stem from his ability to get the most from his cast in their conveyance of his effortless yet precise script. Phoenix, as noted, is terrific in the lead, but so too is Stone, who blends innocent youthful charm and naiveté and more adult-centric qualities equally well. Hers is a character in a state of mental and emotional transformation, mature beyond her years but still more attuned to life's positives rather than its darker side, which permeates Abe. Both performances benefit greatly from another natural, free-flowing Allen script. His ear for dialogue may be be better than his eye for film, both of which always work in tandem and compliment one another perhaps more precisely than any other writer/director in film history. In Irrational Man, both dialogue and direction come effortlessly. Audiences never feel like they're watching a movie but instead sitting in the classroom, involved in Abe's scheme, or sorting it out with Jill. Allen's ability to make the medium melt away and invite the audience into the world -- even as this film doesn't so much reflect the feeling of live theater, as do many of his previous works -- is uncanny and one of many reasons to see Irrational Man.

Irrational Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Irrational Man's 1080p transfer, sourced from a 35mm shoot, is rather attractive. The image favors a heavy dose of warmth, particularly evident on rosy and orange-tinted faces. However, the color palette is nevertheless buoyant and attractive, presenting bright clothing, greens around campus, and other elements with a warmly-infused but even appeal. Details are strong-to-striking. Light grain hovers over the image and accentuates the picture's finer points. Skin and clothing basics are attractive while woods and bricks around faculty homes and the campus proper are intoxicatingly complex. Black levels favor a mild push to bright but represent the only real downside in an otherwise pristine, as-intended presentation. Of interesting note is the report that Allen's next film will be photographed digitally, a first for the longtime filmmaker and making Irrational Man, perhaps, the last of its kind in the Allen canon.

Irrational Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Irrational Man features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's rather typical of a Woody Allen Blu-ray presentation: heavy on the fronts and somewhat minimalist in nature. Indeed, surrounds are scarcely, if ever, activated. Basic sound elements spread nicely enough across the front. Light score -- piano strokes lingering underneath, somewhat more complex pieces that play atop -- is the main factor found off to the sides. Clarity and precision of placement are fine, if not a bit subdued. Minor atmospheric effects, like light breezes and passing traffic around campus and in the vicinity of Abe's house, help better define the area but not completely submerse the audience in it. Dialogue is the main element here. It plays with satisfying richness and verbal detail in the center channel. Prioritization is always tops. It's certainly not an active, aggressive track by any means, but by Allen standards, and the Blu-ray's pure technical conveyance, it's very good.

Irrational Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Irrational Man contains a featurette, a photo gallery, and the film's trailer. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• On the Red Carpet (1080i, 3:30): Emma Stone, Sony Pictures Classics' Michael Barker, and Parker Posey discuss the film, the characters, the performers, Stone's work with Woody Allen, and more.
• Photo Gallery (1080p): Available individually or as part of a slideshow.
• Irrational Man Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:02).

Irrational Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Irrational Man blends Allen's trademark ear for language and eye for film with a story that juxtaposes the search for life from two wildly unique perspectives with a subtext of philosophy that, externally, doesn't mean a thing but, internally, means everything. It's quick, sharp, and infectious, a movie that features an interesting story, well designed and finely performed characters, and that trademark Allen touch. Though it may not be his best work, Irrational Man proves Allen shows no signs of slowing down, his wit still sharp and his storytelling still relevant. Sony's Blu-ray release of Irrational Man features gorgeous video, subdued but effective audio, and, as is a constant with Allen home video releases, scant supplements. Highly recommended.