In Woody Allen’s ‘Irrational Man,’ Angsty Professor Finds Purpose With Young Ingenue
Image by Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Writer-director Woody Allen brings his latest film feature “Irrational Man” to cinemas this month, telling the story of a troubled philosophy professor who finds a sense of purpose after overhearing a stranger’s conversation.
Joaquin Phoenix plays professor Abe Lucas, who moves to a small town and gets involved with both professor Rita Richards, played by Parker Posey, and student Jill Pollard, portrayed by Emma Stone. His life is turned around when he and Jill eavesdrop on a stranger talking.
The film, first shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May, premiered in Beverly Hills on Thursday night but while Phoenix, Stone and Posey walked the red carpet, Allen was absent.
The movie is Stone’s second film with Allen after “Magic in the Moonlight.”
“He sent me the script for this. I just thought this is really interesting, the theme is really interesting,” she said. “The character felt different and exciting to play. I had worked with him the summer before and it was a good experience.”
Posey, 46, said she felt close to her character.
“I wait to play real women so I was relieved,” she said.
“It grounds me when I can be in something that I can relate to … and other people can, especially women at my age.”
“Irrational Man” opens in the United States on July 17.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
