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Irrational Man

Irrational Man

Drama · Comedy · 2015

On a small town college campus, a philosophy professor in existential crisis gives his life new purpose when he enters into a relationship with his student.

Movie details

Irrational Man

2015 Drama · Comedy 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

On a small town college campus, a philosophy professor in existential crisis gives his life new purpose when he enters into a relationship with his student.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Irrational Man?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Woody Allen

Written by

Woody Allen

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix

Abe

Emma Stone

Emma Stone

Jill

Jamie Blackley

Jamie Blackley

Roy

Parker Posey

Parker Posey

Rita

Joe Stapleton

Joe Stapleton

Professor

Jack Haven

Jack Haven

Braylin Student

Ethan Phillips

Ethan Phillips

Jill's Father

Court is in session

Put Irrational Man on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.