In Woody Allen’s ‘Irrational Man,’ Angsty Professor Finds Purpose With Young Ingenue
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.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!