Comments on: Cannes Review: Woody Allen’s ‘Irrational Man’ Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone And Parker Posey

By: Steven Kaye

Steven Kaye — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

I suggest you get all that bile drained before you attempt to review another Woody Allen film.

By: James

James — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Oh, never mind. It didn\’t show up at first.

By: James

James — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Lol. The writer deleted my post saying film criticism isn\’t what it used to be.

By: yeah

yeah — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

The tough job of hanging onto a modicum of respect for the Playlist reviews just…wait, I never had any respect for the Playlist reviews. Carry on

By: p-dub

p-dub — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

"The tough job of hanging onto a modicum of respect for late-career Woody Allen is about to get even tougher. The director\’s latest film "Irrational Man," even by his patchy recent standards, is an embarrassment." As others have pointed out, this is absurd. In the last ten years, Allen has made, to my mind, four great films that rank along his best. He also has a few that are forgettable but still breezy, light watches.

Match Point is a fantastic, adult, sexy murder thriller. Vicky Christina Barcelona is a wise, sexy tale about a three-way love affair. Midnight In Paris is a comedy involving time travel, comedy, and nostalgia. And Blue Jasmine explores the psyche of a woman through two very different periods of her life.

I think that\’s a pretty eclectic group of titles there. These titles look refreshingly alive, as well, when you think about the fact that Allen produced them all in his 70\’s.

By: Blue

Blue — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

It\’s too perfect that he\’s cast Kristen Stewart in his next film. I will be surprised if he doesn\’t fire her after the first week, though. Unless she\’s playing the young girl who has an affair with the older man. She might be able to play that with some conviction.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Finally, an honest review! I\’m not surprised that Woody\’s fanboys are still trying to find him excuses though.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

I must be the only person who loved Blue Jasmine despite absolutely hating Blanchett\’s affected, phony performance. But this does sound like utter drivel. Hated Magic in the Moonlight as well. Woody: time to retire (and take Ridley Scott with you).

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Yeah, this review is a little too over-the-top in its condemnation to be very convincing to me. Admittedly I\’m a big Allen fan, but I can certainly see where people are coming from with their criticism of his recent output. Still, many other outlets have posted moderately to very positive reviews, so I doubt it\’s an unmitigated disaster.

By: James

James — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Josh, I would say you\’re an imperceptive dimwit for not realizing you\’re watching a delusional, pretentious, theatrical character that suffers through panic attacks and is on a cocktail of alcohol and Xanax being portrayed as such.

By: James

James — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Agree with Faulkner.
Film criticism isn\’t what it used to be unfortunately. Not that this writer is one of the top critics, but still.

By: Billyboy

Billyboy — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Allen certainly has its duds, which have become more frequent in his late career, but this review comes out as a very harsh reassessment of his late work.
The major trades have very positive reviews for this film (Variety, THR, Indiewire, Screendaily) so I wouldn\’t cross this one out just yet.

By: Yawn

Yawn — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Midnight in Paris is his worst film of the past 10 years, just bourgeois flattery and pseudo-romantic pandering. Match Point is an amazing, savage film.

By: faulkner

faulkner — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

idea: how about reviewing a film within the context of the film and dramaturgy alone and not let bias seep in every other sentence? not saying this film is worthwhile, but i am definitely saying this review isn\’t.

By: oogle monster

oogle monster — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

I\’d argue Blue Jasmine was superior to Midnight in Paris. That\’s mostly because it\’s the Cate Blanchett show but Sally Field and the rest of the supporting cast do wonders. I loved that film – one of my favorites of 2013. But Allen is terribly uneven with every other film as of late.

By: Glass

Glass — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Thank you, you\’ve addressed every major feeling I have about his films over the past 15 years. Too bad this sucks, but I\’m not surprised – especially after watching that trailer.

By: dom

dom — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

i\’d take your review a little more seriously if you had the capacity to appreciate match point, vicky cristina barcelona, whatever works, midnight in paris and blue jasmine… but you obviously dont…

By: Mickey

Mickey — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

C\’mon Jessica, let\’s be fair. You should fact check a lot of this review. The timing was well-done in the plot. The philosophical ramblings paint a portrait of the man who is Abe Lucas. We are given reasons to give a damn about him

By: Henry R. Jaglom

Henry R. Jaglom — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Clearly some millennial chick who buys into the "Woody balled a baby" canard. The way young kids have bought into this is really depressing. Please, go enjoy a Joe Swanberg joint.

By: Mars

Mars — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Just once I\’d like to read a review that had an open dialogue with the filmmaker, rather than yet another bitter and condescending piece with every film critic cliche such as using French phrases like "joie de vivre" or projecting what you want the female lead to be based on personal issues.

Also, it\’s amusing you cited ScarJo as someone who "can move on to projects that actually serve her talents and not just her enormous anime eyes" considering that her next project is GHOST IN THE SHELL.

By: Vicki Levy

Vicki Levy — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Sally Hawkins !!!

By: rejoice

rejoice — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Allen\’s latter films are so bad, they\’re a new genre: the affectless performances, The New Yorker voice-overs, the half-hearted plots, the dated and banal music. Old age, apparent ignorance of or indifference to the modern world makes, a few million dollars and movie stars makes for some very odd movies.

By: Dirkson

Dirkson — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

I really disliked Magic in the Moonlight, I felt embarassed for the cast. THere really isn\’t much late Woody that I\’m to fond of. Cate Blanchett breathed life into Blue Jasmine, but there still were some things about that film that made me really question on what planet the Woodman is currently residing. What I\’ve read about this film sounds depressingly like the same repetitive schtick he\’s been banging away on for decades, with less and less effectiveness. It\’s getting old folks, and so is Woody – too bad.

By: Steven Kaye

Steven Kaye — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Here\’s an idea: how about getting all that bile drained before you review another Woody Allen film?

By: Steven Kaye

Steven Kaye — Mon, 23 May 2016 03:26:31 +0000

Just as dispiriting as this absurdity of a review is its inclusion over at Rotten Tomatoes. What a joke.