[yasr_overall_rating]
A tormented philosophy professor finds a will to live when he commits an existential act.
It makes perfect sense that Woody Allen would write and direct a psychological thriller that is so complex that only he could mesh two stars that would perfectly submit to his story line. Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) stars as the lowly philosophy professor who moves to a small town to rediscover his life’s purpose while teaching at Braylin College. Intrigued by his free-spirit and abstract philosophies, Jill (Emma Stone), a student, and Rita (Parker Posey), a fellow professor unapologetically vie for his attention. The fact that both of the females are in relationships with other men makes for an interesting competition whereas both their men allow them the freedom to co-mingle with Abe in an unrelenting fashion.
A local judge’s death by poisoning rattles the entire town and becomes the whodunit mystery for this thriller when several of the townsfolk who had been mistreated by the judge become viable suspects. As the relationship between Jill and Abe & Abe and Rita progress, the females rely on each other for compassion and restraint when it comes to dealing with the mysterious, yet intellectually attractive, Abe.
Impressed by his irrational behavior, yet justifiable logic, Jill falls deep and decides to end her relationship with Roy who has become dull and lethargic in comparison to Abe. At the same time, Rita comes up with a theory as to how Abe could be the judge’s killer and with that theory becoming more viable as fact, Rita develops an additional fascination with the prospect of leaving her stagnant relationship and fleeing the country with Abe. When Jill is apprised of Rita’s theory, she starts doing her own personal investigation.
When the fictitious theory starts adding up to fact, Jill totally consumes herself with the prospect that she is dealing with a killer that she has fallen deeply in love with. Abe, who has rediscovered his life’s purpose through the killing favor he has done for the town, has equally been released from the spell of not being able to fully live and love again. When his secret is exposed by Jill, his irrational rationalization becomes fodder as Jill promises to keep the secret, yet vows never to see him again as part of the agreement.
When another person is accused of killing the Judge and faces imprisonment, Jill confronts Abe and gives him a timeline to confess. After Abe agrees to the timeline, he rationalizes a way to kill Jill in order to maintain his freedom and purposeful existence. In the end, the turn of events during the struggle between the two for life and death keeps the audience holding their breath and the finale becomes irrationally predictable as neither woman gets the guy.
Woody Allen deserves honors for staying true to the course of his far-fetched logic that continuously defies conventional wisdom. While wildly entertaining, the film has gaps and a cliffhanger ending that keeps the audience wondering what happens next. I’m certain this is in line with his own life’s logic and the only question remaining is, why didn’t he star in his own show?
In select theaters July 31st
