As he starts a new job at a New England university, philosophy professor Abe (Phoenix) is preceded by a reputation for outrageous behaviour. So fellow faculty member Rita (Posey) throws herself at him to escape her dull husband (Petkoff). And Abe's most promising student Jill (Stone) also makes a move, despite her loving boyfriend Roy (Blackley). Meanwhile, Abe finds purpose in his tired life as he plots the death of a random person who seems to have no positive impact on society and instead is making the world worse. Is that a crime?

The dialog is a mesh of philosophical musings, including dense conversations and witty observations that never talk down to the audience. Indeed, enjoyment of this film hinges on whether the viewer has ever bothered to think about the meaning of life or the moral conundrum of everyday existence. If the film had taken a punchier, more dramatic approach, these conversations would be intense and harrowing, but Allen keeps the mood light, letting scenes drift into each other in a realistically random style.

Phoenix gives one of his loosest performances yet as Abe, a cynic who starts out despising everything and everyone and unexpectedly discovers satisfaction in his secret plan, misguided as it may be. Phoenix avoids winking at the camera just as Abe never wavers in his conviction, right to some darkly surprising moments. Stone matches him step by step, offering a voice of reason and, eventually, an emotional plea for sanity. It's a strong performance, only diluted by Stone's odd baby-doll costumes. And Posey is delightful as the rather off-balance, bored educator.

Even if Allen has addressed these themes in darker, more provocative ways, this film offers a surprising fresh slant on a culture in which morality seems aspirational rather than fundamental. So betraying a partner is fine, while painlessly killing a villain isn't. In other words, saying that there is an absolute black-and-white approach to these issues is the ultimate human hypocrisy. Few filmmakers would dare say something like this in such a light, relaxed way. But then Allen has never followed the rules, even if he does understand morality better than most.

themes, language

8.Sep.15