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Whatever Works

January 08, 2023

This article is about the Woody Allen film. For the Miami Vice episode, see List of Miami Vice episodes § Season 2: 1985–1986.

Whatever Works is a 2009 American comedy film directed and written by Woody Allen and starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Michael McKean, and Henry Cavill. It was released on June 19, 2009, received mixed reviews and grossed $35 million.

Whatever Works
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWoody Allen
Written byWoody Allen
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyHarris Savides
Edited byAlisa Lepselter
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • April 22, 2009 (2009-04-22) (Tribeca)
  • June 19, 2009 (2009-06-19) (United States)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million[1]
Box office$35.1 million[2]

Plot

Boris Yelnikoff is a cynical, misanthropic chess teacher and former Columbia quantum mechanics professor. Divorced, he avoids most people, and except for three friends and his students, is patronizing to anyone he meets who doesn't match him intellectually. He also spends much of the film washing his hands, while singing the song, "Happy Birthday".

Boris comes home one night to find Melody, a simpleminded 21-year-old, on his doorstep. He reluctantly helps her, and she soon tells him her story. Melody turns out to have a distinctly Southern background, with fundamentalist parents in Mississippi, from whom she's run away. She asks if she can stay the night, which Boris eventually allows. While staying with Boris, Melody develops a crush on him, despite their age difference, varying cultures and intelligence.

Melody soon finds a job as a dog walker where she meets Perry Singleton, and they arrange a date. When she comes back home afterwards, she explains to Boris, she didn't like Perry because he loved the world too much. Boris realizes that he's in love with her and they soon marry.

A year later, Melody's mother, Marietta, finds Melody, explaining that she and her husband, John, thought Melody had been kidnapped. She goes on to tell her that John left her and sold their house after John lost money in the stock market. She meets Boris and is disappointed with him, so she tries to persuade Melody to end the marriage. The three go for lunch and meet Boris's friend, Leo. When Marietta goes to use the restroom, a young man, Randy Lee James, inquires about Melody and Marietta slyly decides to recruit Randy, who has fallen in love with Melody at first sight, to end her marriage. Later that evening, Leo, who had taken an interest in Marietta, asks her over for dinner. They spend the evening together, and discover that she's a talented photographer.

Boris explains to the audience that over the next few weeks Marietta has changed and started experimenting with artistic photography, exotic new habits, and starting an open relationship with Leo and his business partner, Morgenstern. Marietta still hates Boris and keeps trying to get Melody to marry Randy. She takes Melody to an outdoor market and "accidentally" runs into Randy, who questions her about her marriage. Melody sees past Marietta's attempt and tells him that her marriage is fine. She warns her mother to stop, but Marietta continues to try. Later, while shopping for clothes, Melody meets Randy in yet another planned encounter and he gets her to admit that her relationship with Boris isn't entirely satisfying. He then invites her to the boat he lives on, and the two kiss and begin an affair.

John arrives at Boris and Melody's home remorseful and hopes to get the family back together. They all go to Marietta's photography exhibit opening together, and he sees how his ex-wife has changed since she moved to New York. Distraught, he retreats to a bar, drinking away his misery. While there, he meets a recently divorced gay man, Howard, and admits what he has known most of his adult life: that he is also gay.

Melody finally tells Boris she's in love with Randy, and Boris is devastated, jumping out the window. He lands on another woman, Helena, breaking her arm and leg. When he visits her in the hospital, Boris asks her if there is anything he can do to make it up to her, Helena says she would like to go to dinner with him.

Finally, Boris hosts a New Year's Eve party, where everyone is in their new relationships: Marietta with Leo and Morgenstern, John is with Howard, Melody with Randy, and finally Boris with Helena. Melody and her parents have completely shed their former Southern conservative mindsets and wholeheartedly adopted the liberal New York City way of life and values. Everyone is now the best of friends, and at midnight they kiss their significant others.

Afterward, it is revealed that only Boris can speak to the audience and he explains that one has to find all the enjoyment one can to find, "Whatever Works".

Cast

In addition, Adam Brooks and Lyle Kanouse portray Boris' two other unnamed friends.

Release

On February 2, 2009, Variety reported that Sony Pictures Classics had purchased U.S. distribution rights to Whatever Works. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City,[3] on April 22, 2009. Sony gave the film a limited US release, beginning June 19, 2009. Maple Pictures released the film in Canada theatrically, and on DVD in October 2009. The film had its UK release on June 25, 2010.[4]

Production

The film was shot in New York City, marking Allen's return to his native city after shooting four films in Europe. David was hesitant to take the role, pointing out to Allen that his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm was improvisation, but Allen encouraged him to take the role anyway.[3]

Partly to counter assertions that the film is autobiographical,[4] Allen has pointed out that the script was written in the early 1970s, with Zero Mostel in mind for Boris; it was shelved after the actor's death in 1977. Thirty years later, Allen revisited the script in an attempt to create a film before a potential threat of a Screen Actors Guild strike.[3] According to Allen, the only significant changes to the script involved updating the topical references.[4][5]

Soundtrack

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 50% based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Based upon a script written in the 1970s, Woody Allen's Whatever Works suffers from a lack of fresh ideas."[6] According to another review aggregator, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 top reviews from mainstream critics, the film has an average score of 45 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[7]

Reflecting the evenly split approval of the critics, Matthew Oshinsky of The Star-Ledger wrote that the film was a good example of Allen's "ability to write great roles for women" and the film is nowhere near his best work, but it has some funny lines and that "it's at least pleasant".[8]

References

  1. ^ "Whatever Works (2009) - Financial Information". The Numbers. from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Whatever Works (2009)". Box Office Mojo. from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Twilight of the Tummlers". New York magazine. June 1, 2009. from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Higginbotham, Adam (June 22, 2010). "Woody Allen interview for Whatever Works". The Daily Telegraph. London. from the original on June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  5. ^ "Woody Allen, Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood & Others Discuss 'Whatever Works'". Starpulse Entertainment News. June 16, 2009. from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2009.
  6. ^ "Whatever Works Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  7. ^ "Whatever Works (2009): Reviews". Metacritic. from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  8. ^ Oshinsky, Matthew (2009-06-18). "'Whatever Works' movie review - Woody Allen brings his neuroses home". The Star-Ledger. from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-04-19.

External links

January 08, 2023
whatever, works, this, article, about, woody, allen, film, miami, vice, episode, list, miami, vice, episodes, season, 1985, 1986, 2009, american, comedy, film, directed, written, woody, allen, starring, larry, david, evan, rachel, wood, patricia, clarkson, beg. This article is about the Woody Allen film For the Miami Vice episode see List of Miami Vice episodes Season 2 1985 1986 Whatever Works is a 2009 American comedy film directed and written by Woody Allen and starring Larry David Evan Rachel Wood Patricia Clarkson Ed Begley Jr Michael McKean and Henry Cavill It was released on June 19 2009 received mixed reviews and grossed 35 million Whatever WorksTheatrical release posterDirected byWoody AllenWritten byWoody AllenProduced byLetty AronsonStephen TenenbaumStarringEd Begley Jr Patricia ClarksonLarry DavidConleth HillMichael McKeanEvan Rachel WoodHenry CavillCinematographyHarris SavidesEdited byAlisa LepselterProductioncompaniesPerdido ProductionsGravier ProductionsWild BunchDistributed bySony Pictures ClassicsRelease datesApril 22 2009 2009 04 22 Tribeca June 19 2009 2009 06 19 United States Running time92 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 15 million 1 Box office 35 1 million 2 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Release 4 Production 5 Soundtrack 6 Reception 7 References 8 External linksPlot EditBoris Yelnikoff is a cynical misanthropic chess teacher and former Columbia quantum mechanics professor Divorced he avoids most people and except for three friends and his students is patronizing to anyone he meets who doesn t match him intellectually He also spends much of the film washing his hands while singing the song Happy Birthday Boris comes home one night to find Melody a simpleminded 21 year old on his doorstep He reluctantly helps her and she soon tells him her story Melody turns out to have a distinctly Southern background with fundamentalist parents in Mississippi from whom she s run away She asks if she can stay the night which Boris eventually allows While staying with Boris Melody develops a crush on him despite their age difference varying cultures and intelligence Melody soon finds a job as a dog walker where she meets Perry Singleton and they arrange a date When she comes back home afterwards she explains to Boris she didn t like Perry because he loved the world too much Boris realizes that he s in love with her and they soon marry A year later Melody s mother Marietta finds Melody explaining that she and her husband John thought Melody had been kidnapped She goes on to tell her that John left her and sold their house after John lost money in the stock market She meets Boris and is disappointed with him so she tries to persuade Melody to end the marriage The three go for lunch and meet Boris s friend Leo When Marietta goes to use the restroom a young man Randy Lee James inquires about Melody and Marietta slyly decides to recruit Randy who has fallen in love with Melody at first sight to end her marriage Later that evening Leo who had taken an interest in Marietta asks her over for dinner They spend the evening together and discover that she s a talented photographer Boris explains to the audience that over the next few weeks Marietta has changed and started experimenting with artistic photography exotic new habits and starting an open relationship with Leo and his business partner Morgenstern Marietta still hates Boris and keeps trying to get Melody to marry Randy She takes Melody to an outdoor market and accidentally runs into Randy who questions her about her marriage Melody sees past Marietta s attempt and tells him that her marriage is fine She warns her mother to stop but Marietta continues to try Later while shopping for clothes Melody meets Randy in yet another planned encounter and he gets her to admit that her relationship with Boris isn t entirely satisfying He then invites her to the boat he lives on and the two kiss and begin an affair John arrives at Boris and Melody s home remorseful and hopes to get the family back together They all go to Marietta s photography exhibit opening together and he sees how his ex wife has changed since she moved to New York Distraught he retreats to a bar drinking away his misery While there he meets a recently divorced gay man Howard and admits what he has known most of his adult life that he is also gay Melody finally tells Boris she s in love with Randy and Boris is devastated jumping out the window He lands on another woman Helena breaking her arm and leg When he visits her in the hospital Boris asks her if there is anything he can do to make it up to her Helena says she would like to go to dinner with him Finally Boris hosts a New Year s Eve party where everyone is in their new relationships Marietta with Leo and Morgenstern John is with Howard Melody with Randy and finally Boris with Helena Melody and her parents have completely shed their former Southern conservative mindsets and wholeheartedly adopted the liberal New York City way of life and values Everyone is now the best of friends and at midnight they kiss their significant others Afterward it is revealed that only Boris can speak to the audience and he explains that one has to find all the enjoyment one can to find Whatever Works Cast EditLarry David as Boris Evan Rachel Wood as Melody Ed Begley Jr as John Patricia Clarkson as Marietta Conleth Hill as Brockman Michael McKean as Boris friend Henry Cavill as Randy Lee James John Gallagher Jr as Perry Jessica Hecht as Helena Carolyn McCormick as Jessica Christopher Evan Welch as Howard Olek Krupa as Morgenstern In addition Adam Brooks and Lyle Kanouse portray Boris two other unnamed friends Release EditOn February 2 2009 Variety reported that Sony Pictures Classics had purchased U S distribution rights to Whatever Works It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City 3 on April 22 2009 Sony gave the film a limited US release beginning June 19 2009 Maple Pictures released the film in Canada theatrically and on DVD in October 2009 The film had its UK release on June 25 2010 4 Production EditThe film was shot in New York City marking Allen s return to his native city after shooting four films in Europe David was hesitant to take the role pointing out to Allen that his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm was improvisation but Allen encouraged him to take the role anyway 3 Partly to counter assertions that the film is autobiographical 4 Allen has pointed out that the script was written in the early 1970s with Zero Mostel in mind for Boris it was shelved after the actor s death in 1977 Thirty years later Allen revisited the script in an attempt to create a film before a potential threat of a Screen Actors Guild strike 3 According to Allen the only significant changes to the script involved updating the topical references 4 5 Soundtrack Edit Hello I Must Be Going Groucho Marx and Cast Salty Bubble Tom Sharpsteen and His Orlandos Butterfly By Heinz Kiessling Honeymoon Swoon Werner Tautz If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight Jackie Gleason Symphony No 9 Beethoven in D Minor Op 125 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Wedding March Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Symphony No 5 Beethoven in C Minor Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Desafinado Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year Red Garland Menina Flor Charlie Byrd Auld Lang Syne Dick Hyman amp His Orchestra Happy Birthday To You Larry DavidReception EditOn Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 50 based on 165 reviews with an average rating of 5 4 10 The website s critical consensus reads Based upon a script written in the 1970s Woody Allen s Whatever Works suffers from a lack of fresh ideas 6 According to another review aggregator Metacritic which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 top reviews from mainstream critics the film has an average score of 45 out of 100 based on 30 critics indicating mixed or average reviews 7 Reflecting the evenly split approval of the critics Matthew Oshinsky of The Star Ledger wrote that the film was a good example of Allen s ability to write great roles for women and the film is nowhere near his best work but it has some funny lines and that it s at least pleasant 8 References Edit Whatever Works 2009 Financial Information The Numbers Archived from the original on 26 March 2018 Retrieved 26 March 2018 Whatever Works 2009 Box Office Mojo Archived from the original on April 25 2010 Retrieved November 11 2010 a b c Twilight of the Tummlers New York magazine June 1 2009 Archived from the original on November 9 2020 Retrieved June 27 2010 a b c Higginbotham Adam June 22 2010 Woody Allen interview for Whatever Works The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on June 25 2010 Retrieved June 27 2010 Woody Allen Larry David Evan Rachel Wood amp Others Discuss Whatever Works Starpulse Entertainment News June 16 2009 Archived from the original on June 20 2009 Retrieved June 19 2009 Whatever Works Movie Reviews Pictures Rotten Tomatoes Archived from the original on August 11 2010 Retrieved June 27 2010 Whatever Works 2009 Reviews Metacritic Archived from the original on June 19 2009 Retrieved June 21 2009 Oshinsky Matthew 2009 06 18 Whatever Works movie review Woody Allen brings his neuroses home The Star Ledger Archived from the original on 2020 09 22 Retrieved 2020 04 19 External links EditOfficial website Whatever Works at IMDb Whatever Works at AllMovie Whatever Works at the TCM Movie Database Whatever Works at the American Film Institute Catalog Whatever Works at Rotten Tomatoes Whatever Works at Metacritic Whatever Works at Box Office Mojo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Whatever Works amp oldid 1126761327, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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