Whatever Works (2009)

The expectation:
Woody Allen again. I didn't mean to do two in a row but this one is his most recent so I was excited for the contrast. Larry David is known for his similar rants to Woody Allen's-although maybe a bit more rash and angry (and less slapstick)- so I thought that he would make a good character for Allen to write and direct. Rachel Evan Wood plays the young girl, Melodie, who is taken in by an angry physicist 'Boris Yellnikoff' (David) and her role is so remarkably different from anything that I have seen before that I did not even recognize her in the trailer. I was very excited though- you either love Woody Allen films or you hate them- and I like them!

The result:
It is good to see Woody Allen's return to New York-his beloved city- and he knows how to film it. His writing is consistent; he maintains that great critical rant that gets channeled through Larry David. But I think Larry David is a great comic actor when he is allowed to improvise, and you can tell between the moments he improvises and the moments he is speaking Allen's words. Woody Allen definitely writes the best for himself and I think his messages -although similarly pessimistic- get lost in David's crass delivery. The film gets a slow start because David seems as though he is mocking Allen through this delivery. I almost wanted to punch him. I guess Allen should have let him improvise more. But Larry David has his moments and the film blossoms because of the supporting characters: Rachel Evan Wood is a fantastic, southern, unformed girl who gets involved with David, both of her parents give the film interesting moments, and Boris' (David) friends provided an added charm. Allen also incorporates some theater tactics into the movie, like breaking the fourth wall, that give this film a unique touch. Overall, most of the very smart, funny parts are in the preview- so you will really enjoy this film if you don't watch the trailer. And the ending gives the film a triteness that somehow makes it all not worth watching. It all wraps up into one nice, pretty bow, making the issues that have surfaced throughout the film unchallenged, unimportant, and undermined. I just wish Allen was younger and could have played the part himself. Then maybe the film would have included a session with an analyst. Alas!
Not my favorite Woody Allen film.

What to look for:
Patricia Clarkson as Melodie's mother- she can play a great southern woman and a bohemian artist all in the same film. Look closely at her artwork- it is very good.
The music- Woody Allen's take on gypsy jazz. He always has great scores.
Larry David's deadpan slapstick- unlike Allen, he can pull it off.

Trivia: Woody Allen wrote the script for this film in the early '70s, with Zero Mostel in mind for Boris, but the script was shelved after the actor's death in 1977. Allen didn't change much of the script- just brought the political and social commentary up to date.
Check out this interview:
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/06/16/woody_allen_larry_david_evan_rachel_wood

Flickr photo by All Glass Photo