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| Movie Review: Whatever Works Alternate Title: Rants, Tirades and Kvetching
Story: So what's not to like?
Another New York based film by the prolific writer and director Woody
Allen that features a classic misanthrope, who is a self-declared,
almost nominated for a Nobel Prize, genius who never met an issue that
he does not have an opinion about and laughs - lots and lots of laughs. This Woody Allen film mostly takes place downtown
in Manhattan rather than his usual Upper West Side tony locales. The
change of venue brings a refreshing vision to his longtime production
designer, Santo Loquasto and it works. We meet curmudgeon Boris as he breaks the fourth
wall while speaking with his friends to address us, the theater audience.
He opines about the randomness of life, the miserable destiny of the
human race and why we are all doomed. I was hooked from the get go.
Our grumpy old man meets the sweet, Southern, young, needy, unschooled
Melody. He takes her in and his life takes an unexpected twist. Along the way we see how chance occurrences affect
the lives of all of the other characters in the story. It is a breezy,
unusually optimistic film for Woody and a pleasant way to spend 90 minutes.
Check it out and have a laugh on me. Check out the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAgp2Bgrl0g Acting: Larry David as Boris was just fine as the
stand-in for Woody Allen. He makes me laugh. Evan Rachel Wood
as young Melody was surprisingly delightful. Patricia Clarkson
as Melody's mother, Marietta can do no wrong. And it is always good
to see Ed Begley Jr. on the big screen.
Trivia: Woody Allen was born as Allen Konigsberg.
December 1, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York. Nearly all of his films start
and end with white-on-black credits, set in the Windsor typeface, set
to jazz music, without any scrolling. He speaks French, won't watch
his films after they are released and was suspended from NYU.
Predilection: I am a big fan of Woody Allen movies.
Larry David makes me laugh and NYC is my favorite locale for films.
Critters: None
Food: Lots of food prepared and food shopping in
Chinatown. Meals ranged from Cajun crawfish to pasta.
Sex Spectrum: Funny bed scenes.
Blatant Product Placement: Pellegrino, Poland Springs.
Soundtrack: Typical Woody Allen.
Opening Titles: As usual the beginning has white-on-black
credits, set in the Windsor typeface, set to jazz music, without any
scrolling.
Visual Art: NYC looks terrific.
Theater Audience: This film was playing on three
screens in the NYC theater, the Angelika. Our 11AM Sunday morning showing
was crowded.
Weather: Lovely
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I did not drift.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: For a complete list of Woody
Allen films to rent go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Woody_Allen_films
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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