Whatever (1998)

A teen faces her impending adulthood in the carefree sex and drug revolution years of the early 80's prior to fears of AIDS. She lives with her bitter, divorced mother and her sadistic kid ... See full summary »

Director:

Susan Skoog

Writer:

Susan Skoog

Stars:

Liza Weil, Chad Morgan, Frederic Forrest

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liza Weil	...	Anna Stockard
Chad Morgan	...	Brenda Talbot
Frederic Forrest	...	Mr. Chaminski
Kathryn Rossetter	...	Carol Stockard
Marc Riffon	...	Martin
Dan Montano	...	Zak
John G. Connolly	...	John Woods
Gary Wolf	...	Eddie
Tony Torn	...	Mr. Stanley
Trey Compton	...	Sam
Joe Mantragna	...	Chris
Matt Rumbaugh	...	Tony
Jim Neville	...	Rob
Garret Spencer	...	Joe
Destiny Matranga	...	Lynn

Storyline

A teen faces her impending adulthood in the carefree sex and drug revolution years of the early 80's prior to fears of AIDS. She lives with her bitter, divorced mother and her sadistic kid brother. Looking forward to a life based on her passion for art, she nevertheless gets in with the partying crowd which causes her to miss deadlines and poor grades which jeapordizes her future. Ultimately she ends up losing her virginity to an older artist wanna-be who she has had a long standing crush on.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | sex | high school | new jersey | art teacher | 

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Taglines:

1981. In an era of just say no, they said yes.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive teen drug and alcohol use, language including sexual dialogue, sexuality and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Classics

Country:

France USA

Language:

French English

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bánomisén

Filming Locations:

Red Bank, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$46,347 (USA) (10 July 1998)

Gross:

$307,037 (USA) (16 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anyway Productions, Circle Films, DuArt

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Sam can be seen in at least two scenes wearing Batman: The Animated Series pajamas. BTAS debuted in 1992. Whatever takes place in 1981.

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Crazy Credits

The filmmakers would like to express their deepest gratitude and thanks to all who gave their time, their artistry, their technical abilities, their equipment, their clothes, their homes, their furniture, their cars, their food, their pets, their children, their offices, their copy machines, their phones, their pillows and blankets, their credit limits, their lungs, their patience, their marriages, their political influence, their good reputations, their physical health and most of all their good will that made the production of this film possible.

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Soundtracks

"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"
Written by Joey Ramone (as Jeffrey Hyman), Johnny Ramone (as John Cummings),
Dee Dee Ramone (as Douglas Colvin) & Tommy Ramone (as Thomas Erdely)
Performed by Ramones
Courtesy of Sire Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Excellent coming-of-age film

I don't think I'd ever heard of this film, but it caught my eye in a table of used videos for sale. I enjoy the TV show Gilmore Girls and recognized Liza Weil on the cover. What a gem this film is! It's not "entertaining" like most escapist films, it's a fairly realist look into the life of a girl who may have a future or who may slide into a miserable life of drugs and drink, perhaps even crime. I found it engrossing, and marveled at Liza Weil, so little utilized in the TV programs I've seen her in. Frederick Forrest also stands out as an enthusiastic art teacher, and I enjoyed how the ex-con was more than a stereotype.