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Whatever Works
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Whatever Works (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 48 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11)
Whatever Works (2009) -- An eccentric older man (David) encounters a Southern belle (Wood) and promptly falls in love. But how will the couple, her family, and his New York City friends mix?
Whatever Works (2009) -- Trailer for this Woody Allen comedy about a curmudgeon who allows a young runaway to live in his apartment
Whatever Works (2009) -- Trailer for this comedy directed by Woody Allen
Whatever Works (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Italian Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   8,535 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 30% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Woody Allen (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Whatever Works on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 July 2009 (France) more
Genre:
Plot:
Attempting to impress his ideologies on religion, relationships, and the randomness (and worthlessness) of existence... more | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(290 articles)
John Waters Lists His Top 10 Films of 2009
 (From Collider.com. 15 December 2009, 9:30 AM, PST)

Tarantino & Pearl Jam Top WENN Polls
 (From WENN. 14 December 2009, 5:31 PM, PST)

User Comments:
See this movie and then read the external reviews more (75 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Larry David ... Boris Yellnikoff
Adam Brooks ... Boris' Friend #1

Lyle Kanouse ... Boris' Friend #2

Michael McKean ... Joe - Boris' Friend #3

Clifford Lee Dickson ... Boy on Street

Yolonda Ross ... Boy's Mother

Carolyn McCormick ... Jessica
Samantha Bee ... Chess Mother
Conleth Hill ... Leo Brockman
Marcia DeBonis ... Lady at Chinese Restaurant

Evan Rachel Wood ... Melodie St. Ann Celestine
John Gallagher Jr. ... Perry
Willa Cuthrell-Tuttleman ... Chess Girl

Nicole Patrick ... Perry's Friend

Patricia Clarkson ... Marietta
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Untitled Woody Allen Project (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sexual situations including dialogue, brief nude images and thematic material.
Runtime:
USA:92 min (Tribeca Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:PG-13 (certificate #44832) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Norway:A | Singapore:M18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Australia:M | Netherlands:6

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The role of Boris Yellnikoff was original written for Zero Mostel. After Mostel's death in 1977, Woody Allen set the screenplay aside. However, with a potential actor's strike during 2008-9, Allen chose this old screenplay to be his next film. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Melodie says "He doesn't have a lot of patience for US inchworms.", Boris incorrectly corrects her and says "WE inchworms". Boris is supposed to be a genius, but Melodie was actually correct. more
Quotes:
Boris Yellnikoff: That's why I can't say enough times, whatever love you can get and give, whatever happiness you can filch or provide, every temporary measure of grace, whatever works. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
54 out of 73 people found the following comment useful.
See this movie and then read the external reviews, 10 July 2009
9/10
Author: boydens from United States

I saw this movie in a packed cinema and the audience loved it to the extent that many applauded at the end. So I came home, looked it up in IMDb and read some of the review by professional film critics. What I found helps to explain why nobody reads papers anymore and why professional movie reviews are increasingly irrelevant. The critics drooled all over themselves for No Country for Old Man -- a ridiculous blood bath where the bad guy can see through walls, magically find people on the run, and kill repeatedly without raising much more that a mild interest from the local and state police. Yet many of these same critics think the characters in this new Woody Allen film aren't realistic. God save the film critics.

Back to the film. I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard at the movies, and I wasn't alone. It takes special talent to direct a movie that is so dependent on perfect comic timing to work, and the actors in this film hit their marks consistently. If there is character in this movie that shouldn't be the subject of study in an abnormal psychology class, I missed them.

If you care about intelligent movies for grown-ups, then you need to support movies like this one.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (75 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Whatever Works (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Dreck and propaganda dlherman-1
Woody should've played Boris! superbartje
UK Release Date waltersobchakonline
Someone knows what cinema is when Patricia character go to the movies? henrivzq
Feel-good movie? *spoilers* askoz
Woody Allen is a hero of mine ... but this film was ABSOLUTELY DIRE MickeyMickeyMickey
more

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