The Worst Film Ever

Brilliant and touching

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

I always enjoy black comedies because they have flairs to tell the realities of our lives. This one practically delivered just that.I am a fan of Larry Davids since I fond out he very much likes the roles he played on screen. Of course, brilliant scripts had a lot to do with it. In my view, actors could play various roles would be talent because they have to study others than themselves in order to have convincing performances. But people like Larry they are natural performers in their own rights. We might easily suppose that should be effortless since they understand themselves well and play characters like themselves mostly. Actually, it might be the hardest thing to do. Self awareness is often vulnerable and most actors might feel uncomfortable to expose themselves in front of audiences. It's hilarious and even cruel sometimes in this movie. But the cynic and grumpiness suited Larry 's nature well. Rarely audiences want movies to deliver riveting messages. Our lives are full of consistent ridicules. Laughing at them might be a better way to deal with. Whatever works.

There's something endearing about Larry David, as there was about the young Woody Allen. OK, we get the elitist hatred for anyone who isn't Woody. I suppose we can only write about things we know. He knows a certain version of New York, his self-hatred, his hatred for conservatives, and the Marx Brothers.As for story line, this one is riddled with clichés. Southerners come to New York, and find out that their inner bohemian has been waiting to come out. I would have found it more interesting if they developed a certain tolerance for New York types, but ultimately rediscovered their conviction for the things they have always believed.Evan Rachel Wood is cute in this, Larry David is himself, which is lovable, and Clarkson and Begley deliver excellent performances. The time line of how things work out is fine, and to me, the idea that we may find unconventional scenarios actually work for us, is also fine and true. Allen does show that pessimism is unappealing, and that perhaps he is jealous of the sunny optimism of Southerners and others like them. But ultimately he makes all the characters embrace his worldview. So he doesn't really take chances.

An improbable story whose talkiness would possibly be better served on the stage as opposed to the screen, "Whatever Works" nevertheless serves as a fitting summary of Woody Allen's view of life: existential yet weirdly optimistic, especially in its' happy conclusion, where the individual contours to whatever fate delivers. Larry David (kudos for resisting the usual Allen imitation) plays an ornery, solitary genius who somehow marries a ditzy Southern belle (Evan Rachel Wood, terrible) and together they face the challenges brought upon them for being so mismatched, especially when her separated parents (Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley, Jr.) relocate to New York. What's primarily disappointing about "Whatever Works" is that Allen's vaunted wit is scarcely apparent here: though it tries really hard, it just isn't that funny. The film's premise needs to be a lot stronger to compensate for the shortfall dialogue but isn't. Still, you leave with a satisfied feeling as David's straightforward addresses to the audience go a long way toward elucidating Allen's points in a way that we can tie together without feeling Allen's usual condescension. I'll give Allen that.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. i have watched a couple of Woody Allen movies but some how didn't relate to them too well. So, i went in to this movie with not many expectations. Some how watching a movie with low expectations has been more enjoyable in a relative manner. But, Larry David's quirky reverse psychological prologue got you hooked to the movie and the rest was, as the cliché goes. I am a bit surprised by the lower than expected user ratings for this movie. I guess its the caricatured nature of the characters in the movie probably were not well received. but i cracked up to the Pygmalion chemistry of Larry and Evan, especially to Larry's reactions. I just love the way the entire plot has been conceived and rolled out on screen. the sarcastic humor and the flashes of profound ideas conveyed through cynicism and cliché. its a fresh approach to the rotten side of us, humans.Thank you all and thank you Woody Allen.