Given A Name

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The Journal Sentinel's Duane Dudek reported yesterday that Woody Allen's next film, the Larry David-Evan Rachel Wood relationship thing, will be called Whatever Works. Allen called it a "a blackish comedy." I think it's fair to say that the title doesn't imply this in the slightest. Generically speaking, of course.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 30, 2008 at 2:57 PM

comment #1

Dellos says ...

way to go woody keep cranking them out. there still people like me in this world who will spend the money and time to see one of your works. After seeing a lot of high expection low return hollywood films; I find I am never disappointed with any of your films.

Posted by Dellos at July 30, 2008 3:27 PM

comment #2

BurmaShave says ...

Dellos said it. Consistently diverting, still occasionally brilliant (the murder sequence in MATCH POINT is insanely well directed).

Posted by BurmaShave at July 30, 2008 3:30 PM

comment #3

Rev. Slappy says ...

This should be interesting. I am a huge Curb fan and Larry "these pretzels are making me thirsty" David should be a nice Woody surrogate.

Posted by Rev. Slappy at July 30, 2008 3:44 PM

comment #4

Mcflyboy says ...

That title brings back memories of Anything Else. But Larry David is a huge step up from the pie-fucker.

I always thought Match Point was a blackish comedy. Cassandra's Dream was like Match Point with no sense of humor.

Posted by Mcflyboy at July 30, 2008 4:04 PM

comment #5

p.Vice says ...

I definitely still believe that Woody has one more masterpiece in him. Sadly I doubt this will be it.

Posted by p.Vice at July 30, 2008 4:33 PM

comment #6

actionman says ...

Woody Allen. Larry David. It's sounds almost too brilliant.

Posted by actionman at July 30, 2008 5:45 PM

comment #7

EOTW says ...

"Woody Allen. Larry David. It's sounds almost too brilliant."

Also too obvious.

Posted by EOTW at July 30, 2008 6:12 PM

comment #8

Richardson says ...

"Cassandra's Dream was like Match Point with no sense of humor."

I thought 'Match Point' was 'Match Point' with no sense of humor. I kept wishing it would be funny, because I really didn't like it.

Posted by Richardson at July 30, 2008 6:28 PM

comment #9

BrianBouton says ...

A couple of months ago, I was sailing out of the 79th St. Basin on a tall ship docked there and ran into a guy who said he was a location scout for Woody Allen. He told me he was meeting Woody aboard a ship to discuss using the location for an upcoming movie with Larry David. I was really excited because I love David and think Allen is one of the few director who could work well with him. That was at the end of May.

Posted by BrianBouton at July 31, 2008 5:34 AM

comment #10

Mgmax says ...

Spindozer will be especially delighted that Jeff is now the top post on Powerline.

Posted by Mgmax at July 31, 2008 6:24 AM

comment #11

Dave Polands Gut says ...

A new Woody movie? So maybe 12 people actually see this?

Posted by Dave Polands Gut at July 31, 2008 6:36 AM

comment #12

lesterg says ...

A little too similar to "Anything Else" for my tastes, but whatever works.

Posted by lesterg at July 31, 2008 7:16 AM

comment #13

Brock Landers says ...

Wow, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gets a scoop! Color me impressed. (Yes, I'm from the Milwaukee area).

Larry David and Woody Allen together sounds like a no-brainer. I have high hopes.

Allen has long been one of my favorite moviemakers. The creator of 'Sleeper' and 'Love and Death' will always get a pass from me.

That said, it's been hard to drum up enthusiasm for his recent movies. 'Match Point' was excellent, but 'Anything Else' and 'Hollywood Ending' didn't work, and 'Curse of the Jade Scorpion' was outright painful.

Meanwhile, 'Scoop' and 'Cassandra's Dream' are in my to-watch pile at home. I will get around to them, eventually, I suppose.

Fave Woody Allen movies, anyone?

Posted by Brock Landers at July 31, 2008 7:24 AM

comment #14

Yves says ...

I was hoping he'd make a third film in his London series and focus on the cops that always show up at the end.

Posted by Yves at July 31, 2008 9:05 AM

comment #15

orangemathias says ...

Woody is usually diverting but I mostly feel that his output in the last 15 years has been underpar with some minor exceptions like Match Point and Everybody Says I love You . (I have no desire to see Anything Else and have Cassandra's Dream on Netflix queue). Here's hoping that he's got another comedy/drama in the vein of Hannah and Her Sisters that makes you laugh and think like only the master can.

Posted by orangemathias at July 31, 2008 9:13 AM

comment #16

Jay says ...

I am always in for Woody Allen. I loved Cassandra's Dream AND Scoop. I thought that upon second viewing, Jade Scorpion was terrific as well (once you get past the discomfort of the romantic pairings). The only ones that just do not work for me are Everything You Always Wanted..., Hollywood Ending, and most of Anything Else.

Posted by Jay at July 31, 2008 10:54 AM

comment #17

Richardson says ...

'Anything Else' is an interesting novelty. The character that Woody Allen plays is probably the most different character he's ever played -- he's angry and violent and extremely confrontational.

It's not very funny, but it's not nearly as bad as 'Jade Scorpion'. To me, that's the nadir of not only his career, but one of the low points of my theatrical movie-going experience.

'Hollywood Ending', I have a soft spot for. I think Woody Allen himself is funnier in that than he's been in anything for a while, and he gets to do a lot of physical comedy for the first time since, what, 'Sleeper'?

Woody is funny in 'Scoop', but there's not much more to it; Hugh Jackman is unfortunately wasted in it.

I don't think he's made a great movie since 'Sweet and Lowdown', but I don't think his recent movies have been as bad as is often suggested.

Posted by Richardson at July 31, 2008 2:05 PM

comment #18

Cassy2008 says ...

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Posted by Cassy2008 at August 1, 2008 2:51 AM

comment #19