Larry David Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Whatever Works' title is the mantra of inveterate curmudgeon Boris Yellnikoff (Larry David), as well as that of Woody Allen, whose latest – and first to be set in his beloved Manhattan since 2004's Melinda and Melinda – hews as tightly to his trademark preoccupations as Of Mice and Men's Lenny clung to his rabbit. Casting David makes sense, as the Curb Your Enthusiasm star's crotchety on-screen persona more than slightly recalls that of Allen's. Yet rather than an inspired meeting of kindred minds, their collaboration does little except reinforce the notion that Allen's creative well has long since run dry, his films now split into either inert, heavy-handed, detached spectacles of pretty people doing naughty things in foreign locales (Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona), or leaden comedic larks in which notable names embody Allen's archetypal kvetching role.

An erudite string-theory professor and all-around misanthrope with suicidal tendencies and an extensive vocabulary, David's Boris grumps and grouches like countless other Allen protagonists, right down to his guiding philosophy that the world is a cold, random place full of regret and misery, and that any rare chances at happiness should be seized.

If you had to pick someone to play a (slightly) younger version of Woody Allen, it'd pretty much have to be Larry David, right? Both men are overtly Jewish, neurotic, self-obsessed, and often pretty hilarious -- so it doesn't surprise me one bit to see Larry David take the starring role in Allen's latest, a quick-looking New York comedy called Whatever Works. Going only by the trailer, it looks to be an enjoyably typical (if appreciably old-school) Woody Allen comedy, but (as usual) the prolific filmmaker has managed to bring together one hell of a fun ensemble.

Joining Larry David are Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Evan Rachel Wood, and Conleth Hill in this story of an upper-class New Yorker who has some sort of mid-life crisis and decides to live like a starving artist. (If I have the synopsis right, then this flick sounds a little like Mel Brooks' Life Stinks, and no movie wants to sound like that.) But the trailer (available right here at Apple) made me chuckle more than once, and I'm certainly interested in seeing a cast like this deliver some of Woody Allen's neuroses. Too early to tell, of course, but Whatever Works looks like it could be a return to comedic form for Woody. (Because I think his last several comedies have been pretty weak.)

And you? Still a Woody Allen fan? Interested in the new one? It comes out on June 19.

I just came across the new poster for Whatever Works on IMP Awards (check it by clicking the image below), and beyond the too-perfect Larry David pose, I'm struck by the utter lack of Woody Allen on the thing. Beyond the billing block and maybe an especially sharp sense of font, how would anyone know that this was the latest film from the guy who made Annie Hall and Manhattan?

It was the same thing with Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and I'm wondering if potentially interested people would find themselves turned off upon finding out just whose movie they've been lured into. It's the same sense of un-branding (non-branding? anti-branding?) that kept most passersby from realizing that Zack and Miri Make a Porno was a Kevin Smith joint, and really, if you're already past that title, is his presence in the trailers and posters going to keep you away?

If anything, might the name recognition lure a couple of more people to either film (not that Larry David fans probably aren't already fans of Woody Allen, and not that Kevin Smith films probably already know which new movie is his)? Have you ever been sold on a movie until you got a glimpse of the name at the helm? When? Where? Why?

The Tribeca Film Festival kicks off tonight with a few changes from years past. The schedule is a little leaner and tighter, and Sundance veteran Geoffrey Gilmore has just arrived at the fest's parent company, Tribeca Enterprises. Having just launched in 2002, the festival is still finding its identity. Good thing we're here to help it look! Cinematical's Erik Davis and yours truly will be covering the festival over the next week. In the meantime, here are seven films we're looking forward to.

Whatever Works
Woody Allen's latest comedy is exciting for two reasons. For one thing, it marks his return to New York after setting his last four films in Europe. For another thing, it stars Larry David, whose famed neurotic pessimism makes him a perfect match for Allen's style. This is Tribeca's opening-night film, accompanied by much ballyhoo and fanfare -- but for some reason, we lowly members of the press aren't able to attend. Our badges get us into most public screenings, but not this one. So, um, we're looking forward to it, and that's all we'll be able to do: look forward to it. It's the kind of situation Larry David would complain about before finding some way to make it worse for himself.

Remember when it was common wisdom that TV stars couldn't cross over and become movie stars? The boundaries between TV and movies have been shattered, with actors freely crossing over between the two mediums. Over the next three weekends, we'll see a host of actors who made their mark in television stepping up to starring roles on the big screen. Tomorrow, fans can support Miley Cirus in Hannah Montana: The Movie, next week Zac Efron will pretend to be 17 Again, and later in the month, the heroic Ali Larter and the wired Idris Elba will tangle in Obsessed.

With that in mind, here are seven TV stars who should be in more movies. Not all of them currently play lead roles, but they all have the capability of dazzling audiences worldwide. For this edition, we're focusing on the gentlemen of the dramatic arts.

1. Jon Hamm

As Don Draper in the superb, eloquent Mad Men, Hamm has been crafty, elegant, and far too sexy when he's puffing on a cancer stick. He also has that rare gift of allowing viewers to peer through his eyes into his soul, which is a scary thing when you consider what Draper has done on the show. Hamm amply demonstrated his comedic ability on the episode of Saturday Night Live that he hosted last year, and again on a recent run of 30 Rock as a gorgeous, clumsy doctor living in a "bubble." He had nothing much to do in the disastrous remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, so he's ripe for some good movies. Drama, comedy, romance ... is there anything he can't do?

Cinematical has just learned that Woody Allen's Whatever Works will open the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, marking Allen's return to New York (and New York filmmaking) since shooting his last few films in Europe (he last shot in NY back in 2004). On debuting his new movie in NYC, the always-brief Allen said, "A lovely idea of showing my film in a film festival in my own city. It's very exciting." The film will premiere on April 22, and the festival will run through May 3.

Though there's no firm synopsis for Whatever Works yet (other than the fact that it's being pegged as a "blackish comedy"), though we do know that it stars Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. As a big fan of all those involved, I'm itching to see how Larry David delivers Woody Allen dialogue. I can either see them knocking one way out of the ball park or striking out miserably -- there's no way this one will settle somewhere in the middle. And knowing Rachel Wood (and Allen), I'm sure she'll be sexing it up in some way, shape or form. The Sony Pictures Classics film will be released later this summer.

Cinematical will once again provide extensive coverage of this year's Tribeca Film Festival where we'll have a review of Whatever Works to coincide with its premiere. Stay tuned ...

Well, Woody Allen's newest film might not be generating the same buzz as his sexy Spanish romp, Vicky Christina Barcelona, but Allen is still out pounding the pavement for his latest romantic comedy. In a conversation with Duane Dudek of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Allen confirmed that he has finally christened his latest film Whatever Works. The flick stars Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood in what has been described as a "May-December romance". In the interview with the Sentinel, Allen tells Dudek that the film will be a comedy, but, "a slightly different one for me. It's a blackish comedy." -- and if there is one guy who has earned the right to be a little bitter about romance, it's Allen.

When it comes to David, it should come as no surprise that Allen is thrilled with his choice of leading man; the two seem perfect for each other. Allen tells the Sentinel, "He's got a great thing of his own. He's got a great, what would you call it, sarcastic, sour or vitriolic, wonderful, wonderful, no nonsense sense of humor." But don't feel bad for co-star Evan Rachel Wood; Allen saved a little of the praise for his latest ingénue, saying he was "stunned at how great" Wood was, despite her only being 20. So feel free to fill in your own joke about Allen and young girls here, because after 16 years of Soon-Yee jokes, I have officially run out of material.

Whatever Works is slated for release in 2009.

[Thanks: Big Screen Little Screen]

Is it just me, or has famed director Woody Allen hit a rough patch with comedy over the last few years? Sure, his dramas are still bringing in good reviews, but it seems like his recent comedies just haven't worked with audiences like they used to -- and believe me, it pains me to say this considering I think he's one of the funniest people on the planet. The Bad and Ugly has posted some new on-set photos from Allen's latest (and yet to be titled) comedy starring Evan Rachel Wood and Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm). In the photos, everyone looks to be enjoying themselves, and while there is nothing earth shattering going on, it's nice to see Allen back at work in New York, after working the crowds at Cannes for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Like most of Allen's projects, not much is known about the story. Judging from what we've seen so far, it looks like Allen is going back to May-December romances and all the complications they can entail -- something the writer-director has plenty of real life experience with. But as much as I love the man, it has always been a bit of a struggle to overlook his somewhat 'lecherous leanings'. I know he has always had a thing for 'ingénues', but back in the day it was actresses like Diane Keaton and Dianne Wiest. These days, however, it's Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood, and I'm not convinced that they even belong in the same category. Are you?

Egads! Is that Evan Rachel Wood dating Larry David? Did she give up on Marilyn Manson? Alas, no. What you see up there is a picture from the set of Woody Allen's new film, which is one of a handful that have popped up on Just Jared. If these are any indication, this untitled romcom could be a good and quirky movie. Wood has that youthful maturity to her (which I imagine is what drew Manson to the actress), and even in crazy stripes, she looks completely comfortable alongside David.

Unlike Woody's recent forays, which seem blissfully free of old men with young women, Woody has dusted off an old project that he had planned to star in himself. However, since he now thinks he's too old, he cast Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame, to get the young, female action. At this point, all we know is that there's some May-December romance going on, and that Henry Cavill (The Tudors) has nabbed a co-starring gig as a man who gets set up with Wood's character by her mother. Man, she must love David if she's willing to give up Cavill for him.

The film is currently shooting in Manhattan, so if you're in the Big Apple, keep your eyes peeled for David and Wood eating knishes and getting romantic on the Lower East Side.

I'd say it was about time that Woody Allen hired some eye candy that wasn't of the female persuasion. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Henry Cavill (The Tudors) has signed to star in the director's upcoming romantic comedy. The as-yet-to-be-titled film also stars Evan Rachel Wood, Larry David, and Allen. There are very few details about the story, but according to early rumors, Rachel Wood is playing Larry David's love interest. Apparently, Allen originally wrote the starring role for himself, but now feels too old to take it on. Thus, he'll appear in a supporting role.

Cavill is probably best known to most as Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk, but he has also earned the reputation as being one of the unluckiest guys in Hollywood. Cavill was in the final stages of auditions for Batman, Superman and James Bond. Of course, we all know he didn't get those parts, but he did score the lead in Joel Schumacher's upcoming sci-fi thriller, Town Creek. Maybe now that the offers are starting to come in, Cavill can get a reputation for being something other than an 'almost was.' Allen's film is currently in production in his old stomping grounds (aka New York City) and is set for release in 2009.