Whatever Works

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Woody Allen directs. Harris Savides behind the camera. Alisa Lepselter cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America, France. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 17 years ago.
• 2International production across 2 countries: United States of America, France.
• 3Directed by Woody Allen, shot by Harris Savides. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Editor Alisa Lepselter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood and Michael McKean carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "A new comedy!".
• 7IMDB entry: tt1178663 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Classified under 13 themes, including "new york city", "naivety", "age difference", "love at first sight".

The technical file

Cinematography

Harris Savides

Editing

Alisa Lepselter

Production design

Santo Loquasto

Costume design

Suzy Benzinger

Makeup / hair

Robert Fama

Sound

Lee Dichter

Stunt coordinator

Peter Bucossi

Runtime

92 min · 1h 32m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$15,000,000

Box office

$36,020,534

Return

240% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

Whatever Works (2009) ↗

Also by

Woody Allen

• 
  Manhattan

  1979 · ★ 7.7
• 
  Annie Hall

  1977 · ★ 7.7
• 
  Hannah and Her Sisters

  1986 · ★ 7.5
• 
  Midnight in Paris

  2011 · ★ 7.5
• 
  Crimes and Misdemeanors

  1989 · ★ 7.4
• 
  The Purple Rose of Cairo

  1985 · ★ 7.4

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Patricia Clarkson and Even Rachel Wood - Official Clip

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Larry David and Carolyn McCormick - Official Clip

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Larry David and Even Rachel Wood - Official Clip

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Larry David and Marcis Debonis - Official Clip

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Official Trailer

  Trailer · Official
• 

  ▶
  Official Clip

  Clip · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• markuspm2013-12-23

  It is an instant classic. One of my favorite movies for the holiday season.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Wild Bunch

  FR

• GR

  Gravier Productions

  US

• PE

  Perdido Productions

  US

Key crew

• ProducerLetty Aronson
• ProducerStephen Tenenbaum
• Production DesignSanto Loquasto
• Location ScoutGine Lui
• Sound EditorDavid Wahnon
• First Assistant EditorMorgan Neville
• Costume DesignSuzy Benzinger
• Co-Executive ProducerJack Rollins
• CastingLaura Rosenthal
• EditorAlisa Lepselter
• CastingAli Farrell
• Co-ProducerHelen Robin
• Executive ProducerVincent Maraval
• Executive ProducerBrahim Chioua
• Co-Executive ProducerCharles H. Joffe
• CastingJuliet Taylor
• Assistant Location ManagerElizabeth Klenk
• ElectricianDouglas Dalisera
• Costume AssistantJeff Fender
• Location ManagerChristie Mullen
• Location ScoutSusan Silas
• Assistant Set DecorationJennifer B. Starke
• First Assistant CameraTim Norman
• Second Assistant CameraMatt Balzarini

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• new york city
• naivety
• age difference
• love at first sight
• runaway
• marriage
• atheist
• misanthrophy
• eccentric
• religion
• dating
• older man younger woman relationship
• limp

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2009-06-19PG-13

Also known as

International titles

• 紐約遇到愛TW
• מה שעובדIL
• Whatever Works - Liebe sich wer kannDE
• Bármi megtesziHU
• Si la cosa funcionaES
• 總之得就得HK
• Whatever Works - Basta che funzioniIT