‘Whatever Works’ for Larry David: Not Much, Thanks

Whatever Works reunites director-writer Woody Allen with Larry David. The legendary funnymen had previously worked together on Radio Days and New York Stories. Most actors would be ecstatic to be offered the lead in a Woody Allen movie, but David had a much different take. “I thought Woody had become unhinged,” he says. “I wondered who put this crackpot idea in his head. And of course as with anything I’ve ever been offered, I didn’t feel up to the task. Feeling up to the task is not my thing.” David eventually took on the part of Boris Yellnikoff, a man who is so disenchanted with his marriage, luxurious lifestyle, and the human race that he tries to commit suicide. Saved by a canopy outside his uptown Manhattan apartment, Boris gets divorced, moves downtown, and meets a much younger woman, Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood). The two ultimately learn a tremendous amount about love and life from one another.

Did you have to dig deep to play the role of a middle-aged Jewish man?
That aspect was really unusual. I tried to find as many Jews as I could and befriend them and talk to them and see what made them tick. I went back to Brooklyn and walked the streets and interviewed people, "What's it like being a Jew? How do you behave?"

Do you feel that the character you play, Boris, is negative or realistic?
Both. I think to be realistic is to be negative.

On Curb Your Enthusiasm, you improvise the majority of your scenes. What was it like to play the lead role in a movie with pages and pages of dialogue?
It was hard. I opened the script and saw the first page that was full of Boris. Then I turned to page 50 and saw Boris. Then, went to the last page and I went “Oy veyzmir.” It was kind of daunting to have to learn all of that, to tell you the truth. As far as the improvising goes, that was another aspect to it that I found daunting because I am used to improvising and kind of making up most of it as I go along. And it was challenging, and I don’t really care for challenges.

How are you and Boris different?
Well, we are different in that I am way more normal than he is. I enjoy life. I play golf. I like having sex. I have normal wants and needs. He’s insane. And I don’t wear shorts. I am a much better dresser than he is.

Are there any similarities?
Yes. We both have some disdain for the human race. We both come from similar roots. We were both bar mitzvahed for sure.

Over the years, actors who have starred in Woody Allen movies seem to be doing their own interpretation of him. What was your thought process in regards to that when taking on this role?
I know that’s a concern. People said to me, “Are you going to be doing him?” And I would think that they were out of their minds when they would ask me that. It never occurred to me to want to do him. And he doesn’t want me to do him. He didn’t call me up and go, “I want you to do me. Do you think you can talk like me?” It wasn’t really an issue for me at all. It wasn’t anything I thought about or worried about.

What was it like breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to camera?
Talking into camera was actually not as hard as communicating with the other actors. I am a stand-up, and it was easy for me not to talk to anyone but an audience to some degree. I like that. I like talking into camera.

Was Allen complimentary of your work during filming?
He said to me once, “It wasn’t horrible.” That made my day.

You and your co-star Evan Rachel Wood have great chemistry. Did you spend a lot of time together prior to filming?
I have chemistry with pretty much everyone. Whether it’s good or it’s bad, I can tell right off. It doesn’t take me long to get to know somebody. There is a very visceral reaction very quickly. We were very comfortable with each other. I know just by looking at people if I can say something nasty to them—how they are going to react—and kid around with them, and if they are going to get it or not. I have a sixth sense like that.

“Whatever works” is basically Boris’ philosophy on life. Is that your philosophy as well?
It’s actually in conflict with my own philosophy, which is whatever doesn’t work. That’s pretty much what I subscribe to.