I was heartbroken to hear about her passing and I agree it was too soon and thank you for such a beautiful remembrance, because It's how I remember her as well. I find it a shame that Woody's problematic life has eclipsed some of her most luminous comedy. I am a fan of separating the art from the artist and for that reason Love and Death will never not be one of my favorite films of all time. Keaton's effortless embodiment of the Tolstoy ideal heroine balanced with the unhinged insistence that she kill Napoleon to the stuttering disappointment when Boris doesn't get killed is brilliance personified. I recently rewatched the Godfather films and when you look at the contrast between all those performances it's no wonder she was the icon that she is.
A very nice summation of her acting career. As an urban single woman just a couple of years younger than Annie, I remember consciously imitating her clothing...when it came out, I saw that movie at least three times in the span of a year, but of course, the subsequent moral depravity of Woody Allen (nearly) ruined it for me in later years.
A great rememberance. My favorite role of hers is in Reds. She has the most remarkable character arc here and as good as Warren Beatty was in this, hers is the performance I remember. (and a remarkably vulnerable Jack Nicholson as Eugene O'Neill).
i was thinking the same thing this morning. the character arc, yes! how she began as being a mere fan-girl follower of Jack Reed, not being taken seriously by Emma Goldman
Great piece. And after I read it, I thought back to a couple other roles where I thought she was spectacular: Luna Schlosser in "Sleeper" (1973) and Louise Bryant in "Reds" (1981), two roles which couldn't be more different.
And the fact she could make "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" in the same year as "Annie Hall" tells you everything you need to know about how authentically versatile she truy was.
Excellent and accurate tribute to an icon America hasn't yet appreciated as such. To say the least, she was a complete original. Someone I do think most of us admired as a talent and loved as a human being. I also assume that in time, her stature will grow in dimensions, we usually associate with genius and, in her case, a wonderful person.
I want to comment to Dean, who is just as wrong about Diane's acting as so many who don't know how to appreciate the talent and complexity of comedic work. And if he is going to critique actors for not living up to Merle Streep, well who does he think has lived up to Merle? You just can't say about Diane Keaton that "She was never much of an actor," not while you are laughing yourself silly, or, for that matter, crying for Kay's loss of innocence. in the Godfather.
This is sooo good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ42k83mUlk
Stephen Colbert interviewing Diane Keaton.
Nice piece Sonny. I think I like your writing the most of all the Bulwarkians.
100% Too many entertainment writers are so left, its nice to hear from someone who sees things through CHarlie Kirk's viewpoints
Very nice of you to say; probably helps it’s the lightest of the subject matter here.
I loved her so much! I was a teenager in the 1970s and I wanted to BE Annie Hall. I even wanted a VW convertible bug! R.I.P. Ms. Keaton!
I was heartbroken to hear about her passing and I agree it was too soon and thank you for such a beautiful remembrance, because It's how I remember her as well. I find it a shame that Woody's problematic life has eclipsed some of her most luminous comedy. I am a fan of separating the art from the artist and for that reason Love and Death will never not be one of my favorite films of all time. Keaton's effortless embodiment of the Tolstoy ideal heroine balanced with the unhinged insistence that she kill Napoleon to the stuttering disappointment when Boris doesn't get killed is brilliance personified. I recently rewatched the Godfather films and when you look at the contrast between all those performances it's no wonder she was the icon that she is.
Loved her in Goodbar
A very nice summation of her acting career. As an urban single woman just a couple of years younger than Annie, I remember consciously imitating her clothing...when it came out, I saw that movie at least three times in the span of a year, but of course, the subsequent moral depravity of Woody Allen (nearly) ruined it for me in later years.
A great rememberance. My favorite role of hers is in Reds. She has the most remarkable character arc here and as good as Warren Beatty was in this, hers is the performance I remember. (and a remarkably vulnerable Jack Nicholson as Eugene O'Neill).
i was thinking the same thing this morning. the character arc, yes! how she began as being a mere fan-girl follower of Jack Reed, not being taken seriously by Emma Goldman
I've been meaning to rewatch the Godfathers for the umpteenth time. I blame you for making me do it.
I can live with this.
I think she was also in the original cast of Hair on Broadway, which was a pretty good start to an iconic career.
Great piece. And after I read it, I thought back to a couple other roles where I thought she was spectacular: Luna Schlosser in "Sleeper" (1973) and Louise Bryant in "Reds" (1981), two roles which couldn't be more different.
And the fact she could make "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" in the same year as "Annie Hall" tells you everything you need to know about how authentically versatile she truy was.
She really was extraordinary. Requiescat in Pace.
Excellent and accurate tribute to an icon America hasn't yet appreciated as such. To say the least, she was a complete original. Someone I do think most of us admired as a talent and loved as a human being. I also assume that in time, her stature will grow in dimensions, we usually associate with genius and, in her case, a wonderful person.
No offense but Diane Keaton starred in a lot of controversial movies. Which are not mentioned here. And not just the 70’s.
I was shocked and saddened to read about her passing. She is and was and will forever be an Icon.
She is and was an Artist.
I want to comment to Dean, who is just as wrong about Diane's acting as so many who don't know how to appreciate the talent and complexity of comedic work. And if he is going to critique actors for not living up to Merle Streep, well who does he think has lived up to Merle? You just can't say about Diane Keaton that "She was never much of an actor," not while you are laughing yourself silly, or, for that matter, crying for Kay's loss of innocence. in the Godfather.
She Was Spectacular.
Give me an Annie Hall any day over today's portrayals of pouty-lipped "I'm so sexy" masquerades of "powerful" womanhood.
Not bad at all.