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Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday's Top 5... Diane Keaton Performances

#5: Something's Gotta Give


The film itself is a bit flawed, but Diane Keaton's performance is winning, brave, and just generally perfect. When Keaton and co-star Jack Nicholson have their late in the film showdown, in which she tells him that she's heartbroken, it's difficult not to feel your own heart breaking for her, too.

#4: Manhattan Murder Myster


Keaton's last film with Woody Allen (and her first since Manhattan if you don't count her cameo in Radio Days) only earned her a Golden Globe nomination, but it's one of her most delightful performances.

#3: The Godfather Part II


After Annie Hall, Kay Corleone is Keaton's signature role. Though she played the character in three films, the best performance of the three comes in Part II as Kay's awareness of just how compromised Michael is (and perhaps was always destined to become) drives her away from him. In a trilogy with no shortage of memorable scenes, one of the most memorable is when Kay reveals to Michael that her disgust with his lifestyle prompted her to have an abortion.

#2: Annie Hall


The Diane Keaton role. It really can't be overstated how excellent her performance is here, even though the role has turned out to be something of a double-edged sword - at once an amazing role and performance, but also one that locked her into a persona that defined many of her roles up to and including today.

#1: Marvin's Room


An excellent (and Oscar nominated) performance in an all but forgotten film. Keaton's performance as a good woman staring death in the face is understated, beautiful, and never takes a wrong step.

3 comments:

R. D. Finch said...

"Manhattan Murder Mystery" and "Godfather Part II" but not "Reds" or "Shoot the Moon" or "Baby Boom"?

Candice Frederick said...

i love baby boom, but i think the fmialy stone was the best i've seen from her. also the first wives club as well

Norma Desmond said...

Hey, I had to leave out Looking for Mr. Goodbar, too - the woman's done a lot of great work!