When I heard it was Diane Keaton’s birthday last week, I started thinking about the fact that she is not only the star of many of my most-loved movies, but also of some of the most celebrated movies of all time. Movies like The Godfather, Manhattan, and of course, Annie Hall. But what about her other, oft-forgotten movies in which she shines just as brightly? The movies that may not make it onto fancy-shmancy lists of The Greatest Movies of All Time, but would certainly make it onto my list of The Greatest Movies To Watch Slumber-Party-Style From A Bed Fort Made Out of Cotton Candy and Stuffed Unicorns. Here are my top three:
Baby Boom
I’ve already expounded on my reasons for worshiping this movie (it’s certainly in my top three favorite movies of all time) so I won’t go overboard. But a quick refresher for those of you miserably unaware of this ’80s gem: Diane plays JC Wyatt, a powerhouse ad exec with no time for romance or silliness. Of course, when she inherits a beautiful baby girl, everything changes. Wow, can we take a moment to congratulate me on the restraint needed to keep that description down to two sentences? I could write a book on the awesomeness that is Diane Keaton in this movie. She never allows JC to become a cliche, hinting at her vulnerability (watch her guiltily spend thousands of dollars on presents for the baby when she still plans on giving her up for adoption) while also conveying a take-no-prisoners, I-am-woman-hear-me-kick-ass-in-this-business-meeting attitude throughout. Diane is the heart of this movie, and I have to believe that the unbreakable inner strength we see in JC is really Diane’s shining through.
Manhattan Murder Mystery
When it comes to Woody Allen movies starring Diane Keaton, most people think of Annie Hall or Manhattan. And those movies are wonderful. But my absolute favorite has always been and will always be Manhattan Murder Mystery. One of Woody’s funniest and most lighthearted, the movie centers around Diane and her husband (played, of course, by Woody), an Upper West Side couple who begins to believe their next door neighbor murdered his wife. Cue hilarity! Over the course of the film, Diane becomes more embroiled in the mystery, fancying herself an amateur sleuth, while Woody’s resistance to the investigation begins to affect their marriage. There are twists and turns and just the right balance of humor and suspense. Also, Alan Alda costars in the best role of his career. I blame this movie entirely for my Alan-Alda-be-my-daddy-no-my-lover fixation. He’s the definition of a silver fox, calling Diane late at night to scheme from his bachelor-pad-cabin-in-the-woods that somehow is also supposed to be a New York City apartment. But of course, Diane is our star, in her familiar menswear-meets-everywoman attire, plucky and brave (you will bite your fingernails to bits when she sneaks into her neighbor’s apartment), topped off with a single perfect drop of ditziness. Even if you hate Woody Allen, you will love this movie.
Something’s Gotta Give
To be fair, this movie was a huge hit, so I can’t really call it “Less-Appreciated.” But, like any Nancy Meyers movie, it has its detractors, and I wouldn’t be the loudmouth rom-com lover that I am if I weren’t here to convince them that they’re wrong. Diane stars as a divorced, middle-aged playwright (arguably supposed to be the greatest playwright of all time, because in typical Nancy Meyers fashion her Hamptons mansion is TO DIE FOR and her Manhattan apartment ain’t half bad either, but I digress) whose daughter’s much, much, much older lothario boyfriend, played by Jack Nicholson, has a heart attack under her roof. In true Hollywood form, Diane becomes his caretaker while he recuperates. Can you guess what happens next? Look, the cast is superb, the set design is lusciously beachy with a gorgeous sand-and-seaglass color palette, and the writing is sharp. Even the writing-within-the-writing is sharp. And nobody – NOBODY – other than Diane could make hysterical sobs come off as funny. Did I mention she has a (semi) nude scene? And that her body is sick (in the good way)? Also, this movie contains a scene that gives me chills whenever I even come close to thinking about it: when Diane and her too-cool-for-love daughter (Amanda Peet) are sitting on the beach and Diane implores her to let people in, telling her, “I let someone in and I had the time of my life.” Amanda responds, “I’ve never had the time of my life.” And Diane says, “I know you haven’t, sweetie, and I am telling you this from the bottom of my heart… What are you waiting for?” It’s not the words so much as the way she says it. If you haven’t seen this movie, I’m asking you, from the bottom of my heart, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Also, Keanu Reeves is in it, and he’s hot.
I don’t mean to imply that there aren’t dozens of others I could have listed. I gleefully attended a The Family Stone-themed holiday party a few weeks back at which the DVD player suddenly conked. Rather than not watch the flick (featuring Diane as a tough-as-nails-or-is-she? family matriarch facing off with the uptight-as-her-tight-little-updo Sarah Jessica Parker), the host went out and bought a new DVD player. Which would only play the movie in black-and-white. So we watched it, without color. It added a certain gravitas that did not go unappreciated. My friend Lewis would kill me if I didn’t mention Mad Money (Diane as kicky-but-ruthless-bank-robber), his pick for the best film of 2008. And I’d have to be a murderer not to love the Father of the Bride franchise. In short, Diane Keaton can do no wrong. She elevates every script, her fashion is fearless, and she inspires and influences us as women daily in ways of which we’re probably not even fully aware. Happy belated birthday, Diane!
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Mad Money belongs on this list. I swear, I’m the only one who likes this movie. The Little Drummer Girl (where Diane plays a young assassin) also deserves a place
However, the classic Keaton movies are still my favorites. Movies don’t get much better than The Godfather or Annie Hall.
im surprised no one mentioned the family stone!!! my all time fav diane keaton movie! i want a family just like that when i marry lol shes just awsome!<3
Manhattan Murder Mystery is one of my favorite Diane Keaton movies and it never gets boring.
I love love love Baby Boom, she and Sam Shepard have AMAZING chemistry…but my all time favorite is Something’s Gotta Give, she lived in my dream house, I laughed, I cried, was absolutely crushed when Harry broke her heart.
My other love is Meryl Streep – here are some of my fave Meryl Streep movies in honor of her Vogue Cover:
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/primandpropah/my-fave-meryl-streep-movies-in-honor-of-her-vogue-cover
You’re forgetting one of the best films PERIOD of all time: Father of the Bride! Her and Steve Martin playing off of each other is hysterical and I promise by the end of the movie you’ll all be talking like “Frahhhnk”.
the good mother. she was fabulous. One of her best films of all time!
MMM is an awesome one too!!!! Kept me sane when I was in labor!!
I thought I was the only one who’s favorite DK movie was Baby Boom!!!! “I used to be … Cute.”
manhattan murder mystery, excellent, excellent +
hilarious
Awww First Wives Club!!! I love that movie! What a trio!! Thouse were really good years for comedic films! I really like Diane in those time of movies…
Shoot the Moon & The Good Mother are 2 great movies she’s in that aren’t as well known. I also really liked her in the Family Stone.
Because I Said So…. SUCH a cute film! LOVE it! And Gabriel Macht is such a pretty thing to look at, it get 4 Stars! ****
yew! great post!
First Wives Club & Baby Boom are in my Top 10 Movies of ALL TIME. Thank you for reminding me I need to carve out 4 hours to watch both this weekend.
The one with Mandy Moore was called Because I Said So. I also loved her in Hanging Up as the ubiquitous and self-absorbed Georgia. Loved this article!
“Crimes of the Heart!!!. Great movie, doesn’t quite follow the play as much as I’d like but it’s still fantastic. I had the honor of recreating Diane’s part of “Lenny” in that play. Talk about intimidating! Fortunately, I was smart enough not to watch it until the run was over. I received very nice reviews. But I know for a fact I would never have received them if I had watched the movie first. I would have failed miserably. Not only would I have been trying too hard to copy her (she WAS Lenny) but I also would been far too self-conscious knowing that others had seen her in it already and knew that I couldn’t hold a candle to her. Instead, I could think, am I working as hard as she doe? And leave my interpretation of the role up to the director and me.
I’ve always had a fondness for First Wives Club. My mother and I used to watch that movie together all the time.
What’s that one with her and Mandy Moore and Lauren Graham? I love that one! It’s soooo Diane Keaton. That said, her best film will always be Baby Boom. It’s definitely in my top 10 movies of all time!
Also loved her in first wives club!!!
Baby Boom is definitely one of my favorites!