Another Great, Gone

 

Diane Keaton has passed away, and I didn’t realize how much she meant to cinema or to me until I read about her death.

I loved Diane Keaton. I truly identified with her. She was different—unique, quirky, unapologetically herself. She never tried to blend in with the pack. She spoke her mind and chose roles that resonated with her. Some, like Annie Hall and The First Wives Club, became cultural touchstones. Others were quiet sleepers, just as powerful in their own way.

She was admired by her peers and collaborators, and to my knowledge there’s no public record of her having serious problems working with other actors. So rare in Hollywood. In fact, many of her most iconic roles came from close creative partnerships with her co-stars—some of whom she also dated. 

Although I do not enjoy Woody Allen and have been known to walk out of his movies, I did see Annie Hall.  Diane Keaton was the reason for its success. She starred in eight films with Woody Allen, but I only went to see Annie Hall.

Although I’ve never been a fan of Woody Allen and have even walked out of his movies, I did see Annie Hall. Diane Keaton was the reason I stayed. She brought something singular to that film: wit, vulnerability, and a style all her own. Though she starred in eight films with Allen, Annie Hall was the only one I chose to see. And it was enough to show me how great she was.

There are very few like her.  She will be missed.