Podcast Extra: The Trouble with Diane Keaton
Sunday, August 17, 2014 at 8:15AM 
In this free flowing conversational extra [23 minutes] Joe Reid tells Nick, Katey and Nathaniel about where his devotion to Diane Keaton has taken him: to the "nothing" of And So It Goes (2014). We discuss the dangers of "comfort zones" and working with paychecks.
The conversation drifts to Edge of Tomorrow and Broadway musicals including Into the Woods. But mostly the 1989 & 1990 Oscar ceremonies. We always end up at Oscars. It's a sickness! Name checked in this extra episode: Emily Blunt, John Lithgow, Graham Greene, Michael Douglas, John Lithgow, Annette Bening, The Silence of the Lambs, Reba McEntire, Michelle Pfeiffer, and the musical stylings of Jasmine Guy.
You can listen at the bottom of the post or wait till it shows up on iTunes (which usually takes about a day). Continue the conversation in the comments. We'd love to hear your comments on how it's going with Diane Keaton and your memories of the 89 and 90 Oscars, should you have any that is.
Articles Referenced:
Joe & Kevin on Diane Keaton's career, Nathaniel on King Lear, and Nick & Joe's halfway mark capsule brilliance.
Reader Comments (16)
Thoughts:
-Nick! I could listen to you cracking up all day long.
-I don't even like Diane in Something's Gotta Give
-Katey, please tell me how can you stop watching The Immigrant and act like nothing happened. It's one of the most devastating movies I've seen in quite a long time!
I've seen The Last of Robin Hood. Don't get TOO excited. Dakota Fanning is very good, though.
I like Diane in Something's Gotta Give a lot, only the crying scene still drives me off. In a GIF though, with no sound.... it's bearable. *lol*
Meryl said in an interview for It's Complicated (maybe on Charlie Rose?) that she was directed to do a "Lucy" (not ScarJo, Lucille Ball) cry by Nancy Meyers...I'm pretty sure Diane got the same direction for her crying jag in Something's Gotta Give.
I disagree a bit with Nathaniel about watching filmed stage productions. In one sense, it is flat and not as satisfying, but in another sense, unless you live in and around a major city, or lucky enough to travel, or affluent enough to afford tickets to a major show, it might be the only way you can see something as great as that 1987 production.
Looking over Diane Keaton's IMDb filmography, she hasn't made a good movie (I'm talking bad acting in bad movies, not being the best thing in a bad movie) since 1996's Marvin's Room. She makes a pretty penny from L'Oreal, book sales, etc., so wonder what else is driving her to do these films.
Marisa Tomei is the breakout star of A Different World. She was a series regular in its first season. When the show ended in 1993–Tomei stumbled into Oscar infamy with her surprise supporting actress win.
OK. I taped the 1989 ceremony as a budding homosexual and watched it ten thousand times. My parents have a ton of my video tapes in their attic. I may have to take an emergency trip to Florida to see if they have it.
/3rtful - Marisa's rise to fame had very little to do with A Different World (which she was delightful on) since she was dumped after the first season and Jasmine became the lead of the show. Jasmine Guy was the indisputed breakout and far more famous in 1990 than Marisa Tomei since she'd been a lead on television for three years by then. I know, I lived through it. Obviously Marisa Tomei had an enviable career thereafter but we were talking about in-the-moment fame from 1990. Marisa didn't really explode until My Cousin Vinny two years later.
And also: I remember that "wrong Graham Greene" moment from 1990, but I thought it was during the Supporting Actor presentation. I recently watched that clip and wondered if I had made it up or if the Academy recut it, but now it all makes sense. Thanks Joe Reid!
For a second there I was afraid Nick would die. O.o
I honestly can't stand Diane Keaton in a movie today. I find her cringe-worthy. Still love her in movies like Godfather and Annie Hall. Even The First Wives Club. But post Something's Gotta Give...ugh.
I think it's her lack of enthusiasm,she seems to take parts which riff on her persona.
Nick, I know you're not really supposed to, legally, but if you happen to run any kind of old ceremony DVD bootlegging black market, I would love to spend some money there.
i thought diane keaton in something's gotta give was perfect and such a beautiful thing. her performance deserved an oscar nomination for sure. she gave a performance which is filled with elegance, warmth, intelligence. but it's becoming pretty clear that it was a fluke in her middle aged career because before that and since then she hasn't found material which makes use of considerable but very specific appeal.
A thousand times YES on the Diane Keaton dissection. That Wire article is really great too. She's such an interesting actress but I'll resort to my motto whenever I see an interesting performer continually wasting away in picking awful projects: if they're not gonna care about their career... why should I? *glares at Christina Ricci*
But yeah, a Woody Allen reteam (anything!) would be great. Greta Gerwig's mom in a Greta Gerwig-written project, god yes. A gritty HBO auteur driven drama. Guest star arc on The Good Wife. An amazing cameo role in David O. Russell's new film. Something that'll set the fire again, good lord.
I recently saw the clip of the Best Costume Design dance presentation for 1989 and it gave me nightmares. Why was Miss Daisy doing the jig?! At least the ones in the 70s had the 70s as an excuse. Debbie Allen, remain banished for your crimes.
I adore Diane Keaton, but I couldn't stop laughing at your riotous comments. I do agree with all you said. But I will wade into the treacherous waters of possible backwash by saying that I do think she has the enduring charm to make nearly anything palatable. I brought myself to watch Because I Said So, and Diane got me through that train wreck. I would love to see her in a juicy dramatic role--I even secretly wished for August: Osage County, despite the potential miscasting. She is definitely squandering her talent, but I am also glad she's still working a lot, even if these projects are rather embarrassing.