In The Rough

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"Does Diane Keaton owe some loan sharks a considerable amount of cash?," asks critic Brian Orndorf in his review of Smother (opening 9.26). "Are there incriminating photos of her that she's trying to keep out of circulation? I'm having trouble understanding why Keaton would, over the course of a single year, take part in both Mama's Boy and now Smother.

"Perhaps she was poisoned by merciless Asian gangsters with strict instructions to make two career-denting comedies that methodically peel away her integrity before she was allowed the sweet kiss of a life-saving antidote. Heavens, I hope that's the impetus behind these recent professional decisions, otherwise Keaton has lost her mind.

And what about Keaton's other two recent stinkers -- Mad Money ('08) and Because I Said So ('07)? Has she had her taste buds surgically removed?

"Remember when Keaton was once choosy with her roles," Orndorf concludes, "waiting years to appear on the big screen in just the right starring vehicles? If the prospect of sharing the frame with Dax Shepard now makes Keaton sprint to the set with pride, it's obvious those award-winning, reputation-fostering days are over."

What a comedown from the glory days of The Family Stone ('05), a landmark holiday comedy in which Keaton gave one of her best performances ever. Not to mention another triumph two years earlier when she won a Best Actress nomination for her work in Something's Got To Give.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 26, 2008 at 9:57 AM

comment #1

actionman says ...

What the hell is Smother? And never heard of Mama's Boy either...

Posted by actionman at September 26, 2008 10:24 AM

comment #2

George Prager says ...

Diane Keaton is the new Mickey Rourke.

Posted by George Prager at September 26, 2008 10:29 AM

comment #3

p.Vice says ...

More like Keaton is the new Brett Favre.

Posted by p.Vice at September 26, 2008 10:38 AM

comment #4

sardine says ...

not to worry....Diane will be back. she should have had her 2nd oscar for Marvin's Room.

Posted by sardine at September 26, 2008 10:45 AM

comment #5

The Winchester says ...

If only Woody would lose his boner for Scarlett and give Diane a good role again.

And not for nothing, but I wouldn't exactly call The Family Stone "a landmark holiday comedy". It's perfectly servicable, but it's no Bad Santa. Hell, it's not even Elf. (Although it looks light years better than Four Christmases)

Posted by The Winchester at September 26, 2008 10:49 AM

comment #6

CMAC says ...

I hate to break it to you guys, but Dianne Keaton is no longer a young actress with her whole career infront of her. In case ya missed the memo:
Hollywood doesn't allow woman to age.

She is taking the roles offered to her with the best money attached. Period.

Has she lost her taste ...? No. There are no roles written for women of her age. And when they are, Meryl Streep gets them...however that will change soon enough. Meryl's gettin' on.
And I repeat; "That's ferbotten in La La land" .

If Dianne was a British actress living in England she would work with the best in films for the big screen as well as the small til the day she died. In England they revere their actors, male and female. They may not get the big payday that the movie stars (and I mean mean movie stars not actors) get in LaLa Land, but they are entrusted with the work whatever their age. Because it's ABOUT the work not the next hottie "it girl "they want to fuck.

Posted by CMAC at September 26, 2008 10:58 AM

comment #7

CMAC says ...

Oops studder, single mean...

Posted by CMAC at September 26, 2008 11:00 AM

comment #8

rr3333 says ...

Keaton's doing what DeNiro, Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, and Michael Caine have been doing for years:

Serious actors who gave a shit 20 years or so ago, and now on auto-pilot, saving for retirement and/or saving for their no-talent kids.

Cant blame em if they're offered really good money.

I'm 42 and I'm already more than willing to sell out. If only I could act.

Posted by rr3333 at September 26, 2008 11:26 AM

comment #9

Joshua Mooney says ...

Let's not forget "Hanging Up," which Keaton directed and co-starred in eight years ago---one of the most useless films I've ever seen.

Posted by Joshua Mooney at September 26, 2008 11:40 AM

comment #10

BurmaShave says ...

I'm calling bullshit on the thesis that Diane Keaton ever had taste. Her filmography in the 10 years before SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE:

On Thin Ice (2003) (TV) .... Patsy McCartle
... aka Breaking Through (cable TV title) (Australia)
Crossed Over (2002) (TV) .... Beverly Lowry
... aka Destins croisés (Canada: French title)
Plan B (2001/I) .... Fran Varecchio
Sister Mary Explains It All (2001) (TV) .... Sister Mary Ignatius
Town & Country (2001) .... Ellie Stoddard
Hanging Up (2000) .... Georgia Mozell
... aka Aufgelegt! (Germany)

The Other Sister (1999) .... Elizabeth Tate
Northern Lights (1997) (TV) .... Roberta Blumstein
... aka Étoile du nord, L' (Canada: French title)
The Only Thrill (1997) .... Carol Fitzsimmons
Marvin's Room (1996) .... Bessie
The First Wives Club (1996) .... Annie Paradis
Father of the Bride Part II (1995) .... Nina Banks
Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight (1994) (TV) .... Amelia Earhart
Look Who's Talking Now (1993) (voice) .... Daphne
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) .... Carol Lipton

2 good films, which gives her a quality average about as high as Burt Reynolds.

Posted by BurmaShave at September 26, 2008 11:42 AM

comment #11

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

I used to love Keaton, until someone viciously pointed out something that I colors my view of her everytime I see her on screen: the woman can't act. She has a handful of tics she tries to hide behind, but most of the time she is clearly waiting for the director to yell "cut!"

I think the public has put up with it for so long because unlike other girlfriends of leading men and directors (which were often the same thing), Keaton is not classically beautiful. She is girl-next-door personified and everyone gives her a break because she is so nice.

But the chick can't act.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at September 26, 2008 11:57 AM

comment #12

Dr. Smith says ...

I like the way he refers to Dax Shepard as "a short-term Hollywood goof."

Posted by Dr. Smith at September 26, 2008 12:07 PM

comment #13

arturobandini2 says ...

"Keaton's doing what DeNiro, Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, and Michael Caine have been doing for years..."

Actually, she's doing more -- Clairol commercials. (Oddly, her hair looks flat and icky in them.) .De Niro et al haven't stooped to the level of stumping for Mennen Speed Stick just yet.

Keaton is a fine actress when challenged. Why hasn't LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR come out on DVD yet? I snuck into a theater to see that at 13. I've never forgotten that ending. Goddamn!

I'd give anything if she'd reprise her big song from the original HAIR cast album, "Black Boys (Are Delicious)." As a pro-Obama viral spot for the web, a la Sarah Silverman, it would kill.

Posted by arturobandini2 at September 26, 2008 1:28 PM

comment #14

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

Smother is getting a next-to-nonexistent release -- it doesn't seem to have been screened for most critics, and it isn't even *listed* on Metacritic or RT.

But I never knew she sang "Black Boys" on the Hair cast LP -- gotta track that down.

Posted by MikeSchaeferSF at September 26, 2008 1:46 PM

comment #15

hcat says ...

The stigma of doing commercials is almost entirely gone now. Almost every name actress has done a clairol commercial or the like. Its just another way to pay the bills and keep yourself in the public eye. I sure Julliane Moore makes more money hawking shampoo than she does acting.

Posted by hcat at September 26, 2008 2:12 PM

comment #16

arturobandini2 says ...

H, I admit there's no stigma when Cybill Shepherd or J.Lo shills for a beauty product that everyone knows she doesn't use in real life. But when an icon like Annie Hall does it, it's disappointing. It reminds me of the Village Voice's review for BABY BOOM, titled: "She Stoops to Caca."

Posted by arturobandini2 at September 26, 2008 2:26 PM

comment #17

bmcintire says ...

She is the worst thing in a truly awful trailer. So much for her iconic status. It was apparently a hellishly long way down from REDS.

Posted by bmcintire at September 26, 2008 5:16 PM

comment #18

Yuval says ...

I really hated The Family Stone, and Keaton's character in particular. When I think of her crying and trying to give comfort to her deaf gay son dating a black man I cringe. That movie had the complexity of a Clairol commercial.
Something's Got To Give had some nice moments in it, but her long sequence of crying and writing at the same time was horrible. She realy doesn't have (or lost) the abilit to cry in a belivable fashion.

Posted by Yuval at September 26, 2008 8:09 PM

comment #19