She is definitely one of those (and, there are many) that when you're watching her, you're always aware that she's "acting". In the words of Lillian Gish - "NEVER let them catch you acting!". Keaton is just not convincing..

Watch Reds, Interiors, Marvin's Room. Then come back here.

I don't always believe her when she's speaking her lines.

As much as I have liked Keaton in many of her films and I endorse her performance in REDS, I have heard the same criticism from another poster, who doesn't understand the praise I have placed on her in REDS. He pinpointed to a certain scene and didn't like her line readings. However, one scene is hardly worth condemning her entire performance for, in a 3hr plus film, where she is a lead. I haven't seen the film in years; 16d0but when I view again, I will take note here.
I find Keaton quite a spontaneous actress and while I don't get all the praise adorned on her for ANNIE HALL-77', she is still adorable in her own kooky way and she was much better and stronger in LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR-77', from the same year. Annie's popularity, gave her the nod here.

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Any romcom with her or Jennifer Lopez is worth avoiding, two of worst ever actresses!

First off, any post 1984 or so role, forget those. I think she gave up by then and has been coasting. She's just a version of herself. Now, if you don't like the character she plays, can't help you there. A character can be negative or annoying and still be a great character. Some folks seem to hate characters they don't understand or "relate" to. Learn to be more empathic.
See: the Godfather I & II, Reds, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Shoot the Moon, the Woody Allen films of the 70s and tell me she isn't good. Maybe she doesn't have range like Streep but for what she could do, she was great.
Expansion to your ego.

I think she was superb in earlier films such as "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," "Annie Hall" and "Mrs. Soffel," delivering nuanced and touching performances, but she seemed to become a caricature around the time the good roles stopped coming a few decades ago. I'm not sure if it's cause or effect, but the Diane Keaton of today bears little resemblance to the Diane Keaton of her earlier years.

Agree. I like Keaton in the earlier comic film (Woody Allen, mainly) but when it comes to serious adult drama I just don't think she's very good. In Looking for Mr Goodbar, Reds, Mrs Soffel, The Good Mother and others I feel like I'm watching Annie Hall trying to be a grownup. Keaton is pretty and charming, but has little range

She always seems to play quirky over-the-top hysterical characters. And as of lately, from 2003 and beyond, she seems to be playing hysterical, annoying overbearing mothers who always meddle into their daughters life. Basically she plays herself.

She acts like Diane Keaton in every movie.She isn't anything special.She just got lucky playing herself in every movie.

Hey, I'm right there with you. I think that she is awful. It's a testament to the movie business that all sorts of no talent, uglies 'make it'. Her part in the Godfather films is one of the most monumental pieces of miscasting ever seen. Moreover, anyone that got personally involved with Woody Allen needed their head examined by a whole team of shrinks.

"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!!"
Maximus Decimus Meridius

The majority of Diane Keaton's best work was definitely during the 1970s and the 1980s, films like Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Annie Hall, Interiors, Manhattan, Reds, Mrs. Soff16d0el, The Little Drummer Girl, Baby Boom, Crimes of the Heart, The Godfather, Sleeper, Shoot the Moon. She still played the slightly kooky, zany and off-beat roles during that period but she also mixed it up a lot more than what she has in the last 20 years. Marvin's Room was a great return to drama that rightfully scored her an Oscar nomination, it's just a shame that she's only taken on a handful of drama films since then as she shines when given the right material to work with. She's definitely been coasting for a while now.
Maggie Smith, and god knows I love her, has been playing more or less the same sharp-tongued, dry, slightly sarcastic but loveable old spinster in the majority of the films she's starred in in the last decade or so. I think she's become as well known for those types of roles as Diane Keaton has for playing the kooky and unhinged characters in comedy films.
ROCK STA
RS HAVE KIDN
APPED MY SON

So Glad to see someone with some clarity and judgment as far as talent is concerned. You said it Best regarding her connection with Woody Allen and Farrow. I feel exactly the same way about Woody Allen. He makes my skin crawl and I guess is why Keaton has the same affect on me. I never made the connection until you pointed it out. I guess birds of a feather do flock together.

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AGREE!!! I missed it too. She is just a repulsive and vile thing. I have no idea who decided to put her on the silver screen. Just a seat filler to me that has no talent and is just a big neurotic cry baby.

Drab, unfunny, depthless, poor speaking voice, singing even worse.
Just plain limited. Other than dressing up like a funny clown in Annie Hall a one note actress still getting by on Woody and Warren's direction for her to go into the stuttering disbelief routine 30 years in.
A pipsqueak compared to the powerful work of her contemporaries Fonda, Spacek, Burstyn, Dunaway, Sarandon and the list goes on. I'm with the thread originator, a dull as dishwater unanimated bore with no reach.

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'Can anyone explain to me, why they think diane keaton is a fantastic, gifted, talented actress?
Because whatever it is. i don't see it.'
wow..Glad to see I'm not the only one.
My hypothessis: if we are told that she is,therefoe she is. This thing she does is judged to be so wonderful; I don't believe it either.
Good not = great.

Her role in The Godfather was my most hated part of the series. Why they hired such a mangiacake actress is beyond me.

She's not she's terrible. She used to be cute but now she's just washed up and annoying. God did you see mad money?
http://www.tartcider.com/youppi.jpg

"You kids are only going by the little films you've seen of her from the past 15 years."
Uh, I'm not. I've seen all three Godfather movies, Manhattan, Sleeper, some of Baby Boom (now, that was awful), Mrs. Soffel (don't remember a thing about it, so I guess she failed to impress), and your beloved Reds, which I hate to say did nothing for me. Oh, and Play It Again, Sam. BTW, Annie Hall and Father of the Bride are more than fifteen years oldam I splitting hairs?
I would like to see a few other of her OTHER older films, but I keep thinking that if I don't like her in the movies I listed, why waste my time? Anyway, I have on my list of possibles Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Interiors, and The Little Drummer Girl. I just can't bring myself to watch them. Yet.

The thing that bugs me about Diane Keaton is that she plays the same character in every film that she's in.
"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"

You kids are only going by the little films you've seen of her from the past 15 years. You've probably only seen her in Annie Hall and Father of the Bride and Somethings Gotta Give and just judge on that. Get informed on her entire filmography first. And hell De Niro and Pacino peaked a long time ago too and do crap now. She is the only actress that can do comedy and drama equally brilliant. I think that deserves major props.
This is what you all should do, watch the film REDS. It will give you a whole new perception of Diane as an actress. I know it totally gave me a knew respect for her. Amazing performance. And it ain't the same as Father of the Bride or whatever I tell you that.
Mama:They're all gonna laugh at you!
Carrie:For reals?Then I'll f*k them UP!

Diane Keaton. 54 films. 1 character.