And more in-depth thoughts on the film
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- 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Much Ado About Nothing
- “I don’t represent anything.” — Liz Phair
- “I don’t really know why, but danger has always been an important thing in my life – to see how far I could lean without falling, how fast I could go without cracking up.” — William Holden
- “Some syllables are swords.” — Metaphysical poet Henry Vaughan
- “To me, music is no joke and it’s not for sale.” — Ian MacKaye
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- “As a cinematographer, I was always attracted to stories that have the potential to be told with as few words as possible.” — Reed Morano
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- “It’s just one of the mysteries of filmmaking that sometimes you do something that you don’t even think it’s important, then it turns out to be.” — Lili Horvát
- “Ballet taught me to stay close to style and tone. Literature taught me to be concerned about the moral life.” — Joan Acocella
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- sheila on March 2026 Snapshots
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- sheila on “For I am of the seed of the WELCH WOMAN and speak the truth from my heart.” — Christopher Smart
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- Bryce on The Books: “Nine Stories”- ‘The Laughing Man’ (J.D. Salinger)
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Oh, Sheila. These are all so great! I love that shot of the three women together. Separately, the look on each of their faces is classic, but together, it’s overwhelming. I can’t stop looking at it. It just vibrates, you know?
I adore Amanda Peet’s teeth. And Frances McDormand’s pigtails. And Diane Keaton’s everything. That face of hers.
“She sobs.” Hahahahahahaha.
oh goodness. this movie is a dagger to my squishy heart.
Tracey – I know. She is narrating her own breakdown – hahahahaha
“She sobs”
Brilliant!!
I love Amanda Peet, too. Just terrific.
That last screenshot of Diane Keaton howling while looking at his glasses just makes me laugh and cry at the same time!!
Seemed like this film was about 10-15 minutes too long. I enjoyed it up until the ending though. I would have ended it at the theatre.
Bren – I love your squishy heart. I miss you! Even though I delete your comments, I miss you!!!
I just read your review on this movie, and in the end you said something that was exactly what I though when I saw it: only Diane Keaton can howl in that ridiculous way and still look like she’s crying sincerly. I loved that scene, I loved this movie. I remember losing my breath from laughing during the scene where Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson have sex for the first time.
Alessandra – I know! When he cuts her turtleneck off! Hot! And then she takes his blood pressure. hahahahaha
One of my favorite moments follows (or precedes) the beach shot of Keaton and McDormand, where McDormand just throws back the stone, and you know she’s heard this story “umpteenth” hundred times, and she’s thrown back a hundred stones… I LOVED McDormand here: she got barely any screen time, and yet you can see, from the scene in the waiting room when Reeve has gotten them coffee or tea or whatever, and the scene when she returns with Reeve from the farmer’s market, that she is just simply a great film actress. She is essentially sidelined in this film, and yet for me part of the pleasure in watching it is to see those tiny scenes with her. She doesn’t even have any story line, for god’s sake, she’s completely a utility character–and I can’t stop watching her, wondering what’s happening offscreen in her life…it must be interesting. And yet–generously–she doesn’t make the least attempt to steal the scenes she’s in, or the film, or take anything away from Keaton. Obviously, a great person and professional as well as a great actress.
Pearl – yes yes yes!! First of all, thank you for weaving in “umpteenth”. That’s hysterical.
But yes about this performance! All we know about her is that she is a women’s studies professor at Columbia. That’s it! But she emerges as a real person – and I totally believe those two are sisters.
And yes, I love when she throws back the stone. Look at her face in that screengrab. SHE IS SO PISSED.
She’s one of my favorites and I am literally counting the days until Burn After Reading – the new Coen brothers movie.
the mutual squinting with the giant glasses in bed. so sweet. so funny.
such a refreshing change from yet more perfect 25 year old bodies having the almost tedious acrobatic orgasmo sex…
and the sobbing. Loved the sobbing!
Diane Keaton is more beautiful now than she was when she played Annie Hall. I don’t know what that’s about, but she just glows.
She’s setting a horrible bar for the rest of us.
Good to talk to you yesterday. Hope the shower goes great!!
Bill – hahaha
You know, I definitely find acrobatic orgasms EXTREMELY tedious!!
Totally true what you say, though. There’s real feeling, real pain here … when she says to him, after they slept together, “This has been a great night for me …” watch the symphony of expressions (pain, loss, longing) that goes over her face … My God! Only age and experience can make true JOY feel like sadness – and Keaton NAILS it!!
10 Second Oscar.
No question.