Why Diane Keaton's best movie is so controversial as director Woody Allen pays tribute
Diane Keaton, who died on Saturday at the age of 79, has one of the most legendary filmographies in Hollywood.
Appearing in The Godfather trilogy, Father of the Bride, Something’s Gotta Give, and a host of beloved movies, Keaton’s death came as a shock to fans of her work.
Despite this though, Keaton’s most famous work is a deeply controversial film that several announced they were watching ‘for the first time’ after her death.
This was in large part due to her close connection with Woody Allen, the controversial director with whom she shared eight films in her career, who has paid tribute to the late actor.
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Keaton was nominated for four Oscars in her career, however her sole win was for Annie Hall, a romantic comedy she starred in alongside Allen many consider to be the best of her career.
What is Annie Hall about and why is it so controversial?
Annie Hall is widely considered to be one of the best films of all time. Starring Keaton alongside writer-director-star Woody Allen, the film follows a divorced Jewish comedian Alvy who is trying to think back to figure out why his marriage to nightclub singer Annie Hall failed.
The movie sits at 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the legendary film critic Roger Ebert gave it a perfect four stars, and in addition to winning Keaton an Oscar for Best Actress it beat out Star Wars to win Best Picture.
Unfortunately, however, its reputation has been sullied by its connection to Allen.
The director was publicly accused by his ex-girlfriend Mia Farrow in 1992 of sexually abusing their adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. Allen has denied this for years.
He and Farrow broke up in 1991 when she discovered that he had started a relationship with her adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn.
Previn was Farrow’s adopted daughter from a previous relationship and met the director when she was just 10. Previn and Allen are married to this day and have two adopted children.
Why are people watching Annie Hall after Keaton’s death and what has Woody Allen said?
Allen paid tribute to Keaton in an essay published on The Free Press, saying that she was ‘unlike anyone the planet has experienced or is unlikely to ever see again, her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered’.
He went on to add: “A few days ago, the world was a place that included Diane Keaton.
“Now it’s a world that does not. Hence, it’s a drearier world. Still, there are her movies. And her great laugh still echoes in my head.”
Many fans have decided for years not to revisit Annie Hall due to Allen’s involvement.
Others revisiting the film have also expressed discomfort with some of the portrayals of sex in the movie, particularly in the context of the allegations made against Allen.
One scene involves Alvy's friend having to bail him out of jail, interrupting a fling with 16-year-old twins. This would have been illegal in Los Angeles (where the film is set), since the twins would be two years below the age of consent.
Some fans on social media however have, this weekend after Keaton’s death, decided to revisit the film.
One tweeted: “Everyone is allowed one guilt free viewing of Annie Hall tonight.”
Writer Ashley Reese posted: “Well…I’m watching Annie Hall for the first time.”
She went on to reply, stating that it was a ‘great f*cking movie’, with another fan replying to her to say: “Unfortunately it's the best rom com ever made.”
Annie Hall is available to stream on MGM+ in the UK and on Fubo TV in the US
Topics: Film, TV and Film, Celebrity, Social Media
Michael Slavin