I apologize in advance for my somewhat predictable choice for this week's film. Until a couple of hours ago, I literally had no clue what to submit, let alone what to say about it. Then I got a text from my dear friend Rebecca informing me that one of my (and I presume her) favourite actresses had died.
But first, I have to confess something. I have a bit of a thing for women in neckties. I always have. As I write this, I'm waiting patiently for Desi Lydic to spend a week hosting "The Daily Show" again, because she has a penchant for wearing a tie and I really dig that about her. When I really think about it, I believe my fondness for women in ties was probably caused, at least in part, by the movie Annie Hall, the 1977 romantic comedy starring Diane Keaton as the titular character opposite Woody Allen who also co-wrote and directed it. Admittedly, I was three when the film came out, and I never saw the movie until I was in college, but I had seen clips and still photos in my youth. Even as a young boy, I could say she totally rocked that look (never mind the fact that she was old enough to be my mother).
Diane Keaton died today at the age of 79. As is usually the case when an actor I admire passes, I tend to look through my own video collection and pick out some of my favourites. Obviously, I only wanted to pick one to highlight this week, but even that's a somewhat daunting task when discussing the works of Ms. Keaton. Obviously, I could choose from any number of classic films over the last 50+ years including her Oscar-winning performance in Annie Hall (where we also learned she could sing), any number of other films she did with Allen, her role as Michael Corleone's girlfriend and later wife in The Godfather trilogy, her performance as Steve Martin's wife preparing for their daughter's wedding in the remake of Father of the Bride (and its sequel). And there are so many I've never seen, most notably Reds and Marvin's Room.
I was originally going to pick her 2003 collaboration with Jack Nicholson in Nancy Meyers's Something's Gotta Give. She received her fourth and last Oscar nomination for it and I think it's one of her finest films. (I also think Nicholson delivered one of his best as well--watch the end credits just to hear him sing "La Vie En Rose" in French.) But, just while writing and researching the last couple of paragraphs, I was reminded of one other film that always stood out to me.
I have a theory regarding romantic comedies, that I believe I've touched on in these "sermons." It's often not the leading actors that make it work. By and large, rom-coms are somewhat formulaic and with a few notable exceptions, we know the couple will wind up together by the end of the movie. What really makes them work, in my opinion, is the supporting cast--the friends and relatives of the main characters. They're the ones that we really enjoy seeing the most. We already know that Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger are going to be together--we want to see more of Cuba Gooding Jr.! Or the cute little hedgehog that played her son. He was adorable!
This week's film is a little different. I technically call it a rom-com (and a Christmas movie at that). What makes this one stand out is that it's actually an ensemble piece. There are no real lead characters--therefore, there are no real supporting characters. It's a whole host of characters, each with their own backstories, playing off each other. And to some degree, we root for all of them.
In the film, Keaton plays Sybil Stone, the matriarch of a family of five adult children. Her oldest son is bringing home his girlfriend for Christmas to meet the family. Sparks fly because she is nothing like them and mayhem and hijinks ensue. In spite of it all, you can tell that there's so much love in that family that you couldn't possibly call them dysfunctional even though you might want to.
Keaton stars alongside (in alphabetical order) Claire Danes, Ty Giordano, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Reaser, Brian White, and Luke Wilson. Written and directed by Thomas Bezucha and originally released in 2005, this week--especially if you start celebrating Christmas in September--please enjoy The Family Stone.
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock 'n' roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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