Movies Update: Remembering Diane Keaton

Plus, Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein"

View in browser|nytimes.com October 17, 2025 By Stephanie Goodman Hi, movie fans! The news of Diane Keaton's passing caught us by surprise here on the film desk. But what didn't surprise our critics was how well her films held up more than 20, 40 or even 50 years later. Manohla Dargis remembered disliking the Nancy Meyers rom-com "Something's Gotta Give" (2003) when she first watched it but was won over later by Keaton's performance. The actress had "become a female filmmaker's avatar: a beautiful, funny, soulful, successful and blissfully independent woman," Dargis wrote. Alissa Wilkinson took a deep dive into "Reds" (1981), the historical epic in which Warren Beatty (who also directed) and Keaton play the early-20th-century writers John Reed and Louise Bryant amid a circle of revolutionaries. "Of all the characters, her evolution is the most striking, and Keaton's performance has to tiptoe along a thin edge," Wilkinson wrote. And Esther Zuckerman examined how Keaton's unique sense of style informed her performances, most notably as the title character in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (1977): "It's there in the way her hat increases her bashfulness," Zuckerman wrote, and in how "she turns the pockets of her pants into props, putting an errant hand in when she's trying to appear nonchalant." In other movie news, the top Cannes prizewinner, "It Was Just an Accident," from the Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, is finally reaching American theaters this week. The director told my colleague Nicole Sperling that the drama was inspired by his time in prison, convicted of essentially running afoul of his country's regime. "When I got out of jail, I turned around and looked at the gate, and I remembered all those faces," he said, referring to his fellow prisoners. He continued, "These faces started becoming more real and marched in my head. I felt that I owed them something." Panahi's film is a critic's pick (Manohla Dargis calls it "a cry from the heart"), as are the much-anticipated "Frankenstein" (Alissa Wilkinson says it's the film Guillermo del Toro "was born to make"), "Blue Moon" (starring Ethan Hawke as the Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart) and the docuseries about Martin Scorsese. What a wealth of choices this week. Whatever you decide to watch, enjoy the movies! The Reckoning of Ben Stiller How to lead an artistic life and be part of a family is a tension he has only recently faced in life and now, onscreen, for a film about his comedian parents. By Melena Ryzik and Thea Traff Thea Traff for The New York Times Julia Roberts and Luca Guadagnino on 'After the Hunt' and Daring to Be Ambiguous The film touches on #MeToo and cancel culture, but the star and director wanted audiences to make up their own minds. By Kyle Buchanan Dominik Bindl/Getty Images What did Jafar Panahi Do After Prison in Iran? He Kept Making Movies. During filming, the authorities discovered "It Was Just an Accident." But a French producer had been engaged to finish this ultimate winner of the top prize at Cannes. By Nicole Sperling CRITICS' PICKS Ken Woroner/Netflix Critic's Pick 'Frankenstein' Review: Guillermo del Toro's Creature Rises The director's interpretation of Mary Shelley's classic novel is the movie he was born to make. By Alissa Wilkinson Sabrina Lantos/Sony Pictures Classics Critic's Pick 'Blue Moon' Review: Without a Love of My Own Ethan Hawke plays the legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart on a wistful one-night quest to save his soul. By Alissa Wilkinson Neon Critic's pick 'It Was Just an Accident' Review: A Liberation Story Straight From Iran In his latest movie, the formerly banned filmmaker Jafar Panahi tells a circuitous, moving and unexpectedly funny story of resistance. By Manohla Dargis Apple TV Critic's Pick 'Mr. Scorsese' Review: A Captivating and Charismatic Profile Rebecca Miller's five-part documentary series balances her esteem for the director with a clear eye toward his struggles. By Natalia Winkelman ANATOMY OF A SCENE Roadside Attractions Anatomy of a Scene Watch Jennifer Lopez Dance in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' The director Bill Condon narrates a sequence involving some complicated choreography. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Robin Cymbaly/Universal Pictures and Blumhouse 'Black Phone 2' Review: Killer ID This horror sequel starring Ethan Hawke creates a more cohesive picture than the original, while deploying a new bag of scary tricks. By Brandon Yu Angel Studios 'Truth & Treason' Review: The Price of Courage Standing up to fascism was deadly in Nazi Germany; this film tells the story of Christian teenagers who defied a poisonous ideology. By Glenn Kenny Zeitgeist Films/Kino Lorber 'Köln 75' Review: The Key to a Famed Piano Concert Mala Emde plays a teenage promoter who pushed for what became a landmark performance by the pianist Keith Jarrett. By Ben Kenigsberg Netflix Documentary Lens In 'The Perfect Neighbor,' a Terrible Crime Collides With Ethical Concerns Geeta Gandbhir's film examines the killing of a Florida woman and "stand your ground" laws, but the issues it raises are bigger than those statutes. By Alissa Wilkinson Eddy Chen/Lionsgate 'Good Fortune' Review: Life Swap Keanu Reeves plays an inexperienced angel who acts above his pay grade in Aziz Ansari's socially conscious comedy. By Jeannette Catsoulis DIANE KEATON TRIBUTES Paramount Pictures Critic's Notebook The Surprising Power of Diane Keaton's Emotional Transparency Earlier roles in "The Godfather" and later roles in "Something's Gotta Give" showed the depth and nuance of the actress whom we met in "Annie Hall." By Manohla Dargis Everett Collection Critic's Notebook Diane Keaton's Unmistakable Look Also Was Key to Her Art Though she downplayed it, her role in creating the outfits of "Annie Hall" made her the author of a fascinating career. By Esther Zuckerman Paramount Pictures Diane Keaton in 'Reds': A Remarkable Performance but Also a Returning Point Her character, an early-20th-century journalist, undergoes the most dramatic transformation of the film in ways that the actress was especially suited for. By Alissa Wilkinson Getty Images Diane Keaton: A Life in Pictures On and off the screen, the star with a distinctive fashion sense was a singular presence. By The New York Times Maggie Shannon for The New York Times Hollywood and Fans Remember Diane Keaton Tributes from colleagues and fans flooded social media as they learned of her death. Many celebrated her onscreen legacy and some noted her impact on their lives. By Jin Yu Young STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Paramount Pictures Five Great Diane Keaton Performances to Stream The actress, whose death at 79 was confirmed on Saturday, was known for both her dramatic heft and her comedic gifts. Here are some of the highlights. By Derrick Bryson Taylor Final Cut for Real Five Free Movies to Stream Now This month's films, including Joshua Oppenheimer's "The Act of Killing" and Bong Joon Ho's sophomore breakout, observe the awful things that we are capable of doing. By Brandon Yu Criterion Channel Five International Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a poetic documentary from South Africa, a Cold War thriller from Yugoslavia, a coming-of-age story set in the Dominican Republic, and more. By Devika Girish How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. 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