Great Performances: Diane Keaton in "Looking for Mr. Goodbar"

Diane Keaton won the Oscar in 1977 for Annie Hall. She should have won the award for this, her daring performance in Richard Brooks' adaptation of Judith Rossner's controversial novel about a schoolteacher who frequents bars looking for sex and attention.

While most know Keaton for her comedic roles in Annie Hall, Love & Death and Baby Boom, many forget what a great dramatic actress she is. I think Keaton's performance as Theresa is her finest. This is not an easy role to play, considering the frequent nudity, and the film has many dark themes, but Keaton excels in the role. She's not afraid to show Theresa's promiscuous and self-destructive side, but still imbues her with tenderness and vulnerability (as she teaches her deaf students). The film is heavy-handed at times and tends to wallow in sleazy excesses more than it needs to, but Keaton's performance carries the film. She has great chemistry with her male co-stars Richard Gere (in one of his first roles), William Atherton and Tom Berenger.

Why she wasn't nominated for this film, I will never understand. If you have never seen Looking for Mr. Goodbar, it is worth watching. It is not currently available on DVD, but hopefully Keaton's masterful performance will be preserved on DVD soon.