Keaton Epilogue: Edelstein's Tribute Take

Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep at last week's Lincoln Center tribute (Photo: Brigitte Lacombe, NYM)

In case the compromised gravity of Steve Martin's banjo performance was not the most satisfying perspective of how New York last week honored Diane Keaton at Lincoln Center, New York Magazine's David Edelstein has an essay for you:

The tribute was notable for the brilliance and hilarity of the speeches and the remarkable lack of specificity. It was as if no one would -- or could -- violate (Keaton's) exaggerated sphere of privacy. Woody Allen strolled onstage in a sweater: I’m Woody Allen, I don’t have to wear a tux and sit in a box with mortals like Steve Martin and Meryl Streep. He called her “Keaton,” not “Diane,” and covered his evident discomfort with mock hostility that didn’t, once or twice, seem so mock. But then he addressed her, with tremulous sincerity, as “my guiding light” -- and coming after clips of Sleeper, Annie Hall, and Manhattan, only Lennon reaching out to McCartney could have felt sweeter. The world was suddenly a better place.

As usual, a terrific read about which I'll say no more. Check it out here.

Posted at April 16, 2007 1:10 PM