Diane Keaton plays a mature mother who finds herself nursing perennial bachelor Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) back to health after he experiences heart problems while on a romantic getaway with her daughter (played by Amanda Peet). Harry normally goes for younger women but soon finds himself strangely attracted to someone closer to his own age. Keaton’s character also works her magic on a younger doctor (Keanu Reeves), placing her smack dab in the middle of a complicated love triangle.
DIANE KEATON (‘Erica’):
Do you understand the appeal of dating a younger man and would you go there? Could you go there?
I once went there but I have to say it was a kind of a strange thing for me. I didn’t really like it very much and I don’t think he liked it either. It was too odd. It was sort of like, “Yeah… No…”
Was that a societal thing?
No, I don’t think it is. I don’t think societal. There is that aspect to it, of course. You are absolutely right. But I think just even the intimacy of it and the fact that there’s so much that you can’t really share with each other in some way – the experiences that you’ve been through that they can’t really understand because they’re not there. You know, you’re separated by so many things. It isn’t also just age but the kind of work you do. If you’re successful, you’re separated by that, which is an odd thing. It feels weird, but it’s true. So it wasn’t for me.
Is that a 'been there-done that' type of thing for you?
Yes, sort of. It’s sort of interesting when you put it that way because you think “Been there, done that. Oh dear.” Yes.
How delicate a balance is it to be funny in a scene where your character doesn’t know she’s being funny?
It’s a strange balancing act and I don’t really know why. But it’s like Nancy’s [Meyers] former husband, Charles Shyer, said to me on “Baby Boom.” I was kissing Sam Shepard and he said, “Diane, it’s a comedy.” That was the direction, “It’s a comedy.” I was taking it too seriously; it’s just tonal. It’s a delicate little line. You sort of go, “Oh, it’s a comedy.” And you could lighten it up in a way, but it’s still real. I don’t know how or why some people know how to do it, but they do. They kind of have the knack for it. I think that because it’s what I have done all my life, I kind of get it.
You and Jack Nicholson have great onscreen chemistry. Can you talk about what it was like to shoot that love scene with him?
Well you know, working with Jack is sort of like standing in front of the Grand Canyon. I don’t know, there’s too much going on there and you’re just this little speck on a precipice. He’s like this huge, massive kind of structure. He’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. That’s the way it feels. It feels like that because I think there’s something about the way Jack uses language. It’s like he’s a master of the word, and the love of the word. A kiss is like you put the words away and you’re just standing there and you’re just sort of, “Oh, it’s just you and me and we’re really going to just experience this without saying anything.” It’s just beautiful. I loved it and I wish that I could do it again because it’s like you just carry that with you. It was kind of a form of heaven.
Is he a good kisser?
Yes, I love kissing him. I didn’t mind doing a lot of takes and Nancy always likes to do a lot of takes. I didn’t have to say anything. I just had to show up and expect a lot of kissing (laughing).
You and Jack Nicholson have known each other for a long time, haven’t you?
I think we’ve been separated by time and experience. That is like a huge chasm. I think that Jack went on to become even more of a legendary actor and I went on to go up and down and up and down. I think that what’s been interesting is that that’s changed him in the sense that he’s had to carry this mantle of greatness around with him, which is a huge overwhelming responsibility because every part, the demand to be great is on your shoulders. I don’t even care, I know that this is rare and I’m just going to go out there and do it. Nobody’s thinking about, “Oh gee, you’ve been doing this a lot. You’ve been great and you’ve been nominated for an Academy Award.” Well, how many times has he been nominated? 12, 13? It’s like I don’t have to worry about that so much. I think he is very graceful about that. I think that he respects the art of acting and the art of film. He’s a great representative for all of us actors. That’s what I think. I was just happy to be around.
PAGE 2: Nude Scenes, Kissing Keanu, and Celebrating Mature Women
Additional “Something’s Gotta Give” Cast Interviews:
Jack Nicholson and Keanu Reeves
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Something’s Gotta Give" Photo Gallery
"Something’s Gotta Give” Trailer, Movie News and Websites
