Marvin’s Room is the 1996 Diane Keaton drama flick with a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie was rated 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Diane Keaton receiving an Oscar nomination. Diane Keaton plays the role of Bessie, a woman who takes a backseat to life to support her family.
When Bessie is diagnosed with leukemia and told she needs a bone marrow transplant, she reconnects with her estranged sister, Lee (played by Meryl Streep), whom she hasn’t seen in nearly 20 years. Lee’s sons are unfortunately not a match for Bessie’s bone marrow transplant. Unlike many films that rely on dramatic conclusions, Marvin’s Room ends with a softer, more genuine sense of closure.
This moment from Marvin’s Room really sums up Diane Keaton for me. To live is to love, not just to receive love but to give love, and man, did I love Diane Keaton.
Her memory will forever be a blessing. RIP 🕊 pic.twitter.com/knyzS2sbHi
As the sisters spend more time together, Lee starts to appreciate just how much Bessie has given over the years. Their renewed connection stands out as the most important outcome. The film ends on a bittersweet note where the family is reunited, and Lee takes on the role of a caregiver, suggesting that the whole emotional arc has come full circle with Bessie’s character getting the closure she needed.
Diane Keaton’s Performance in Marvin’s Room Rivalled Legendary Actress Meryl Streep
Diane Keaton’s performance was widely regarded as going toe-to-toe with industry veteran Meryl Streep. The two actresses complemented each other’s roles with grace and aplomb. Keaton’s performance was emotionally layered, grounding the story where Streep’s performance would often take it to edgy extremes. Here are key details of the film.
Both actresses brought the best out of each other, delivering nuanced acting that can only come with a mix of innate talent and years of experience working with auteur directors. Keaton did not just hold her own alongside Streep, but performed so well that she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Why Diane Keaton’s Oscar-Nominated Performance Proves Marvin’s Room Still Resonates in 2025
The Oscar-nominated performance resonates strongly in 2025 because of Diane Keaton’s ability to portray a complex emotional character in a movie with timeless themes of illness, family, and forgiveness. Her character continues to move audiences as it provokes the need for introspection in a day and age where there is still a lot of stigma against the family obligation of caretaking.
Diane Keaton brings a multidimensional character to life, breathing a sense of warmth and vulnerability that is often missing in most star-studded performances of late. Keaton’s work remains relevant even after her passing, as co-star Leonardo DiCaprio fondly recounts working with the actress on Marvin’s Room (via People):
Diane Keaton was one of a kind. Brilliant, funny, and unapologetically herself. A legend, and icon, and a truly kind human being. I had the honor of working with her at 18. She will be deeply missed
Diane Keaton recently passed away at the age of 79, after a long history of struggle and illness. She will be fondly remembered by us for all the wonderful core-memory movies she’s starred in. May she rest in peace.
What is your favourite Diane Keaton performance? Let us know in the comments.
Marvin’s Room is currently streaming for free on Kanopy and hoopla in the U.S.
