MovieChat Forums > Love the Coopers (2015) Discussion > Marisa Tomei as Diane Keaton's sister???...

Marisa Tomei as Diane Keaton's sister??? (Plus a review)

posted 8 years ago by YellowManReanimated
18 replies | jump to latest

I actually didn't mind this movie. I watched it with my girlfriend as neither of us were motivated enough to jump on the Star Wars bandwagon but fancied watching a movie anyway. We didn't go in with high expectations and so weren't disappointed but...

I cannot accept this aspect of the movie. It's completely ridiculous! Marisa Tomei must be, what, at least 20 years younger than Diane Keaton, on top of that she looks about 30 years younger than her. Tomei is amazing looking and would've been a much more believable choice as Olivia Wilde's older sister in my view. Casting like this just takes you out of the story and makes it that much more difficult to invest in the dynamics of the characters. Why not just cast an older actress?

Other issues: Not enough exposition in relation to the dead sister. Too much reading between the lines on that one. Clearly it's going to be a major part of what's haunting the family but it feels brushed under the carpet. I'm starting to feel really sorry for Alan Arkin now too. His role in these indie films seems to be to have some sort of heart-attack or stroke. It's almost as if seeing his name in the titles gives you one the major plot points of the film. Couldn't the creators have been a little more imaginative? I also thought there was an issue with him being Diane Keaton's dad, what is he supposed to be, like 90? Keaton looks great, make no mistake, but she also looks her age, as does John Goodman by the way. It's unlikely that either of their parents would be too far away from a nursing home, unless they were freaks of nature (Goodman's aunt at least is more believable in this respect).

I did like the acting in the film though and the dynamics between the characters. Tomei's journey in the cop car was impossibly long, was she being deported to a different state? But I enjoyed her interaction with the policeman. Keaton and Goodman are a joy to watch, at any age, as is Alan Arkin, and Wilde and her army man sure did have chemistry. I felt having the doctor be her lover towards the end was a little contrived, however, did we really did that extra twist in the "will they won't they" saga?

So a movie which had a nice, albeit far from original message, which was well acted, yet with casting issues, which was also a little contrived and ultimately took the road of sentiment over pursuing any profound insight into human beings. Perhaps worth watching for some of the very organic and natural-feeling interactions which do occur within the film, but not to be entered with high expectations. 6/10

Against the faint background of reality, imagination spins out and weaves new patterns

[–] NeedysBoy 8 years ago

"It's completely ridiculous! Marisa Tomei must be, what, at least 20 years younger than Diane Keaton..."

They're actors, Man!

They're acting.

That's been known to happen in a movie.

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[–] YellowManReanimated 8 years ago

Did you read this part?

on top of that she looks about 30 years younger than her. Tomei is amazing looking and would've been a much more believable choice as Olivia Wilde's older sister in my view. Casting like this just takes you out of the story and makes it that much more difficult to invest in the dynamics of the characters.

By your logic you could have Alan Arkin playing Marisa Tomei's son and it wouldn't bother you, is that how you feel? Because Tomei being Keaton's sister wasn't all that much less ridiculous.

Against the faint background of reality, imagination spins out and weaves new patterns

[–] NeedysBoy 8 years ago

"...is that how you feel?"

I am able to separate the actor from the characters they portray.

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[–] YellowManReanimated 8 years ago

So am I, but you didn't answer my question.

Against the faint background of reality, imagination spins out and weaves new patterns

[–] SheLeppie 7 years ago

Oh, good for you. Trouble is, that there is only so much suspension of disbelief one can expect before it becomes distractedly ridiculous, and that was jarringly bad casting.

I simply am not there...

[–] misstam19 8 years ago

It's a little ridiculous that Diane Keaton is playing Alan Arkins daughter. He's 81, she's 70 lol John Goodman is 63 so the ages are all a little strange lol... It woulda been more reasonable for Diane Keaton and Alan admin were husband and wife.

[–] misstam19 8 years ago

Arkin* damn auto correct

[–] misstam19 8 years ago

I mean Alan Arkin could have played John goodmans father but not Diane Keaton's. Lol.

[–] misstam19 8 years ago

Marisa tomei and John Goodman could have been siblings then lol since she's 51 and he's 63

[–] mgsgamer2009 8 years ago

It's entirely possible for siblings to be 20 years apart.

It's also entirely possible for one sibling to go gray and have older looking skin due to past addictions, I.e. alcoholism, smoking, crack. There are so many factors that could make one appear older than another.

[–] YellowManReanimated 8 years ago

It's entirely possible for siblings to be 20 years apart.

Of course it's possible, but if you paid any attention to the movie you'd have noticed that they clearly weren't meant to be 20 years apart.

It's also entirely possible for one sibling to go gray and have older looking skin due to past addictions, I.e. alcoholism, smoking, crack. There are so many factors that could make one appear older than another.

There was nothing to suggest that Keaton's character had been an alcoholic or a crackhead, she didn't look unhealthy just many years older than the still very much delectable Marisa Tomei (and I'm a good few years younger than her btw).

Against the faint background of reality, imagination spins out and weaves new patterns

[–] taticat 8 years ago

No one is seriously suggesting Keaton's character is supposed to be a crackhead, only that such age discrepancies do occur, and it's not enough to take someone normal completely out of the story. As a matter of fact, one of my friends is VERY significantly younger than her siblings; just goes to show you that you shouldn't completely trust a doctor when they promise you that you're past menopause, lol! Her older brother and sister are ROUTINELY asked if they are her parents. Which brings me to my next point about ageism: it can be extremely rude and hurtful to decide things based on apparent age. Throughout the years, I have seen the constant assumptions people make about this family border on obscene. When did it become ok to pry so much? Some people need a slap in the face when they insert themselves and their stupid worldviews into people's private lives.

In sum, as long as the characters are firmly established, the relative age of the actual actors is meaningless.

[–] YellowManReanimated 8 years ago

No one is seriously suggesting Keaton's character is supposed to be a crackhead, only that such age discrepancies do occur

So what? You're arguing something no-one is disputing, of course large age gaps can exist between siblings. However, it was clearly established that in the film Keaton and Tomei were supposed to be similar ages so this point is irrelevant.

In sum, as long as the characters are firmly established, the relative age of the actual actors is meaningless.

Ridiculous comment, by your logic you could have Haley Joel Osment playing Harris Ford's granddad and you'd be all fine and dandy. Cinema is a visual medium and if my eyes are screaming "This doesn't make sense!" then that's a problem and it taints the film.

Against the faint background of reality, imagination spins out and weaves new patterns

[–] anatja 7 years ago

Why is it that EVERY post about the terrible casting in this film has some dimwit stating that they are 'acting'.

Yes, we know they are acting, we also expect reasonable casting. They didn't even bother to change the rest of the script when Annette Bening (age 58) pulled out of the film, even though she is more age appropriate, she is still quite a bit younger than Diane Keaton, still, she at least looks her age, whereas Marisa Tomei looks younger.

I love Diane Keaton, don't get me wrong, she is a fine looking mature lady, but she doesn't look young enough to pass as being 4 years older than Marisa Tomei.

This was just so, so bad.

They just threw a bunch of famous people together and made them do an adult acting class project at the community centre.

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[–] SheLeppie 7 years ago

Well said.

I simply am not there...

[–] lakealice 7 years ago

It is possible for siblings to be 20 years apart, but I thought there was a flashback showing them close in age as children.

[–] HelloMyNameIsMrBurns 7 years ago

Damn, I don't know how I missed that. Thought it was her daughter.

[–] REPetzoldt 7 years ago

I had the exact same issues as you, but did suspension of disbelief and enjoyed the movie a lot. Finding out that Annette Bening was originally cast in the Diane Keaton role helped me understand what happened better.