Diane Keaton SLAYS in "Baby Boom" (and maybe reveals a secret)
Okay, so I've been on a Diane Keaton kick lately, working my way through her filmography (because, duh, she's amazing). I just watched "Baby Boom" from '87, and while it's definitely rom-commy and a little predictable, I actually think it's way more subversive than people give it credit for. Like, it's not just about a woman 'finding herself' through motherhood, it's about REALLY questioning the demands of corporate ambition and the BS that women especially have to put up with. Think about it: J.C. Wiatt (Keaton) is at the top of her game, basically killing it in the business world. Then BAM! Unexpected baby, and suddenly she's deemed unreliable, a 'mommy' and therefore not a serious contender for partner. The film paints this hilarious picture of her navigating rural life and raising a baby, but underneath there's this biting commentary on how society undervalues caregiving and penalizes women for having families. It's smart. And here's my theory: I think J.C.'s breakdown in the middle of the movie when she just starts laughing in utter defeat? Is it's not just about getting backstabbinged at work. It's the realization that the whole 'career woman' thing was a construct, a game that wasn't even worth winning for her. Maybe the baby was the catalyst, not the cause. What do you guys think? Anyone else get that vibe or am I just projecting my own disillusionment with capitalism onto a late 80's comedy? Oh, and I just looked it up, the director is Charles Shyer, interesting, going to need to dive into him now.
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