Annie Hall remains Diane Keaton's signature role, although she has given deeper and more demanding performances. She won the Oscar for it, although according to Keaton, her own mother wrote in her journal that upon watching it, "I only saw Diane, her mannerisms, expressions, dress, hair, etc., the total her...." And Keaton agreed: "Like Mom, I was ... consumed by the 'me' of it all...."

Keaton had even played something of an early version of Annie in one of her first films with Woody Allen, Play It Again, Sam (1972). It seems unlikely that Keaton would have won not only the Oscar, but also the New York Film Critics and National Society of Film Critics awards for Annie Hall, had it not also been for Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Released in the fall of 1977, Goodbar was controversial, but for some Keaton's performance in it was the best the year.

And yet as Annie, as Ethan Mordden wrote, "She is to love." Pauline Kael wrote that as "the dazed, iridescent Annie ...  she emanates warmth--miraculously, naturally. It's in her long-legged softness, in her coloring, her flesh tones, her sunny, broad smile." Because Keaton is so lightweight as Annie, it's easy to overlook her technical accomplishment. The scene in which Annie meets Alvy after playing tennis is breathtaking--Annie runs a gamut of self-conscious responses, and Keaton seems spontaneous but seamless, funny and touching--and warm.