Felicity Jones Reveals the Film She Can’t Stop Rewatching

Felicity Jones is back in the spotlight, this time for her role in Train Dreams, which has just landed on Netflix and is already making waves. The film, set deep in the American woods over a century ago, follows Joel Edgerton as a railway worker and his family, with Jones playing his wife, Gladys Granier. It’s a proper escape from the everyday, though not always a peaceful one, as the characters face some tough times. Adapted from Denis Johnson’s Pulitzer-nominated novella, the film is already being tipped for Oscar nods, especially for Jones’ performance. She’s no stranger to the awards circuit, having already picked up two Oscar nominations—one for her turn in The Theory of Everything and another for last year’s epic The Brutalist alongside Adrien Brody.

But when it comes to the films that have left a mark on her, Jones has a clear favourite. She’s singled out a classic from the seventies that swept the Oscars and still gets plenty of love today: Woody Allen’s Annie Hall. The 1977 romantic comedy, starring the late Diane Keaton, is the one Jones keeps coming back to. In her own words,

“I love Annie Hall; I will always come back to that film again and again. Diane Keaton has been such an inspiration to me. She always brings humour, but complexity, and I love watching her on screen. She’s got real charisma.”

Behind the Scenes of a Comedy Classic

Interestingly, Annie Hall wasn’t always meant to be the film we know. It started out as a murder mystery comedy called ‘Anhedonia’—a term for not being able to feel pleasure, which some reckon could be a dig at how some folks view Allen’s films these days. The creative team eventually realised the romance was the real heart of the story, so they ditched the murder plot and focused on the relationship instead.

The character of Annie was loosely based on Diane Keaton herself—her real surname is Hall—and Allen borrowed plenty of her quirks and charm for the role, having worked closely with her before. The film broke new ground in American comedy, with Allen often talking directly to the audience, something that wasn’t common at the time. Keaton’s style in the film—baggy trousers, ties, and hats—also kicked off a fashion trend across the States.

Improvisation, Influence, and Iconic Moments

Much of the film’s witty banter was improvised on set, helped by the fact that Keaton and Allen had been a couple for years before filming. There’s also a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it early appearance from Christopher Walken, who plays Annie’s intense brother Dwayne, a bloke with a habit of imagining himself driving into oncoming traffic.

Annie Hall pulled off a rare feat at the Oscars, taking home Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, with Keaton nabbing Best Actress. This was in a year when everyone thought Star Wars would clean up, given how it had changed the game and smashed box office records.

What’s Next for Felicity Jones

Jones isn’t slowing down any time soon. She’s got a Christmas comedy coming up on Prime Video called Oh. What. Fun., starring alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Jason Schwartzman, and Denis Leary. The story follows a mum who decides to see how her family would cope if she just disappeared over Christmas. Spoiler: not well at all, which sounds about right.