Diva (Remastered Widescreen Edition) (Meridian Collection)
by Jean-Jacques Beineix
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Frédéric Andréi, Jacques Fabbri, Richard Bohringer, Thuy An Luu, Wilhelmenia FernandezDirector: Jean-Jacques Beineix
Brand: ANDREI,FREDERIC
Cinematographer: Philippe Rousselot
Writer: Jean-Jacques Beineix
Producer: Claudie Ossard
Producer: Irène Silberman
Producer: Serge Silberman
Writer: Daniel Odier
Writer: Jean Van Hamme
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 123 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-06-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
Movie Reviews of Diva (Remastered Widescreen Edition) (Meridian Collection)
Movie Review: Dripping with style; this film will keep you more than entertained...
Summary: 5 Stars
The French just have a way with making really cool noir type films. I've recently raved `Le Doulos' and have continually praised `Le Samourai'; both 60's films, but even 1981's `Diva' is an extraordinary example of the perfect mood to compliment the intricate story. Director Jean-Jacques Beineix masterfully weaves an interesting and engaging tale of opera, mobsters and police corruption, all the while maintaining a steady feeling of `coolness', a coolness that pervades each scene.
In `Diva', Frederic Andrei plays Jules, a young mail carrier who is obsessed with the beautiful and talented opera singer Cynthia Hawkins. Truly a diva, Hawkins refuses to record any of her music, only performing live where she can feed off the energy of her audience. Jules, being a huge fan of hers, sneaks in a recorder to her concert, so that he can listen to her whenever he wishes. When his recording gets mixed up with a tape made by a witness from an ongoing police case, Jules finds himself being pursued from all ends; by the police, by mobsters and even by Taiwanese bootleggers who want his Hawkins `recording'.
The story is really three or four stories interwoven in a way that makes them feel like one story. You have the story of Jules obsession and subsequent relationship with Cynthia; you have his relationship with Alba and Gorodish, young thieves; you have his pursuit by the aforementioned and then you have the story of the police case and it's relation to Jules. All four of these sub-plots are handled in such a fluid manner than none ever feels detached from the other. They all coincide in perfect harmony.
The acting is very good from everyone involved. Frederic Andrei delivers nicely as Jules, capturing his adoration as well as his confusion as he handles all that is happening around him. I also really liked what Richard Bohringer did with his small role as Gorodish, and I only wish that he had more screen time. The two standouts here are the two ladies in Jules' life; Wihelmenia Fernandez (who plays Cynthia) and Thuy An Luu (who plays Alba). Fernandez is stunning and very controlled as the diva herself, commanding each screen and bleeding forth her characters personal agenda. Luu is also a stunner here, managing to caress each frame with a dominating sensuality and gripping manner. They are two completely opposite ends of the equation, and together they equal perfected unity. Someone once told me that the acting in this film plays against realism, that it feels almost fake but on purpose. I agree. The film is played out someone like a fantasy, like a surreal dream and so the actors take on that same tone with their performances. There is a level of human detachment here that is subtle enough not to detract from the film but obvious enough to actually create another layer, another element to the films already engrossing and unique atmosphere.
So, in closing, I consider this a definite `must see' film; a stunning and engrossing and beautiful film noir that covers every base perfectly.
Summary of Diva (Remastered Widescreen Edition) (Meridian Collection)
Genre: Foreign Film - French
Rating: R
Release Date: 3-JUN-2008
Media Type: DVD
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