Diva (Beineix, 1981)

[MacGuffin]

Diva is a masterpiece that I urge you all to see. It has the look of an Argento movie and the suspense of Hitchcock, but thematically, it tackles more ground than most movies I've ever seen (artist/fan relationship, the power of music to draw people together, the celebrity enigma and symbol, corruption and even prostitution) and never comes across as overly ambitious. In fact, the movie is among the most entertaining "thrillers" I've ever seen. At just short of two hours, it is rapidly paced. At one point in the film, there are actually two—count them, two—chase scenes right next to each other; however, Beineix never strays too far off course. His character development is rich to the point where tension is truly genuine when our lead is in peril and his relationship with the "diva" becomes something truly profound and almost touching. Top all of this off with a group of genuinely interesting, even "quirky" characters and you have yourself one of the best thrillers ever made, right up there with Hitchcock indeed.

Non-spoiler screenshots and some comments on them:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7038/vlcsnap4048070.pngWhile brief, I really like the way this particular conversation is framed. I can't recall the last time I saw a mirror so curiously placed in the frame.
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2355/vlcsnap4047596.pngPhenomenal lighting--that said, it's an instance where the screenshot can't do the particular scene justice.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3187/vlcsnap4048427.pngBeineix uses lighting to capture dread as two men dressed in suits and sunglasses watch our lead from afar.
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/605/vlcsnap4048190.pngArgento-esque lighting. When you watch the movie, I hope you admire Beineix's use of depth and color as much as I did.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2103/vlcsnap4051986.pngFrom one of the chase scenes.
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3076/vlcsnap4050609.pngExample of depth and color.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2756/vlcsnap4053385.pngBeineix was doing what Matthew Barney is doing today thirty years ago, and yet only one of them is likely to be a colossal prick. (Just kidding, sort of. The shot just reminded me of The Cremaster Cycle's promotional material for some reason.)

Just see the movie people.

[Derek]

Beineix was doing what Matthew Barney is doing today thirty years ago, and yet only one of them is likely to be a colossal prick. (Just kidding, sort of. The shot just reminded me of The Cremaster Cycle's promotional material for some reason.)

Yeah, it's not even remotely comparable to Barney's stuff and not even remotely close to as good as Cremaster 3. Plus, Barney's married to Bjork, so he's clearly better than Beineix. :)

[MacGuffin]

Yeah, it's not even remotely comparable to Barney's stuff and not even remotely close to as good as Cremaster 3. Plus, Barney's married to Bjork, so he's clearly better than Beineix. :)

I know it's not comparable to his work, but I don't know if I can agree with you on the second part, if only because I've never seen any of his work. It just reminded me of a trailer I saw for The Cremaster Cycle, which had some memorable car motifs and a whole lotta symmetry.

[Spinal]

The shot just reminded me of The Cremaster Cycle's promotional material for some reason.


The giant phallic symbol perhaps?

[MacGuffin]

The giant phallic symbol perhaps?

Because Barney's a dick or because his movies have lots of phallic symbols in them?

[Spinal]

Because Barney's a dick or because his movies have lots of phallic symbols in them?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/B000A2H5M4_01_LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[MacGuffin]

Sorry Broseph, no idea what that's from since I haven't seen any of his movies.

[Grouchy]

Whoever is married to Bjork has terrible taste in women.

But yeah, Diva is great. I don't remember many of those moments in the screenshots so that probably means it's due for a rewatch. But it's a thriller with unique personality and drive - the twist and turns it takes are among the most original I've seen. It was probably a huge influence on Luc Besson.

[MacGuffin]

Whoever is married to Bjork has terrible taste in women.

But yeah, Diva is great. I don't remember many of those moments in the screenshots so that probably means it's due for a rewatch. But it's a thriller with unique personality and drive - the twist and turns it takes are among the most original I've seen. It was probably a huge influence on Luc Besson.

I want to see some Luc Besson movies. In fact, after seeing this, I'm going to make it my movie-related goal to see as much from the Cinema du look (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_du_look) movement as possible. I've already seen some of Leos Carax's stuff and it's incredible. Between those movies and this, I'm looking forward to whatever else I may discover.

[MacGuffin]

If I could get at least two people from this website to see this movie, I'd be happy. It's on Netflix, guys, so please do yourselves a favor!

[Raiders]

Yeah, it's pretty entertaining though I don't think I got nearly as much out of it as you. I think I had more fun seeing how it clearly inspired and formed a part with other French filmmakers like Carax and Besson (the Cinema du look I guess). I actually prefer Betty Blue.

[MacGuffin]

I actually prefer Betty Blue.

I saw a bit of this, but it's three hours long and I think I was beginning to fall asleep about a third of the way in--I'll definitely rent it again, but I'm pretty sure that I'm going to check out The Moon in the Gutter first. What do you think of Carax and Besson's stuff?

[Raiders]

I saw a bit of this, but it's three hours long and I think I was beginning to fall asleep about a third of the way in--I'll definitely rent it again, but I'm pretty sure that I'm going to check out The Moon in the Gutter first. What do you think of Carax and Besson's stuff?

Haven't seen Carax. I am a fan of Besson, though not as much as some (don't like Fifth Element and only moderately enjoy Leon). My favorite of his is almost definitely Angel-A but good luck finding someone else with that opinion.

[Mysterious Dude]

I remember it being above-average. And colorful.

[monolith94]

I thought it was great. And you don't even mention that it has Dominique Pinon in it!!!

[Heidi]

looks amazing. Gonna get my hands on it for sure!

[MacGuffin]

looks amazing. Gonna get my hands on it for sure!

Good to hear it! I hope that you enjoy the movie as much as I did.

[Heidi]

is it ok to say im downloading it on here, or is that a faux pas round these parts?
im a poor poor student.

[Raiders]

is it ok to say im downloading it on here, or is that a faux pas round these parts?
im a poor poor student.

It's fine to say it, just don't link to any torrent files.

[Heidi]

seen. im glad we discussed this.

[MacGuffin]

So, The Moon in the Gutter is a disappointing follow-up, but that seems to be the general consensus.

[baby doll]

So, The Moon in the Gutter is a disappointing follow-up, but that seems to be the general consensus.I've only seen Diva and the first half of 37°2 le matin, but I think the general consensus is that everything he's done post-Diva is pretty lousy.

[MacGuffin]

I've only seen Diva and the first half of 37°2 le matin, but I think the general consensus is that everything he's done post-Diva is pretty lousy.

Really? I was under the impression that 37°2 le matin divided audiences pretty evenly into groups that thought it was either good or bad.

[Raiders]

Really? I was under the impression that 37°2 le matin divided audiences pretty evenly into groups that thought it was either good or bad.

Yeah, I have already said I prefer it and it is certainly as well respected for the most part. I think the general consesus rather is apart from those two it's all kind of crap.

[MacGuffin]

I have Betty Blue coming at me this weekend, so I'm excited to see it for myself.

[Raiders]

I was about to say, interestingly enough, Betty Blue is available for free streaming at MUBI this week.

[MacGuffin]

I was about to say, interestingly enough, Betty Blue is available for free streaming at MUBI this week.

I saw that too. It was pretty weird having two emails about Betty Blue in my inbox at once (Netflix shipping and Mubi), but there it is.

[Spinal]

I am also a big Betty Blue fan, though I preferred the shorter cut.

[origami_mustache]

This was one of the first films I had to watch in the first film class I ever took before I was even considering studying it seriously. The class had no structure and the professor was pretty masturbatory as he'd often recite and pass around his own shitty poetry books, so I'm guessing he just showed us some of his favorite films in no particular order. Oddly I don't hear it mentioned very often.