The two stupidist things about this movie - Diva (1982) Discussion

[–] Theora23 17 years ago

I think it's sweet that you came to this film expecting some sort of realistic action movie. Did someone trick you into watching it?

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[–] McGonigle 17 years ago

1. We only ever hear him play one song from the concert. Maybe that's all he recorded.

2. Yeah, boy, sorry the MOPED RACE THROUGH THE SUBWAY wasn't realistic enough for you. LOL.

PS: You misspelled "stupidist", LOL++.

We don't have to suffer, we're the best batch yet.

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[–] Rick-34 10 years ago

Thanks for the LOL.

Regarding the OP: two things to consider are that the cop had been bragging about how much he ran, and how strong his legs are, also the faster speed of the moped won't make all that much of a difference if he can't go full speed.

I've seen worse - it's very common in action films to see somebody on foot catch up to a car or a truck. Most people cannot run 15 MPH for more than 100 yards or so. But worse are the films (like Die Another Day) when people on foot catch up to a plane taking off.

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[–] dbemery 17 years ago

Number one is almost valid, but sorry, no. Batteries could be in pockets, mike could be in a hat or some crap, and we only ever heard the one song. Number two is stupid, you missed the point and it was a chase scene that made minor film history.

Now a real problem with the film is this plot point: Why did the Taiwanese get in the Citroen when they left the abandoned factory? You know, Gorodish's duplicate one, with the bomb under the seat that the inspector put there? I mean, why didn't they just leave on the horse they rode in on?

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[–] McGonigle 17 years ago

Good question. Just one of those things, I guess.

We don't have to suffer, we're the best batch yet.

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[–] Theora23 17 years ago

My idea about the plot point:

They wanted to restore their sense of being powerful and in charge. When they wanted the tape from Jules and didn't get it, they tore things apart. They were irritated at feeling played with by Gorodish, so they took his car. It was too beautiful to destroy, and they probably intended insult with the idea that they'd be driving around in his prize.

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[–] christine592 17 years ago

The Nagra tape recorder used was THE field recorder of that time and perhaps could have made that quality recording.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagra

As far as the car goes: it was cool looking and they wanted it after they paid him a bunch of cash. Plus, they had guns and he did not.

Shouldn't the bigger questions be:
Why is it night when Jules arrives at the cafe and afternoon when the go for the famous walk?

How the hell did Jules get back from the lighthouse to the city without the car?

For the record, if you read the books, Alba and Gorodish are not lovers..

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[–] Theora23 17 years ago

Nagra: In the book, he was third row center with a Shoeps microphone. He had had that same seat before, so he calibrated his setup for that performance hall and his position in it. The microphones were in a modified upright violin case aimed at the stage. Not sure how he had the mic in his messenger bag...

Famous walk: At dawn, not afternoon. They'd been out all night.

Lighthouse to city: In the book, Gorodish went back for Jules and Alba before his meeting with Saporta.

Alba and Gorodish: Their relationship in the film seemed to be much the same as in the book. Alba wanted Gorodish as her lover, and he loved her, but he was waiting until she was legal. They still kissed a lot. A more interesting change to me is that in the books, Alba is a pale blonde French girl.

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[–] christine592 17 years ago

Wow. Very nice job on your research. I am impressed.

Dawn? Okay. Good point. That would explain the street cleaner in one shot.

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[–] jardinpapillion 17 years ago

I can't believe you didn't get that. Remember when Jules was in Gorodish's apartment and said that there's no telling if she'll come because she was at a concert and Gorodish affirmed that there was no telling that she wouldn't be there? She met him evidently, right after a late concert.

"I want to be the one in control"-Janet Jackson

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[–] christine592 17 years ago

I recently visited Paris and got to see a few of the places that the movie was filmed. It was fun, as they were stumbled upon along the way to see other things.

See them if you get the chance as it puts a new tilt on the movie.

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[–] jardinpapillion 17 years ago

I am going to try to make it my mission to get to Paris to see those scenes. When they take their Dawn stroll shows the beauty of Paris. I am trying to find that wave thing that Alba and Gorodish had, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

"I want to be the one in control"-Janet Jackson

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[–] pjdonlon 16 years ago

In the late 80s, early 90s, i saw several of those wave machines.
You can still get them, Ive seen small versions, but you'd really want one of the huge ones that are in the movie. However they are several hundred dollars from what I've seen.

I want the baguette he slices while she is sitting on top of the fridge.
It is the singular most perfect piece of bread I have EVER seen in my entire life!

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[–] jardinpapillion 16 years ago

Lol, french bread is pretty easy to get if you go into a gourmet store. And as far as those wave machines go, how in the world are they several hundred dollars? I know they weren't that much in the 80s because many people had them.

"Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride."-Matthew Wilder

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[–] pjdonlon 16 years ago

The big ones, that were at least 3 feet long, were bloody expensive at the time. I remember seeing one and it was a fortune. I know, it makes no sense, but they were. Honest. This is in Europe, though, in USA things were probably a lot better value.

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[–] jardinpapillion 16 years ago

I can't believe they made them that big! You're right, in the US things are usually cheaper

"Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride."-Matthew Wilder

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ExPresidents 16 years ago

A. The Diva WAS NOT LIP-SYNCHING.

B. If you think correcting spelling on here is trite, then kill yourself. We communicate through words, and to misspell these words is to undermine everything you try to convey. Spelling and correct grammar are the cornerstones of posting, and paramount to intelligence.

Go chat about Adam Sandler.

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[–] hotspurpagg 12 years ago

I'm four and a half years late, but....

Paula taking too long to intervene, and Gorodish showing up at the perfect time: This is a stylish thriller, not a realistic procedural. It's very typical of thrillers for situations to get as intense as possible before a rescue occurs.

The second Citroen: OK, this did bug me. I haven't read the books yet. Is Gorodish super wealthy?

The Taiwanese and their shades: Hey, it's the "cinema du look." :D

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[–] bsharporflat 12 years ago

Is Gorodish super wealthy?

Hey he owns a lighthouse, too.

Anyway, he is super man. He can do anything but only after the wave jigsaw puzzle which symbolizes him is completed.

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[–] sherlock-37 11 years ago

He's a facet of Sherlock Holmes, my dear Watson.

My accountant says, "1 + 1, 40% of the time, equals divorce".

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[–] TheRuralJuror 16 years ago

How lovely to be in olden times! Have you heard of this Picasso fellow? -James Cameron

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[–] tgree50 16 years ago

Can you say Rural Juror 5 times fast (clearly)? "30 Rock" rocks! So does "Diva." And by the way, correct grammar, spelling, and syntax is what separates us from those not burdened with an education.

A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned.—Shepherd Darius Book

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[–] tlsnyder42-1 10 years ago

A typo is always possible, even in one's subject header or a newspaper headline.

Multiple mistakes, however, are certainly a sign of somethingeeeelllooorrrt! :)

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[–] jsagle 15 years ago

The movie itself, rawked.

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[–] tamar-nelwan 13 years ago

Just watched Diva agian after remembering it for 30 years. And it is still as good as it was back then.
Only now it has this added patina of a lovely anachronism.
The Parisian streets that I walked on at the time, tape decks, mopeds, even the bad guys look so innocent.

But when seeing it again, I did realise how much this film has influenced my live.
How in many ways I seem to have lived my live trying to become Gorodish ;)

Funny and fun to see newer generations appriciating Diva as well

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[–] thebucketrider 11 years ago

Should it be easy to lose someone who is running like an idiot? Who says idiots can't be fleet of foot?

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[–] benth04 10 years ago

That's the trouble about growing up: You don't believe in Santa, and you don't read fairy tales, maybe not even to the kids....

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[–] Satantangoandcash 8 years ago

This movie does require some suspension of disbelief, but not so much regarding the Nagra. The aria we hear her sing, La Wally, is only about 5 minutes long. The Nagra's batteries last far longer than that and a 7" reel is capable of recording up to 24 minutes with professional tape at the highest speed. But even if he had the best microphone in the world in his pocket, the recording still should not have been great. There would be too many extraneous sounds due to the distance from the musicians. However, I had no problem accepting that the recording was valuable because she had never been recorded before and because we heard ourselves how good it turned out. What did bother me was the fact that nobody had ever bootlegged her before, since, if you believe the movie, there was no concert security in those days.

I never thought the moped was too slow or the cop too fast in the great subway chase, but later when Jules was being chased by the thugs I was bothered because he kept running in a straight line when he could have easily ducked into the woods or behind cars, etc. and avoided them. But then there would be no chase scene...

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