tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post7841667501401283216..comments2024-02-22T17:59:50.213-05:00Comments on in so many words...: A Favorite Film: DIVA (1981) starring Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, Frederic Andrei and Richard Bohringer.Yvettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-87481098114304739052011-08-19T12:59:57.857-04:002011-08-19T12:59:57.857-04:00Now that is funny, Ernie. I'd have thought it ...Now that is funny, Ernie. I'd have thought it a bit expreme just to keep from 'crying' over the onions. But hell, to each his own. :)<br /><br />I'd still prefer to think that Gorodish has some sort of mystical thing going on.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-65361492145423254642011-08-18T21:00:18.687-04:002011-08-18T21:00:18.687-04:00Hi, the scuba mask (and snorkel) was used to preve...Hi, the scuba mask (and snorkel) was used to prevent Gorodish from having onion tears. I used to do this, even before this movie hit the screen. My friends thought it was hilarious that I didn't even notice my own behavior on the screen.ErnieDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250281555100388334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-14775754174190182642011-06-14T11:23:52.205-04:002011-06-14T11:23:52.205-04:00Dorian: THANKS for the tip about Wilhelmenia! It&#...Dorian: THANKS for the tip about Wilhelmenia! It's great to know that she was not a one shot wonder. I still wish, though, that she'd made more films. But in a way, that makes DIVA that much more special.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-89143261257601305802011-06-14T11:22:17.850-04:002011-06-14T11:22:17.850-04:00Kathy: Yes, that chase scene is something! Those t...Kathy: Yes, that chase scene is something! Those two cops were such losers though. Everything going on under their very noses - ha!<br /><br />If you see Dorian's last comment, though, Kathy, you'll see that Fernandez is still working. I love that. She was so beautiful though, I'm basically surprised she didn't do many more movies.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-90693210729321814932011-06-14T10:17:22.874-04:002011-06-14T10:17:22.874-04:00Yvette, it turns out Wilhelmenia (Wiggins) Fernand...Yvette, it turns out Wilhelmenia (Wiggins) Fernandez is still enjoying a great operatic career, and she's even won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in AIDA! Check it out:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmenia_FernandezDorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-9149300168670719782011-06-13T23:35:12.842-04:002011-06-13T23:35:12.842-04:00Diva has a lot to it, though. It is called a &quo...Diva has a lot to it, though. It is called a "cult classic." I can see why that is.<br /><br />I enjoyed it.<br /><br />I loved the moped chase through the Metro. That was one of the best vehicular chase scenes I've ever seen.<br /><br />But I wondered about Wilhamenia Fernandez. She doesn't appear to have had a huge career. What a shame, with her beautiful voice.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-72222881587137977352011-06-13T12:03:53.401-04:002011-06-13T12:03:53.401-04:00Don't make it a chore, Kathy. It's a quirk...Don't make it a chore, Kathy. It's a quirky film not to everyone's taste. I know that. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-13301794752362542372011-06-13T03:50:43.331-04:002011-06-13T03:50:43.331-04:00Well, I saw the grand craziness that is Diva tonig...Well, I saw the grand craziness that is Diva tonight. I had to keep rewinding and looking at scenes and dialogue subtitles. <br /><br />I think I'll have to see it again to get very nuance.<br /><br />It was a lot of fun, and the woman who sings, Wilhelmenia Fernandez, is incredible. What a voice!<br /><br />This was an experience. I will see it again to make sure I caught every detail.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-20263211124763538712011-06-08T21:39:50.351-04:002011-06-08T21:39:50.351-04:00I caught DIVA in its original run in Honolulu, and...I caught DIVA in its original run in Honolulu, and enjoyed it, but was put off by the improbability of a diva, even an extremely eccentric one, who so resolutely refused to be recorded (and the resolution of that dilemma). It is a film of great visual and aural beauty, no two ways about it.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-50551540866980067192011-06-01T11:00:02.363-04:002011-06-01T11:00:02.363-04:00Yes you did Robin and we had a good discussion abo...Yes you did Robin and we had a good discussion about it. But damn if I could find it again. I put the essay away for safe keeping. But, as things have a habit of doing around here, when I put something away for safe keeping it seems to disappear forever. Safe but invisible.<br /><br />I meant to quote from it for my post on Diva, but...Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-10697196235990428122011-06-01T06:51:09.406-04:002011-06-01T06:51:09.406-04:00I can't remember, Yvette. Did I send you my a...I can't remember, Yvette. Did I send you my article on Diva? (One of the first ones I ever published.Robin Bateshttp://betterlivingthroughbeowulf.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-15968329408317752512011-05-31T12:02:26.966-04:002011-05-31T12:02:26.966-04:00In this instance, Kathy, you would say 'Wolfs&...In this instance, Kathy, you would say 'Wolfs'. :)<br /><br />A weekend spent reading and watching films is a very good weekend indeed.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-52509584548570699832011-05-31T11:58:46.817-04:002011-05-31T11:58:46.817-04:00Another train mystery (book) for your consideratio...Another train mystery (book) for your consideration, Kathy:<br /><br />MURDER ON THE TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRSS by Stuart Kaminksy.<br /><br />I will be seeing CAIRO TIME as soon as I get a chance. I read about it, sounds wonderful.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-10215185608978616122011-05-30T05:41:33.855-04:002011-05-30T05:41:33.855-04:00I still have Narrow Margin, a train mystery to go,...I still have Narrow Margin, a train mystery to go, and Cairo Time, a contemporary story with Patricia Clarkson, whom I adore. (She and Melissa Leo, of Frozen River and more, can ACT!)kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-15215442960076409132011-05-30T05:39:51.387-04:002011-05-30T05:39:51.387-04:00Over the weekend, I saw a 5-part, 5-hour BBC/HBO t...Over the weekend, I saw a 5-part, 5-hour BBC/HBO thriller called Five Days, which was excellent. It kept me on the edge of my seat, with no skimming newspapers or doing crossword puzzles. Got it from the library.<br />Also saw Invictus, a wonderful movie about post-apartheid South Africa. Morgan Freeman was robbed of the Oscar on that one. <br />And I read a Camilleri/Montalbano book, which is on the Daggers shortlist, Wings of the Sphinx. Lots of fun. I laughed out loud and grinned.<br />BBC mystery dvds are at my library in abundance, so my entire fun weekend was free.<br />Just started Fer-de-Lance, and am about to write down your top Wolves (Wolfe plural?).kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-73976012054986976492011-05-28T22:53:28.332-04:002011-05-28T22:53:28.332-04:00Ah, the Plaza, I used to work within walking dista...Ah, the Plaza, I used to work within walking distance. I thought it would always be there. <br /><br />Yes, isn't this a great movie? I have five favorites that will probably never be surpassed - this is one of them. I simply love it.<br />I have since the first moment I saw it years ago but damn if I can remember where it was that I did see it for the first time. <br /><br />Old lady memory - GAK!Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-39327872229025248482011-05-28T21:26:42.912-04:002011-05-28T21:26:42.912-04:00Yvette, I've loved DIVA since I first saw it w...Yvette, I've loved DIVA since I first saw it with one of my best buddies, Rosemarie, when it opened in NYC at the now-defunct Plaza Theatre. We were wowed by the cool, edgy visuals, the suspense, the hipster humor, and the way they somehow blended poignant romance and love of music into the whole crazy thing. Gorodish was like some kind of Zen Fairy Godfather/Action Hero. Glad to hear you loved it as much as we did! <br /><br />I was having trouble getting into my blog, too, until my computer genius hubby Vinnie hooked me up with Mozilla/Firefox. Once I got the hang of it, it made life a lot less frustrating! :-) Good luck, my friend!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-75215244597265105512011-05-28T19:17:46.442-04:002011-05-28T19:17:46.442-04:00Thanks, Rick. You've only seen DIVA once? Oh t...Thanks, Rick. You've only seen DIVA once? Oh the shame of it. HA!<br /><br />I had it on videotape and wore the damn thing out. I'm saving up for the new re-mastered dvd.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-79511697715070382592011-05-28T18:28:27.689-04:002011-05-28T18:28:27.689-04:00Yvette, I haven't seen this movie since it was...Yvette, I haven't seen this movie since it was first released, but your vivid review reminded me just how much I enjoyed it. "Delirious" is how I'd describe it!Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-11213160767261896652011-05-28T13:12:19.237-04:002011-05-28T13:12:19.237-04:00Oh, after all my hype, I do hope you like it. Let ...Oh, after all my hype, I do hope you like it. Let me know. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-49920913164949475902011-05-28T05:56:52.203-04:002011-05-28T05:56:52.203-04:00My library has Diva. I just put it on reserve.
W...My library has Diva. I just put it on reserve.<br /><br />Well, this obviously is a movie while I must watch vigorously, no crossword puzzle doing, no New York Times skimming, no bill paying, but 100% rapt attention.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-83967181304851276622011-05-27T14:31:15.821-04:002011-05-27T14:31:15.821-04:00John: a great word - sumptuous - to use for this m...John: a great word - sumptuous - to use for this movie. It IS that and more.<br /><br />Of my five favorite films of all time, this is one.<br /><br />I don't get tired listening to Wiggins Fernandez singing La Wally.<br /><br />For me, this is film-making brought to high art.<br /><br />But it's not for everyone. This is the sort of film that either grabs you by the imagination or it doesn't. There are not two 'buts' about it.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-83666620176143699452011-05-27T14:28:17.666-04:002011-05-27T14:28:17.666-04:00Kathy: the screenplay IS confusing IF you're o...Kathy: the screenplay IS confusing IF you're one of those people (like I often am) who is doing ten different things while watching a movie. For this one, you have to pay full attention and the rewards are ample. :)<br /><br />I can't stress enough what a wonderful movie experience this is.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-70290443920612416032011-05-27T13:46:23.971-04:002011-05-27T13:46:23.971-04:00Sumptuous is a word I don't often use. But tha...Sumptuous is a word I don't often use. But that's how I feel about DIVA. An amazing movie experience for me the first time I saw it. And it's one I return to many a time. When I found the soundtrack on CD I was elated - having lost my cassette copy (along with my entire music collection) ages ago in a traumatic burglary that shocked me into what life was like in the big city. The music (apart from the now too familiar La Wally aria) written specifically for the movie is mesmeric.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-1448445661515830732011-05-27T01:12:35.489-04:002011-05-27T01:12:35.489-04:00Whew! I'm exhausted from tearing around Paris...Whew! I'm exhausted from tearing around Paris.<br /><br />Are you sure this isn't ten movies?<br /><br />I must find this and see it on a day when I'm well-rested or I'll just be worn out from following the plot.<br /><br />It's like Tell No One, the French movie made from a Harlan Coben book (this is one case where the movie was far better than the book). If one misses one second, one has lost the plot.<br /><br />Thanks for the review.kathy d.noreply@blogger.com