Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Diva

A postman and avid fan of a renowned soprano, who has never set foot in a recording studio, records her performance and finds himself chased not only by the black market thugs who witnessed the act but also by invidious mafioso types after he inadvertently has another tape, this one exposing a police captain for his role in a sex trade ring, planted on him. Kinetic, stylish, and intelligent, with a moped/subway chase sequence that ranks with the best of 'em, and brilliant, offbeat casting (including real life opera singer Wilhelmenia Fernandez), Jean-Jacques Beineix's Diva is a brilliant debut from a director who never again seemed to find his footing.
*** 1/2 out of ****