To Die For

To Die For

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Editorial Reviews

TO DIE FOR (DVD/P&S/WS 1.85/DD5.1/DSS/ENG&FR-DUB&S

If anyone ever doubts whether Nicole Kidman is a good actress, they should immediately be required to watch this outrageously wicked comedy from 1995, for which Kidman deservedly won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Leading Role. While director Gus Van Sant handles the fact-based satire with razor-sharp precision, Kidman delivers a deliciously devious performance as Suzanne Stone, a small-town New Hampshire housewife who fancies herself the next Barbara Walters, Jane Pauley, Diane Sawyer, and Maria Shriver all rolled up into one meticulously coiffed package. So determined is she to have a successful career on TV that she'll stop at nothing--even the calculated murder of her husband (Matt Dillon)--to get the attention she feels entitled to. To carry out her scheme she recruits some unwitting local teenagers including one boy (Joaquin Phoenix, matching Kidman's excellence) whose infatuation with Suzanne leads to sexual escapades and predictably troublesome consequences. It's a satirical comedy in Van Sant's capable hands, but it's so close to tabloid reality that the film never seems implausible--which only gives it a funnier, more blood-chilling quality of humor. Featuring Illeanna Douglas, George Segal, and Seinfeld alumnus Wayne Knight in memorable supporting roles, this is one of the best comedies of the '90s--especially if you prefer comedies with a decidedly darker edge. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

"Daring Film"

Reviewed by Terry Richard, 2010-02-10

Although Nicole Kidman is an Oscar-winning actress who has starred in many Hollywood films, very rarely has she appeared in a movie that went to the top of the boxoffice charts. Never in the same league as Sandra Bollock or Julia Roberts, Kidman has, however, developed an ardent fan base that loves her performances and admires her for the fact that she does attempt to find that one movie that will someday make her a major boxoffice atttraction. In "To Die For" Kidman plays Suzanne Stone, a wannabe weather girl at a local TV station who dreams of becoming the next Barbara Walters in her hometown. She marries a man (played beautifully by Matt Dillon) who is part of a powerful mafia family. When he attempts to start a family with her and insists that she put her career dreams on hold , Suzanne plots to kill him. A wickedly yet dramatic film, "To Die For" is my favorite Nicole Kidman movie. I was surprised when I discovered the film was a major flop at the boxoffice as it is truely the best movie Kidman has ever done. Budgeted at $20,000,000, the film only took in 21 million. The role of Suzanne was offered to Meg Ryan originally who turned it down because she was only offered $5,000,000 to star in it. The role then went to Kidman who was given a 2 million dollar salary paycheck, an extremely low sum for a starring role.

Very good, but not quite worth dying for...

Reviewed by David Wilkins, 2010-02-01

Here lies another great entry in the filmography of director Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, Milk). His work is unique, diverse, and always worthy of extensive comment. His career found a home in the independent margins of the industry, and we as moviegoers are all the better off for it. He tells the kind of stories that wouldn't see the light of day if it were up to the major studios.

The story unfolds with a mixture of flashback sequences and present-day recollection; it's a pseudo-documentary style, with characters speaking directly at the camera as if being interviewed. The technique was relatively new for a non-documentary feature film when it was released in 1995, and it works brilliantly for revealing the thoughts and motivations of multiple characters, allowing for a larger, more complex story than would otherwise be possible.

The movie was a watershed moment in the career of Nicole Kidman, showing off her capability and pointing toward greater accomplishments down the road. She's perfect as the young media obsessed beauty, short on raw intelligence but miles long on determination and ruthlessness. Her singleminded nature is off-putting for almost everyone except her parents and the man who loves her, skillfully portrayed by Matt Dillon. Another standout early career performance comes from Joaquin Phoenix, as the love-struck high school kid who gets duped into helping Kidman carry out her nefarious scheme. The entire ensemble cast were wisely chosen, and all of them play a part in making this film highly effective and entertaining. The story is told with a pleasing narrative pace that's engaging, and keeps you anticipating the next level of human folly. This is great stuff, constructed of juicy satire and unpleasant truth.

Perfectly Plastic...

Reviewed by Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein, 2010-01-03

In TO DIE FOR, Suzanne Stone (the glorious Nicole Kidman) is an ultra-ambitious, wannabe media megastar. This takes a certain type of person, a person without fear, heart, or conscience. Stone puts her psychotic tendencies to work, building her TV career by any means necessary. This includes marriage, murdering her unbelievably clueless husband (Matt Dillon), and relentless self-promotion. This is a woman driven to be in reality what she has always been in her own blank mind. She WILL be famous! Fortunately, she won't have to sell her soul in the bargain, due to the glaring fact that she does not possess one! Kidman IS Suzanne Stone, an empty shell w/ a wonderful paint-job! She oozes along, manipulating the foolish and living only to be noticed. Don't worry though, she definitely goes too far and receives her day of recompence. Joaquin Phoenix is perfectly thick in his role as Suzanne's primary pawn. TDF belongs in every black comedy collection...

rip-off of the movie "Murder in New Hampshire"

Reviewed by L. Hunt, 2009-10-15

See "Murder in New Hampshire", a true-crime story. Then watch "To Die For", it's the same movie but the producers of "To Die For" don't tell you that it's a true crime story, instead they promoted it as a comedy! Weird.

Exellent

Reviewed by Otto Holenstein, 2009-09-10

Very satisfied with movie. Very happy as movie was lost during postage contacted Amazon and very satisfied with result and obtaining new DVD. Thank you Amazon