TO DIE FOR (1995) - Movie Review

Director: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, Casey Affleck, Illeana Douglas, Wayne Knight, Kurtwood Smith, Holland Taylor, Alison Folland
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Writer: Buck Henry
Runtime: 106 min
Rated: R for strong sexual content, and for language
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), 4K (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) has always dreamed of being on TV and she's dead-set on making that dream come true. But there is just one obstacle: Larry Maretto, her husband (Matt Dillon). So, Suzanne convinces a love-struck teenager (Joaquin Phoenix) to get Larry out of the way for good. TO DIE FOR is the most critically acclaimed comedy of the year.

Review:

Once upon a time, before the Internet drove everyone insane, television was the place where minds were melted by a barrage of visual stimuli, questionable information and mindless entertainment. Sure, now it's a dying medium, but back in 1995, the possibilities were endless. For Suzanne Stone-Moretto, television was more important than life itself. Her husband's life, to be exact.

Gus Van Sant's "To Die For" is a brilliant satire of the American media frenzy and celebrity culture, shot in the style of a late night true crime show. Most of the story is told in mockumentary style, with characters expressing their point of view to the audience through the lens of a camera crew. This is in fact a comedy, but be prepared for some pitch black humor.

The film is an adaptation of Joyce Maynard's novel of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the Pamela Smart murder case. The script is penned by Buck Henry, who also wrote "The Graduate". The whole film hinges on Nicole Kidman's performance as the femme fatale, and she is absolutely mesmerizing, never missing a beat during her whirlwind monologues. And her character always talks in monologues, with carefully rehearsed mannerisms, as if she is always in the spotlight of a camera broadcasting live.

Kidman shows impressive range, which earned her a Golden Globe and BAFTA nomination, and a smart balancing of the comical and the dramatic so Suzanne never feels like too much of a caricature, always reminding us that underneath her bubbly demeanor lies an insidious narcissist that will stop at nothing in the pursuit of fame. Nicole Kidman in "To Die For" is the female equivalent of Christian Bale in "American Psycho", and just as good.

The supporting cast is unbelievable. So many familiar faces ranging from future stars to veteran character actors. Everyone is fantastic. Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck and Alison Folland are among the standouts as the teenage victims of Suzanne's lies and manipulations, at once innocent and ignorant, facile prey for the dangerous predator that Suzanne gradually reveals herself to be. Also, Wayne Knight is hilarious as Suzanne's smalltown cable station boss.

What else can I say without turning this review into a four-page essay ? It is as near to perfect as a movie can possibly be. A fascinating story, snappy dialogue, pitch-perfect performances from all the actors, beautiful and expressive visual storytelling and even a perfectly quirky score by Danny Elfman. It's razer-sharp satire that cuts deep, and while it won't be for everyone, give it a chance, and maybe you'll discover something new and bizarrely wonderful.

SCORE: 10/10