To Die for

Price is good acting good can't go wrong with this movie

Finally catching up with this one, I feel like I've stumbled upon the genesis of every irreverent darkly comic self-narrated ambitious scheming female narcissist movie from the late 90s onward, like 'Election' and 'Gone Girl' and even 'I, Tonya.' I'm sure 'To Die For' has plenty of influences of its own (you can even make a case that all these kinds of movies are branches off of 'Goodfellas'), but it definitely feels like a whole lot of movies used this as a direct template, and that's worth quite a bit in my book.Also, see this if you ever need a reminder why we made Nicole Kidman a star. She's perfect in this (well, if you forgive one moment when her Australian accent seeps through, heh!) and at her peak hotness, to boot. And while we're at it the rest of the cast is (sorry for this) to die for as well.

The fact that To Do For is not more highly regarded is a mystery to me. It only garners a 6.7 on IMDB.com. All of the ingredients were there, an incredible and gifted director in Gus Van Sant, what I consider to be Nicole Kidman's finest performance, a wicked and not just satirical script and an excellent supporting cast. Of particular note is Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Jimmy Emmet, the typical high school metal head loser who becomes obsessed with Kidman's evil character, Suzanne Stone-Maretto. Phoenix is a gifted actor with a wide pallet to choose from. Contrast this performance with the job he does of playing The Abbe in Quills. It makes his role in To Die For all the stronger. Allison Folland is also a standout in her debut performance as Jimmy's pathetic friend Lydia Mertz. Together with Casey Affleck as Russel, the three unwittingly become assassins for the callous Mrs. Stone. The story is built up very effectively, and as a viewer there is never any doubt that these three "dorky" kids will pull the murder off. Also magnificent and lending strong supporting roles are Dan Hedaya and Illeana Douglas who play Larry Maretto's father and sister, respectively. The part of Larry is played with near perfect un-bravado by Matt Dillon, who does so without his usual pomp and bluster. Basically, Larry is the perfect everyman trying to do right by his new wife and family [....]Hedaya is perfectly cast and uses his natural menacing qualities quite well. My favorite though, is Janice Moretto, Larry's sister played by Douglas, who is the only character who sees Suzanne for what she really is. The dancing on the grave ice-skating bit at the end is also really well done. Douglas doesn't fall once. Hats off to Van Sant for a creating a satirical masterpiece that contains enough side elements to hold the viewers attention through more than one viewing. For instance, what exactly is Suzanne's relationship with her father? Also, the fact that Janice is most likely gay and this might be why she understands Suzanne so well. Cudos as well to the director for the style he employed, blurring the line between film and documentary. Some people have argued to me that To Die For contains too many cuts and flashbacks and consequently the viewer has a difficult time following the action. I do not find that to be true. Quite the opposite, I find the film to be compelling. Even after at least five viewings, To Die For firmly holds my attention throughout.

If you would like to see a really great performance by Nicole Kidman, pick up a copy of "To Die For" at your local video store. Directed by Gus Van Sant, screenplay by Buck Henry from the book by Joyce Maynard (both Henry and Maynard have bit parts in the film), "To Die For" is a wicked little gem of a film.Kidman won the Golden Globe award for Best Actress for her performance, and frankly I thought she should have gotten the Academy Award (unless I remember incorrectly, I don't think she was even nominated for an Academy Award for it). But she is absolutely brilliant in it: chilling, funny, scary, sexy, and horrifically evil.Kidman portrays Suzanne Stone-Maretto: a devious, calculating, self-centered woman who manipulates Larry Maretto (a very sympathetic performance by Matt Dillon) into marrying her, quickly tires of him when he tries to stand in her way of her greatest ambition in life, which is to be the next Diane Sawyer, and soon convinces her teenage lover to kill him for her. Sound familiar? "To Die For" was loosely based on the real-life story of Pamela Smart, who seduced her 15-year old lover into murdering her husband.Joaquin Phoenix is Jimmy Emmett, the hapless student who becomes Suzanne's lover; Lydia Mertz is Alison Follard, a young girl who idolizes her; and Casey Affleck is Russel Hines, another student who gets caught up in the scheme. Illeana Douglas is great as Larry's acidic, loving sister Janice, who also gets one of the best lines in the film, and at the very beginning, no less; and Dan Hedaya is Larry's father, Joe Maretto. Dan Hedaya is a master of the "Believe me, you don't want to see me mad" performance, with obvious menace just under a calm surface. The casting is great, and the performances are all right on target.Look for uncredited cameos by George Segal as a conference speaker, and David Cronenberg as...you'll just have to go see it.

Nicole Kidman nails it again, in the movie that lifted her to star status. Her energy, complete self-absorption and micro-expressions are a joy to watch. Let's be honest, it's great to see her all dolled up with lots of shiny makeup, Chanel-like suits and blonde hair. As usual, she embodies her character. It's interesting to see her do so well at 26, Joaquin Phoenix at 21.Supporting actors all went on to do great things in television, for the most part (Seinfeld's Newman! That 70s Show's Red Forman, Cheers' Nick Tortelli, Two and a Half Men's Holland Taylor), and it's fun to see them well cast in this romp.Based on the novel that got rather middling reviews, Buck Henry's screenplay snaps this into a slow burn that lands unexpectedly. A good Sunday afternoon watch.

Good movie, one of NicoleKidman's best from early days of her career. Based on the Pamela Smart murder...

I bought this after seeing Nicole Kidman in 'Dead Calm', which is a great film. I found ' To Die For' very disappointing. If it's a black comedy, I must have missed the humour - and constantly talking to camera gets very tedious. If you want a good story of misguided ambition for fame and riches, try the lovely but sadly short-lived Janet Munro in 'Bitter Harvest'.O

I love the atmosphere in this one. Suzanne's obsession with fame and her dark ambition is juxtaposed with the passive townsfolk around her, most of whom seem content to lead mostly nine-to-five, mediocre lives. This is ironic, seeing as many of them also see Suzanne for who she really is right from the get-go. To Die For is entertaining from beginning to end, and the ending is especially satisfying. It's funny in ways that almost make you feel a little guilty for laughing.

This film is so brilliant. It describes mediocrity and the blindness of mediocre people in a seductive way. The arts and manoeuvres of the wanna be are a brilliant reflection of ambitions and the extremes some people will go to in contmporary societies. A must.

This is the best film I've ever seen of Nicole Kidman's oeuvre. Even so, the film is stolen by the other actress (don't know her name, "skater girl") but a great film with great acting throughout for a good story and some decent funnies.

The headlide says it all. Not Kidman's fault, the story writer and the director are to blame, but perhaps Kidman could have dragged it up to 3 sars had she been on form