To Die For (1995)

Suzanne Stone is an aspiring TV personality who will do anything to be in the spotlight- including enlisting 3 teenagers to kill her husband.

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers:

Joyce Maynard (book), Buck Henry (screenplay)

Stars:

Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicole Kidman	...	Suzanne Stone Maretto
Matt Dillon	...	Larry Maretto
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Jimmy Emmett
Casey Affleck	...	Russel Hines
Illeana Douglas	...	Janice Maretto
Alison Folland	...	Lydia Mertz
Dan Hedaya	...	Joe Maretto
Wayne Knight	...	Ed Grant
Kurtwood Smith	...	Earl Stone
Holland Taylor	...	Carol Stone
Susan Traylor	...	Faye Stone
Maria Tucci	...	Angela Maretto
Tim Hopper	...	Mike Warden
Michael Rispoli	...	Ben DeLuca
Buck Henry	...	Mr. H. Finlaysson

Storyline

Suzanne Stone (Maretto) knows exactly what she wants. She wants to be a television newscaster and she is willing to do ANYTHING to get what she wants. What she lacks in intelligence, she makes up for in cold determination and diabolical wiles. As she pursues her goal with relentless focus, she is forced to destroy anything and anyone that may stand in her way, regardless of the ultimate cost or means necessary.

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Plot Keywords:

television | femme fatale | sex with minor | extramarital affair | media | 

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Taglines:

She was prepared to go all the way... for what she wanted.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, and for language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Todo por un sueño

Filming Locations:

King City Secondary School, King City, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£1,645,594 (UK) (17 November 1995)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Joyce Maynard, she happened to have her mother's ashes on hand during the filming of her scene. Deciding her mother would have wanted to be in the movie, she placed them in her prop briefcase.

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Goofs

When Suzanne Stone removes the video tape from her camera just after recording her self-interview the tape is already fully rewound.

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Quotes

Janice Maretto: [about Suzanne designing her wedding ring] ... it was round... and gold... I mean, big fucking deal!

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Crazy Credits

A scene plays out over the end credits where Janice skates over the ice rink where Suzanne has been buried. A darkly comic moment where Janice is literally dancing on Suzanne's grave. Its an ironic fate too because Suzanne spent a lot of time looking down on Janice through the movie. Now the situation is reversed.

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Rednecks and Broomsticks (2009)

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Soundtracks

"DIRTY LAUNDRY"
Performed by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar

User Reviews

Very entertaining!

This one starts fast and just runs from there. It's not a perfect film so there are a few flat spots but over all lots of laughs and even a few surprises. Dillon is sweet and passive as the loving husband and is seemingly wasted as his writing is contrary to the majority of his other roles. But he pulls it off even though he's not in that many scenes. Lots of fun TV faces here too, Newman, Red and of course Mr. Tortelli! But the best cameo of all has to be Mr. Cronenberg.

A fun, stylized, moody film that does have a nice level of intensity and to it's credit comes full circle. It has an ending and a nice one at that. No loose ends or ambiguity, very appreciated. No problem recommending this one to just about anyone, even if they're not a Kidman fan. I'm not!

8/10