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 knew what it took to get to the top... a lot of heart and a little head.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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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

In the novel "To Die For", on which the movie is based, Suzanne Stone Maretto states on page 307 that she would like to see "that actress that just got married to Tom Cruise in real life" play her in a movie about this. This refers to Nicole Kidman who later played Suzanne in the movie.

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Goofs

Lydia says that Suzanne let her drive her car even though she did not have a learner's permit. New Hampshire does not issue learner's permits. Anyone at least 15 1/2 can drive if accompanied by a licensed driver at least 25 years of age.

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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

Features Larry King Live (1985)

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Soundtracks

"SEASON OF THE WITCH"
Written by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Performed by Donovan
Courtesy of Epic Records and EMI Records Ltd.
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing and EMI Special Markets UK

User Reviews

One of the most underrated films of the 1990's

A lot of people dislike To Die For. The film's detractors largely find fault with its tone and subject matter. It is really the epitome of black comedy, and anyone expecting either pure comedy or pure suspense will be very disappointed.

That said, To Die For deserves a place in film history as one of the sharpest satires of television and fame, ranking alongside films such as Network. Forgive the cliche, but Nicole Kidman's performance is truly a revelation -- she shows talents that were clearly invisible in earlier travesties such as Far & Away and are only now beginning to resurface. But the real discovery in this film is the magnificent Illeana Douglass. It is scandalous that few people mention her amazing work when discussing To Die For. If for nothing else, the film should be seen for the work of Kidman and Douglass. (Note also that To Die For has one of Joaquin Phoenix's earliest roles.)

As other commentators here have suggested, you are not guaranteed to love this film. Nonetheless, as far as I'm concerned, it's required viewing if you're a film fan.