To Die For (1995)

A beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive.

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers:

Joyce Maynard (book), Buck Henry (screenplay)

Stars:

Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicole Kidman	...	Suzanne Stone
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 (Kidman) 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:

new hampshire | television | coitus | copulation | sex in bed | 

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Taglines:

She'll do anything to get what she wants ...ANYTHING

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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:

USA UK Canada

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 USA:

$21,284,514

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation,Laura Ziskin Productions,The Rank Organisation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Casey Affleck beat out his older brother Ben Affleck as well as his childhood friend Matt Damon for the role of Russell Hines. When asked why he chose Casey over the rest, Gus Van Sant stated that he noticed that Casey still had a strong Boston accent, while Ben and Matt had lost theirs, he also got the feeling that Casey was scrappier than the other two.

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Goofs

When Lydia calls Suzanne to set up the last meeting, we see a large device taped to her abdomen. At the mall, with the detectives listening, Suzanne pokes Lydia in exactly the same spot, but neither she feels nor do we see the device under Lydia's shirt.

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Quotes

Suzanne Stone Maretto: [to Lydia in the dressing room] Well, you grow up, you know? You think it's all gonna be like a fairytale. Like you're Sleeping Beauty, and along comes this Prince Charming, and he looks at you, and it's night time, and he smiles at you and kisses you.
Lydia Mertz: Yeah, I - I know that story.
Suzanne Stone Maretto: And then... then you wake up... and it's daylight... and you look at him. It's just when you work all day, trying to perfect yourself and create something meaningful, you expect some support. Does anyone ever say "Did ...
[...]

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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.

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Connections

References Saturday Night Fever (1977)

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Soundtracks

WINGS OF DESIRE
Written by Mark Tierney, Paul Casserly & Fiona McDonald
Performed by Strawpeople
Courtesy of Sony Entertainment (New Zealand)

User Reviews

Nicole Kidman is to die for

Nicole Kidman's breakthrough film, indie director Gus Van Sant's tragic-comic tale of Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) a fame obsessed housewife who seduces three teenagers to get rid of her husband (Matt Dillon.) To Die For is directed in a pseudo-documentary style with some of the characters telling their story to the camera. Writer Buck Henry seems to be commenting on the superficiality of TV personalities, weather forecasters and talk show hosts with his references to Geraldo Rivera and Maury Povich and Suzanne's obsessive desire to be on TV.

The acting is outstanding from everyone. Nicole Kidman is the perfect choice for the seductress whose emotional age seems to be about ten years old and gives new meaning to the word "superficial." Joaquin Phoenix shows evidence of the star he would become. Alison Folland and Illeana Douglas are excellent.

I'm an admitted Nicole Kidman fan and this film shows her talent. She's also a gorgeous woman. Recommended.