To Die For (1995)

Nicole Kidman gives a great performance in this brilliantly acerbic satire on fame and the American Dream, playing shallow suburban princess Suzanne Stone, whose entire life has been devoted to becoming a television celebrity.

A job at a local TV station seems like the first step on her journey to becoming a world-famous news anchor. But when her husband, Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), announces his desire to start a family, she realises he has to go. She persuades her dim-witted teenage lover Jimmy Emmett (Joaquin Phoenix), and his friends, delinquent Russell Hines (Casey Affleck) and shy Lydia Mertz (Alison Folland), to murder him.

Though Larry’s death is ruled a burglary-murder, the police begin investigating when they stumble across a video of Suzanne interviewing at Jimmy’s school in which Jimmy discreetly hints at a relationship with Suzanne.

Jimmy, Russell and Lydia are arrested and connected to the crime scene. Lydia makes a deal with the police to speak with Suzanne while wearing a wiretap, and Suzanne unwittingly reveals her hand in the murder.

Despite this undeniable proof of Suzanne’s guilt, however, by arguing that the police had resorted to entrapment, she is released on bail. Suzanne basks in the media spotlight as she talks to reporters about Larry’s death, and fabricates a story about her husband being a drug addict and being murdered by Jimmy and Russell as his dealers.

Jimmy and Russell are sentenced to life in prison, though Russell appeals against his sentence and receives sixteen years instead, while Lydia is released on probation for her cooperation.

Larry’s father, Joe, sees Suzanne lying about Larry on television and realises she was behind his son’s death. He then uses his Mafia connections to have her murdered. The hitman lures Suzanne away from her home by pretending to be an agent interested in broadcasting her life story, kills her, and then places her beneath the ice in a lake.

Lydia gains national attention by telling her side of the story in a television interview, becoming a celebrity. Larry’s sister, Janice, practices her figure skating on the frozen lake where Suzanne’s corpse is hidden.

Sharply scripted by Buck Henry from Joyce Maynard’s bestselling novel, which was inspired by true events, this frighteningly funny, razor-sharp drama is one of director Gus Van Sant’s most accessible movies.

Gone is the puzzling quirkiness of  (1989) and My Own Private Idaho (1991), and Van Sant simply allows the riveting story to shine through above any extraneous style.

Kidman, all pretty in pink lipstick and poisonous plans, is a revelation. There’s fine support from Illeana Douglas, who gets to end this delightful satire with a marvellously cynical cutting-edge climax.

Suzanne Stone
Nicole Kidman
Larry Maretto
Matt Dillon
Jimmy Emmett
Joaquin Phoenix
Russell Hines
Casey Affleck
Janice Maretto
Illeana Douglas
Lydia Mertz
Alison Folland
Joe Maretto
Dan Hedaya
Ed Grant
Wayne Knight
Earl Stone
Kurtwood Smith
Carol Stone
Holland Taylor
Man at lake
David Cronenberg

Director
Gus Van Sant

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