Monday, October 21, 2024

To Die For (1995) * * * 1/2

 

 

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Starring:  Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Dan Hedaya, Illeana Douglas, Casey Affleck, Alison Folland, Maria Tucci, Buck Henry, George Segal, Wayne Knight

Suzanne Stone (Kidman) is destined for bigger and better things than being married to a regular guy like Larry Maretto (Dillon)...in her own mind.   She begins to resent her husband, who does nothing wrong except maybe only wanting to open his own restaurant while working long hours at his family's establishment.   Her resentment and ambition turns to a murder plot where she recruits three teenage losers to stage a home invasion and murder Larry.  One of them, Jimmy (Phoenix) has an affair with Suzanne and is convinced they are in love.  Suzanne's only love is herself, as if we really had to be told that.

To Die For is a study and satire of a quest for fame run amok.  Suzanne is a looker and works as the weatherperson for a local New Hampshire station.  But her dreams include a network role someday, and she believes with all of her heart that a documentary on high schooler opinions on various topics will be just the ticket.  The station manager (Knight) is astounded by her work ethic and even more by her overly ambitious nature.  She won't take no for an answer.  

It is obvious in social settings that Suzanne and Larry aren't a match.  His family thinks something is off about her.  She speaks like she just attended a self-fulfillment seminar and uses all the buzz words associated with it.  Her mind is always on work or her own narcissistic needs.  Everyone else is a means to an end.  Her most important relationship is with her dog, Walter.   Written by Buck Henry and directed by Gus Van Sant, To Die For is funny and challenging.  Most of the characters aren't especially likable, except Larry, played by Dillon with a regular-guy quality.   They operate for their own ends.   

The movie's tone is satirically based on a true story in which an overly ambitious femme fatale like Suzanne hires her teenage lover to kill her husband.  You might think people like Suzanne don't exist in the real world, but To Die For recognized this personality type long before Instagram and Facebook.  Could you imagine what Suzanne would be like on those platforms?   I shudder to think about it.  

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