To Die For (1995) R - 4 Stars

I can't believe I missed this movie when it first came out. No wonder Nicole Kidman won a Golden Globe award for her great performance of a prissy, bitchy, news woman, weather girl, reporter, and even accomplice to murder. All she wants in her life is to become a television anchorwoman and will stop at nothing to get there. The movie is shot in a documentary, "after the fact", format and Larry's sister Janice (Illeana Douglas) is great at recapturing the warning signs she saw from the start.

Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) lives in Little Hope, New Hampshire and has big dreams of someday becoming a prominent broadcaster, reporter, anchorwoman. She has always imagined she would be famous on TV. Almost living in her own world of obsession, the signs are not apparent at first. She meets Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), who owns a restaurant and she thinks he can giver her what she needs to help her achieve her goal. Larry works for his father as the manager of a restaurant which someday he will own. Their lives seems pretty great until Suzanne feels Larry is asking too much of her attention, taking her away from her hair brain projects that will make her famous in her mind.

Her determination finally pays off when she gets her foot in the door at the local station and convinces them, she could do the weather reports. That actually starts out well but Suzanne is not satisfied and her growing obsession causes her to venture out in her own way. She gets use of the stations equipment and starts to prepare a documentary about teens in today's world. At the local high school she pitches her idea to a classroom and three sign up.

Jimmy (Joaquin Phoenix), is actually infatuated with her looks and masturbates to her weather reports so he signs up first. Russell (Casey Affleck), signs up as his teacher forces him to after his behavior in class and Lydia (Alison Folland), desperately needs something to do with her life. When Suzanne pays attention to her, she feels important and finally like she is somebody and has a friend.

Now most of Suzanne's time is consumed with the project and Larry tries to convince her they should start a family. Larry's gotta go and Suzanne starts to flirt with Jimmy in order to enlist his help in her plan. She figures if she seduces and sleeps with Jimmy, she can convince the three teens to take care of business by doing away with Larry. But can use her swift talking mannerism to get away with murder?

1995 - To Die For - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Actress.
1995 - To Die For - Golden Globe - Best Actress - Musical or Comedy.

Sony Pictures
Director: Gus Van Sant
Writer: Buck Henry
Producers: Laura Ziskin, Jonathan Taplin, Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr.

I viewed 8/08