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TO DIE FOR
Review by Michael Jacobson
Stars:
Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Damon, Illeana Douglas
Director: Gus Van Sant
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby
Stereo
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic
Transfer
Studio: Columbia Tri Star
Features: Theatrical Trailer
Length: 106 Minutes
Release Date: November 10, 1998
Film ****
As the trailer for the film boldly proclaims, "welcome
to the REAL America". To
Die For is a black comedy that shamelessly holds a mirror up to our society
and forces to take a long look at the truths about ourselves we'd rather not
think about. It is not a movie with
an identity crisis, as some critics have suggested.
It's a film that knows exactly what it's doing at all times. It doesn't "lose" its comic edge near the end, it
simply shows us that the things we take for entertainment are often horribly
real and painful.
The film plays out mostly in flashbacks, and from the point of view of a TV
camera of unknown source that's interviewing the people involved in the story
concerning the events we're about to see. Nicole
Kidman plays Suzanne Stone, an ambitious woman with her heart, mind and eyes
firmly set on a television career. "You're not anybody in this country unless you're on
TV," she claims. Though her
job as a small town weather “girl” is small potatoes, to her it's
everything, and a stepping stone to a wondrous world she's dreamed of all her
life.
But life isn't always like it appears on TV. She begins to
see a problem with her husband (Matt Dillon).
They've been married almost a year, and though he's a sweet guy, he's a
little too grounded in reality for her tastes.
His only ambition is to run his family's restaurant with his wife by his
side, and have a couple of kids. In
Suzanne's world, these things just aren't heard of.
The plot thickens when a couple of out of place high school kids, especially a
confidence lacking, lovestruck boy (Phoenix) become pawns in her sinister plan
to get rid of her husband. The
murder is a real turning point in the feel and mood of the picture.
It's the kind of thing we see on TV and read about in magazines all the
time, the kind of thing our society obsesses over.
The thing is, though, once the trigger is pulled, there are very real and
devastating effects for all around and involved, and suddenly we as the audience
feel a certain shame in our love for the seedy and macabre, especially as the
point of view returns to the filming camera and we realize what we're seeing are
very real people who were hurt by a very real tragedy.
Now, watching this film on the other side of the O. J. trials, I began to
realize this film was even smarter than I originally thought.
The cast is great across the board. Phoenix
plays his character to unsure and emotional perfection throughout, and Matt
Dillon, who's always good, brings a sense of grounded reality to a likeable
character in a small role. I also liked Illeana Douglas' role as his somewhat
cynical sister.
But, make no mistake, this movie belongs to Nicole Kidman.
Her portrayal of Suzanne is one of the best acting jobs I've seen in the
nineties. Her Suzanne is always on, as though every moment of her day she were
on camera. When she speaks to
people, there's almost a sense of pity toward them that these people don't
understand just how things work in the TV oriented world.
She's the kind of character that may seem like an airhead on the surface,
when in fact, she just simply doesn't pay much mind to anything outside of her
own little microcosm. You can
always see the wheels turning just under the surface, though.
Nicole Kidman's accent is so good, you will forget you're watching a
native Australian. It's enough to
make you wonder why there haven't been more meaty roles for her like this one.
Video ***1/2
This is a terrific anamorphic transfer from Columbia Tri Star. Images are sharp and crisply defined throughout, with no grain or compression evident, and natural looking, beautifully rendered coloring throughout. The print is quite clean, with very little in the way of noticeable scars and blemishes.
Audio **1/2
The 5.1 soundtrack is a serviceable but unspectacular mix,
as this is a mostly dialogue-driven film. I didn't notice much use of the
surrounds or the .1 channel, but then again, I didn't miss them very much,
either.
Features *
Only a trailer, but it’s one of my favorite trailers.
The use of Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry” is a nice touch.
Summary:
To Die For remains one of the best and most topical black comedies of the 90’s. Anchored by a star making performance by Nicole Kidman, this is a film that will make you laugh loudly, think hard, and remember the old adage that it’s only funny until somebody gets hurt.