Review of To Die For (1995) by Filipeneto — 22 Aug 2018

This film by Gus van Sant is based on the ambitions of Suzanne Stone, a weather girl from a local TV station who wants to achieve fame and success at any cost. When her rich husband becomes a problem, she decides to arrange a lover to kill him. A simple plot, but with good premises for what Van Sant wanted: a kind of black comedy about sex, ambition and manipulation. He skillfully presents most of the film as a documentary, using cinematography and some visual and sound tricks to give more authenticity to that illusion. Nicole Kidman carries the film in her back with grace and malice, and seems very ease with her character, a girl who uses all the weapons to get what she wants. The remaining actors make a good supporting work, but are completely overshadowed by her talent.

This movie is likely to appeal to black humor lovers. It's not a thriller or mystery movie, it's all pretty obvious to the public since the beginning. However, Kidman's performance is already a reason to make the film worth watching.