To Die For Reflection

Gus Van Sant’s dark comedy To Die For, chronicles the twisted journey of aspiring major network newscaster Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman). From her frosty demeanor, and peculiar fascination with fame, it is almost immediately apparent to the viewer that something is very off about Kidman’s character. Van Sant emphasizes the protagonist’s strange fascination with the media by filling early scenes with news cameras and paparazzi. From there, the film cuts to a homemade movie by Stone where she talks about one day becoming a famous newscaster.

However, early in the film, Kidman’s character marries the middleclass Larry Maretto, a laidback and charismatic individual who appears to be well liked in his close-knit Italian American community. Although at first all seems well, cracks begin to form in their marriage when Maretto presses Kidman’s character for a child. Unwilling to acquiesce, Kidman hatches a plot to seduce the young Joaquin Phoenix, a handsome but mentally slow teenager. After initiating a sexual relationship, she convinces the boy that her husband is abusing her and must be killed. Yet, little does Phoenix know that his adult lover sees him as little more than a dispensable chess piece. She hopes that the death of her husband and the subsequent media coverage it is likely to ensure will propel her to media stardom. Unfortunately for her, it is quickly apparent to the police that Ms. Stone played some kind of role in the death of Larry Maretto. Additionally, somewhat unsurprisingly, Larry Maretto’s death is avenged in the final scenes when Kidman’s character is brutally murdered and her body is buried beneath a frozen lake.

Although at certain times humorous, Gus Van San’s movie is overwhelmingly dark and at times disturbing. The director does a wonderful job of focusing on Nicole Kidman’s character. Although other events take place in the film, the main intention is for the viewer to quickly notice her elusive yet disturbing traits. From her cold detachment, to her inability to empathize with anyone else, it is evident the movie focuses on revealing the subtleties of a truly deranged individual with sociopathic tendencies.