To Die For | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Gus Van Sant |
Produced by | Laura Ziskin |
Screenplay by | Buck Henry |
Based on |
To Die For by Joyce Maynard |
Starring | |
Music by | Danny Elfman |
Cinematography | Eric Alan Edwards |
Edited by | Curtiss Clayton |
Production
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Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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106 minutes |
Country | United States United Kingdom Canada |
Language | English |
Budget | $20 million |
Box office | $21,284,514 |
To Die For is a 1995 American crime comedy-drama film, made in a mockumentary format, directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Buck Henry, based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard, which in turn was based on the factual story of Pamela Smart. It stars Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, and Joaquin Phoenix. Major supporting roles feature Illeana Douglas, Wayne Knight, Casey Affleck, Kurtwood Smith, Dan Hedaya, and Alison Folland. Kidman was nominated for a BAFTA and won a Golden Globe Award and a Best Actress Award at the 1st Empire Awards for her performance. Her character has been described as suffering from narcissistic personality disorder in the scientific journal BMC Psychiatry.
The film includes cameos by George Segal, David Cronenberg, author Maynard, and screenwriter Henry. It features original music by Danny Elfman.
Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) dreams of being a world-famous news anchor. To that end, she marries Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), due to mutual attraction and because she believes his family business will keep her financially comfortable, and she starts attempting to climb the network news ladder, beginning as a meteorologist at a local cable station, WWEN.