A beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive.A beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive.A beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 7 wins & 17 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter working in this movie, Casey Affleck brought director Gus Van Sant a screenplay by his brother Ben Affleck and Ben's friend Matt Damon; it became Good Will Hunting (1997).
- GoofsAt Larry Maretto's burial, the Catholic priest says "in nominis patris et filius et spiritus sanctus", getting most of the endings wrong; correct is "in nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti", which any priest would know.
- Quotes
Jimmy Emmett: Any time it rains, or when there's thunder and lightning, or when it snows, I have to jack off.
- Crazy creditsA scene plays out behind the end credits where Janice skates on the ice at the location where a significant moment in the story took place.
- SoundtracksSusie Q
Written by Eleanor Broadwater, Dale Hawkins and Stan Lewis (as Stanley J. Lewis)
Featured review
What's the point of doing anything worthwhile if nobody's watching?
Nicole Kidman is right on target in this notable dark comedy, an adaptation of the Joyce Maynard novel which was itself inspired by a notorious real life story. Nicole, looking absolutely ravishing throughout, is a completely self-serving sociopath named Suzanne Stone who's simply hellbent on achieving her personal American dream of being a TV personality. When she realizes that her nice guy husband Larry (Matt Dillon, in a solid change of pace performance) is going to be an obstacle in her path, she turns on the heat and convinces dumb as dirt, lovelorn teenager Jimmy Emmett (Joaquin Phoenix, in his breakthrough performance) to bump off Larry. She then proceeds to play to the media to her hearts' content.
22 years later, this film version remains pretty damn relevant, in the era of reality television where just about any person can become a celebrity for no really good reason, and fame & fortune is still seen as a worthwhile goal. Working from a screenplay by actor Buck Henry, director Gus Van Sant gives us a thoroughly absorbing film with a fair amount of ideas to mull over. Just like any good dark comedy, it's funny in a twisted sort of way. I'm sure some people who've followed the story, or read the book, or seen the movie, must know one or more people like Suzanne Stone.
An exceptional cast full of familiar faces is the real drawing card: Phoenix, Casey Affleck as his degenerate "friend", Alison Folland as the awkward girl who hangs out with the two of them, Dan Hedaya and Maria Tucci as Larry's parents, Kurtwood Smith and Holland Taylor as Suzannes' folks, Tim Hopper and Michael Rispoli as investigating detectives, Wayne Knight as the manager of a local TV station, and especially Illeana Douglas as Larry's sister, a cynical sort who has Suzanne pegged right early on. Making cameo appearances are author Maynard (as Suzannes' lawyer), screenwriter Henry (as a huffy teacher), and filmmaker David Cronenberg as the mysterious man at the lake. Kidman is a marvel as she really struts her stuff for the camera.
Ultimately, one does feel somewhat sorry for Jimmy when it's seen just how pathetic he really is. He's just one of many characters who get jerked around by Suzanne, a master manipulator if ever there was one.
Eight out of 10.
22 years later, this film version remains pretty damn relevant, in the era of reality television where just about any person can become a celebrity for no really good reason, and fame & fortune is still seen as a worthwhile goal. Working from a screenplay by actor Buck Henry, director Gus Van Sant gives us a thoroughly absorbing film with a fair amount of ideas to mull over. Just like any good dark comedy, it's funny in a twisted sort of way. I'm sure some people who've followed the story, or read the book, or seen the movie, must know one or more people like Suzanne Stone.
An exceptional cast full of familiar faces is the real drawing card: Phoenix, Casey Affleck as his degenerate "friend", Alison Folland as the awkward girl who hangs out with the two of them, Dan Hedaya and Maria Tucci as Larry's parents, Kurtwood Smith and Holland Taylor as Suzannes' folks, Tim Hopper and Michael Rispoli as investigating detectives, Wayne Knight as the manager of a local TV station, and especially Illeana Douglas as Larry's sister, a cynical sort who has Suzanne pegged right early on. Making cameo appearances are author Maynard (as Suzannes' lawyer), screenwriter Henry (as a huffy teacher), and filmmaker David Cronenberg as the mysterious man at the lake. Kidman is a marvel as she really struts her stuff for the camera.
Ultimately, one does feel somewhat sorry for Jimmy when it's seen just how pathetic he really is. He's just one of many characters who get jerked around by Suzanne, a master manipulator if ever there was one.
Eight out of 10.
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- Sep 20, 2017
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Todo por un sueño
- Filming locations
- Black River, Georgina, Ontario, Canada(final skating scene)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $21,284,514
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $386,510
- Oct 1, 1995
- Gross worldwide
- $21,286,518
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