The all-American obsession with celebrity turns monstrous in this deliciously subversive (and disturbingly prescient) satire of our television-mediated, true-crime-obsessed age. In a career breakthrough, Nicole Kidman delivers a diabolical deconstruction of the girl next door as a local TV weather reporter whose perfectly perky facade belies a murderous heart, as her ruthless pursuit of fame ensnares three disaffected teens in a sordid, tabloid-ready scandal. Deftly deploying shifting perspectives, faux-documentary interviews, and a supporting cast featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, and Casey Affleck, director Gus Van Sant adds provocative layers of meaning to this darkly funny examination of suburban sociopathy.
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Video Quality
The Criterion Collection presents To Die For with a top-tier 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer in its original 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative that has been approved by director Gus Van Sant and director of photography Eric Alan Edwards. The film was previously released over 12 years ago on Blu-Ray with an older transfer by Image Entertainment, but that release has been out of print for some time so comparisons are impossible. We can say that this new restoration is tremendous and is unlikely to displease any fan. This transfer retains the perfect amount of natural film grain which resolves flawlessly, allowing for a world of fine detail to spring forth. Elements of the production design and outfits reveal more discrete facets than ever before. There is no evidence that any grain reduction or digital manipulation has been applied, as you get a fine sheen that resolves evenly without swarming or clumping. Any print damage has been completely eliminated.
The new Dolby Vision transfer deftly captures the distinct look of the film as discussed in the commentary. The stylized aesthetic in the interiors of the home contrasts in interesting ways with the locale. Every scene and location appears to be properly brought to life with this terrific new HDR grade. The landscapes are quite striking, but the film also provides splashes of colors in elements such as the lighting and some of the outfits and production design. One of the greatest benefits of this 4K UHD experience is how the film perfects its contrast. Moments of darkness and shadow maintain their depth and do not succumb to crush or noise. Highlights are handled effortlessly without any blooming as whites radiate with brilliance. This transfer is a 5-star effort for fans of the film, and we appreciate that the Criterion Collection has given it a second life.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio remaster which allows this one to sound as clear and powerful as ever. The Danny Elfman score and other musical cues are used perfectly within the story, and this track delivers every element without fail throughout the film. The dialogue primarily stays anchored in the center channel as it flows through clearly, but there is an expansive soundscape that captures the sound design of the film with perfect fidelity.
Environmental sounds are capably brought to life alongside everything else. The low end response brings some activity to the proceedings, although this is far from an action-packed narrative. There is no threat of it overshadowing vital information, and it maintains a proper balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. There do not seem to be any notable instances of age-related wear and tear. The Criterion Collection has given this film the perfect audio experience. There are English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of To Die For includes a foldout pamphlet featuring the essay “You’re Not Anybody In America Unless You’re On TV” by film critic Jessica Kiang which explores the themes, how it comments on American media, and more that is very illuminating. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Audio Commentary: Director Gus Van Sant, Director of Photography Eric Alan Edwards, and Editor Curtiss Clayton deliver a new commentary track in which they take you through the development of the script, memories from the production, working with the performers, the famous directors who tried to take over the film, the aesthetic of the feature, the differences of working on film, and more. This offers a great balance of reflection on the film and camaraderie between the participants.
- Deleted Scenes: There are nearly 36 minutes of unused material provided here which shows some quick, unique moments that were cut from the final film. These are unfinished so the image quality is somewhat inconsistent in terms of color correction, missing frames, missing audio, and more. That being said, it is still cool to be able to see them.
- Trailer: This disc provides the two-and-a-half-minute trailer.
Final Thoughts
To Die For is a really dark, clever look at our unhealthy obsession with the media that is anchored brilliantly by Nicole Kidman. In a career filled with iconic roles, this is one of the best from the actress, and she is joined by a peerless ensemble that works together very well. The film is very funny, yet it is also chilling when it needs to be. The tonal balance struck by Gus Van Sant is somewhat unbelievable, but it works. This is a fantastic satire. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a stellar A/V presentation and a couple of welcome special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is a must-buy. Highly Recommended
The Criterion Collection edition of To Die For will be available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on March 26, 2024.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.