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To Die For
''To Die For'' is a 1995 satirical black comedy film directed by Gus Van Sant. It stars Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon, with Illeana Douglas, Wayne Knight, Casey Affleck, Holland Taylor, Kurtwood Smith, Dan Hedaya, and Alison Folland in supporting roles. The plot follows Suzanne Stone, an ambitious New Hampshire woman with dreams of becoming a celebrity, who will stop at nothing until she achieves fame on TV. The film's narrative combines a traditional drama with darkly comic direct-to-camera monologues by Kidman's character, and mockumentary interviews, some tragic, with other characters in the film. ''To Die For'' was written by Buck Henry based on Joyce Maynard's novel of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the story of Pamela Smart, a woman who was convicted in 1991 for being an accomplice in a plot to murder her husband. Henry, Maynard, George Segal, and David Cronenberg appear in cameo roles. The film features original music by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American filmmaker, photographer, painter, and musician. He has earned acclaim as an independent film, independent auteur. His films typically deal with themes of marginalized subcultures. His early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. He made his feature-length directorial debut film ''Mala Noche'' (1985). He earned acclaim for a string of independent films such as the crime drama ''Drugstore Cowboy'' (1989), the adventure film ''My Own Private Idaho'' (1991), and the black comedy ''To Die For'' (1995). He earned Academy Award for Best Director nominations for the drama ''Good Will Hunting'' (1997), and the biographical film ''Milk (2008 American film), Milk'' (2008), both of which also received Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Picture nominations. Van Sant directed the psychological drama ''Elephant (2003 film), Elephant'' (2003), a film based on the Columbine High School massac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Screen International
''Screen International'' is a British film magazine covering the international film business. It is published by Media Business Insight, a British B2B media company which also owned '' Broadcast''. The magazine is primarily aimed at those involved in the global film business. The magazine in its current form was founded in 1975, and its website, ''Screendaily.com'', was added in 2001. ''Screen International'' also produces daily publications at film festivals and markets in Berlin, Germany; Cannes, France; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California; and Hong Kong. History ''Screen International'' traces its history back to 1889 with the publication of ''Optical Magic Lantern and Photographic Enlarger''. At the turn of the 20th century, the name changed to ''Cinematographic Journal'' and in 1907 it was renamed '' Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly''. Kinematograph Weekly ''Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly'' contained trade news, advertisemen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black Comedy
Black comedy, also known as black humor, bleak comedy, dark comedy, dark humor, gallows humor or morbid humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discuss, aiming to provoke discomfort, serious thought, and amusement for their audience. Thus, in fiction, for example, the term ''black comedy'' can also refer to a genre in which dark humor is a core component. Black comedy differs from ribaldry#Blue comedy, blue comedy—which focuses more on topics such as nudity, Human sexual activity, sex, and body fluids—and from obscenity. Additionally, whereas the term ''black comedy'' is a relatively broad term covering humor relating to many serious subjects, ''gallows humor'' tends to be used more specifically in relation to death, or situations that are reminiscent of dying. Black humor can occasionally be related to the grotesque genre. Literary critics h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Celebrity
Celebrity is a condition of fame and broad public recognition of a person or group due to the attention given to them by mass media. The word is also used to refer to famous individuals. A person may attain celebrity status by having great wealth, participation in sports or the entertainment industry, their position as a political figure, or even their connection to another celebrity. 'Celebrity' usually implies a favorable public image, as opposed to the neutrals 'famous' or 'notable', or the negatives 'infamous' and 'notorious'. History In his 2020 book ''Dead Famous: An Unexpected History Of Celebrity'', British historian Greg Jenner uses the definition: Although his book is subtitled "from Bronze Age to Silver Screen", and despite the fact that "Until very recently, sociologists argued that ''celebrity'' was invented just over 100 years ago, in the flickering glimmer of early Hollywood" and the suggestion that some medieval saints might qualify, Jenner asserts that the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Hampshire
New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, 50 U.S. states, New Hampshire is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, seventh-smallest by land area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, tenth-least populous, with a population of 1,377,529 residents as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Concord, New Hampshire, Concord is the List of capitals in the United States, state capital and Manchester, New Hampshire, Manchester is the List of municipalities in New Hampshire, most populous city. New Hampshire's List of U.S. state mottos, motto, "Live Free or Die", reflects its role in the American Revolutionary War; its state nickname, nickname, "The Granite State", refers to its ext ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alison Folland
Alison Folland (born August 10, 1978) is an American actress and filmmaker. Folland was born in Boston to a travel agent mother and a cardiologist father. She grew up in Wellesley, and attended high school at Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a private school in Cambridge. She was nominated in 1997 for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in '' All Over Me'' and had supporting roles in films such as ''To Die For'', ''Good Will Hunting'' and '' Boys Don't Cry''. Filmography *''To Die For'' (1995) - Lydia Mertz *'' Before and After'' (1996) - Martha Taverner *'' All Over Me'' (1997) - Claude *''Good Will Hunting'' (1997) - M.I.T. Student *'' Boys Don't Cry'' (1999) - Kate *''Pigeonholed'' (1999) - Eve *''Finding Forrester'' (2000) - Jeopardy Contestant *'' Things Behind the Sun'' (2001) - Lulu *'' Milwaukee, Minnesota'' (2003)- Tuey Stites *'' The Ballad of Pinto Red'' (2004) - Pinto Pulaski *'' She Hate Me'' (2004) - Doris *'' Stay Until Tomorrow'' (2004) - Carla *'' Ze ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Hedaya
Daniel G. Dan Hedaya (born July 24, 1940) is an American actor best known for his supporting roles in films such as '' The Hunger'' (1983), '' Blood Simple'' (1984), ''Commando'' (1985), '' The Addams Family'' (1991), ''Benny & Joon'' (1993), '' Clueless'', ''The Usual Suspects'' (both 1995), '' Marvin's Room'' (1996), '' A Civil Action'', ''A Night at the Roxbury'' (both 1998), '' The Hurricane'' (1999), and '' Mulholland Drive'' (2001). Early life Hedaya was born in New York City, to a Sephardic Jewish family from Aleppo, Syria. Hedaya was raised in Bensonhurst. While a student at Tufts University, he began performing at the campus theater. He worked as a junior high school teacher for many years before deciding to pursue acting full-time. He studied acting at HB Studio in New York City. Career Alongside a successful career in the movies, Hedaya has appeared in several TV roles, including Carla Tortelli's ex-husband Nick on the sitcom ''Cheers'' and its short-lived spinoff ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kurtwood Smith
Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American actor. He is known for playing Clarence Boddicker in ''RoboCop'' (1987), Robert Griggs in '' Rambo III'' (1988), and Red Forman in ''That '70s Show'' (1998–2006) and '' That '90s Show'' (2023–2024), as well as for his many appearances in science fiction films and television programs ('' Lou Grant'', ''Star Trek'', ''The X-Files''). He also starred in the seventh season of '' 24''. He voiced Gene on ''Regular Show'' (2012–2017), portrayed Leslie Claret on '' Patriot'' (2015–2018), and Old Man Peterson on '' The Ranch'' (2017–2020). Early life Smith's father, Major George Smith, was killed in action on March 25, 1945, while returning from leading the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron, 313th Troop Carrier Group during Operation Varsity in World War II. Smith would later say of his father "Though I never knew him, I always remember him!" Smith grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from Canoga Park High Scho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Holland Taylor
Holland Taylor (born January 14, 1943) is an American actress. She won the 1999 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Judge Roberta Kittleson on ABC's ''The Practice'' (1998–2003) and she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her role as Evelyn Harper on ''Two and a Half Men'' (2003–15). Taylor's other notable television credits include starring roles on the sitcoms '' Bosom Buddies'' (1980–82), ''The Powers That Be'' (1992–93) and '' The Naked Truth'' (1995–98). She also appeared as Jill Ollinger on the soap opera ''All My Children'' (1981–83), as Peggy Peabody on ''The L Word'' (2004–08), and as Ida Silver on '' Mr. Mercedes'' (2017–19). In 2017 she played Alice Lewis, Letty's jewel thief grandmother, in the TNT series '' Good Behavior''. In 2020, she received critical praise and her eighth Primetime Emmy Award nomination for portraying Ellen Kincaid in the Netflix miniseries '' Hollywood''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck (born Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt; August 12, 1975) is an American actor. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Casey Affleck, various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. The younger brother of actor Ben Affleck, he began his career as a child actor, appearing in the PBS television film ''Lemon Sky'' (1988). He later appeared in three Gus Van Sant films: ''To Die For'' (1995), ''Good Will Hunting'' (1997), ''Gerry (2002 film), Gerry'' (2002), and in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's (film series), ''Ocean''s film series (2001–2007). His first leading role was in Steve Buscemi's independent comedy-drama ''Lonesome Jim'' (2006). Affleck's breakthrough came in 2007, when he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Robert Ford (outlaw), Robert Ford in the Western drama ''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' and sta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wayne Knight
Wayne Elliot Knight (born August 7, 1955) is an American actor. In television, he played recurring roles such as Newman on the NBC sitcom ''Seinfeld'' (1992–1998) and Officer Don Orville on the NBC sitcom ''3rd Rock from the Sun'' (1996–2001). Knight also voiced Igor on '' Toonsylvania'' (1998–1999), Mr. Blik on '' Catscratch'' (2005–2007) and Baron Von Sheldgoose on ''Legend of the Three Caballeros'' (2018). In film, he played Dennis Nedry in ''Jurassic Park'' (1993), which earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. Knight additionally acted in the films '' Dead Again'' (1991), '' JFK'' (1991), '' Basic Instinct'' (1992), '' To Die For'' (1995), '' Space Jam'' (1996), '' For Richer or Poorer'' (1997), and '' Rat Race'' (2001). He provided the voices of Tantor in ''Tarzan'' (1999), Al McWhiggin in ''Toy Story 2'' (1999), and The Elf Elder in '' Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon'' (2014). Early life Wayne Elliot Knight was born on August 7, 195 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Illeana Douglas
Illeana Hesselberg ( ; born July 25, 1961), known professionally as Illeana Douglas, is an American actress and filmmaker. She appeared in three episodes of '' Six Feet Under'', for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and won the Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series award from OFTA, the Online Film & Television Association, and in the TV series '' Action'' opposite Jay Mohr, for which she won a Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. , she can be seen on Turner Classic Movies where she hosts specials focused on unheralded women directors from film history. Early life Douglas was born on July 25, 1961 in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Joan Douglas (née Georgescu), a schoolteacher, and Gregory Hesselberg, a painter. Douglas's father was the son of Hollywood actor Melvyn Douglas and his wife, the artist Rosalind Hightower. Douglas had two older brothers, the late Stefan Gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
