peeker
TracyTO DIE FOR: REVIEW
June 26th 2007 20:02
Look! It's Super-Intelligent Nicole!
I’m not a Nicole Kid(ding Me)man fan.
But when she plays a ditzy bimbo? Then I’m interested. I like typecasting?
One of the things that turns me off about her is all this bullshit media talk about how super-intelligent she is.
When I weigh that up against her partner choices in life, it doesn’t compute.
She’s so super-intelligent she married Tom Cruise? And when that didn’t work out, she married a druggie muso? Oh yeah, you’re just so super intelligent, Nicole. You’ve got your emotional shit together big time, also?
Anyway, I like her ‘performance’ in this film, not just because she was playing her real self without having to act, but because it’s a great film by Gus Van Sant.
It tackles the whole issue of modern people’s obsession with the media, fame and celebrity status.
One of itzy-bitzy ditzy Nicole’s lines that sticks most in my mind? “You’re no-one unless you’re on television.” Yep, that’s our Nicole.
What is this film about? Without telling you about the ending. Well, I can’t tell you what this film is about without giving the ending away. It ends like this.
Just joking – it’s one of my pet hates in life. People telling you how a film ends as a way of getting you to watch it?
It’s a film about what lengths people will go to in order to become a TV celebrity.
It’s a cinematic dramatisation of the song, ‘I’ve sucked a lot of cocks to get where I am.’
Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is so good in this film it always make me think of the Tism song, ‘I’m on the drug that killed River Phoenix.’
Matt Dillon also gives a good performance playing himself. Just one more super-intelligent performance.
It appears that most actors, according to the media, are really super intelligent, but I guess we need them. Who else would act? A dumb person?
This is a super-intelligent film by a super-intelligent film-maker who used super-dumb actors because for all of their super-dumbness, they make the best actors.
Nicole Kidman is a super-intelligent superstar who could have been a supermodel if she wasn't already. Gus van Sant is a director.
This film is study material.
But most super-intelligent movie-goers, and students of film will come away going, ‘I wish I was on TV. I wish I was Nicole.’
Sensible people go ice-skating during the final credits.
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
....and who says she is super intelligent?
This film irritated me...but it was a good movie. I just think that the Stone character is very much like Kidman's
foreheadpersonality.Um...that song?...is it by Machine Gun Fellatio...?...!
I feel that actors have to fundamentally insecure...or 'empty' of self...in order to be actors.
How else can they 'shed' their own personalities to adapt to and adopt a totally different persona (mannerisms, gestures, accents, tones, opinions, etc)?
A bit like certain bloggers....
Comment by David
Mind Orgasms
I just go Googling for pics on Google's Image Search until I see a pic I like. (Then I write an email to the copyright owner, wait a year for permission to use the pic, write back to thank them, etc
The CEO of Scientology denies he ever called her super-intelligent.
This is one of those films I didn't particularly like on first watch (due to the You're Kidding Me Man factor), but loved on second, third, etc watches, because of the script. I love the ending.
It's a bit like 15 Minutes, in that it tackles contemporary issues like the desire to achieve celebrity status.
I've got no idea who wrote/performed that song. I'd have to ask LustBunny.
How else can they 'shed' their own personalities to adapt to and adopt a totally different persona (mannerisms, gestures, accents, tones, opinions, etc)?
A bit like certain bloggers....
Hahahaha!
David ...
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
On that grounds I will doubt his integrity but not his statement.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I love Nicole, but only because I want to sleep with her....Just cant take it out of people Id like to know if you know what I mean....
And I loved this movie. Im a sucker for dark films, and this was dark, full of muder and mayhem, all good fun!
Comment by David
Mind Orgasms
You nutcase.
In my ignorance, I don't know what XENU is. It's not that film Olivia Newton-John was in, is it?
David ...
Comment by David
Mind Orgasms
I didn't say I wouldn't sleep with her (and enjoy it). I just said I don't like her. Hell, I don't even know the real names of the prostitutes from the Escort Agency.
David ...
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Xenudo....Xenudo..
I write a post about him soon
Try this:
http://xenu.net/
More fun than the Nazis
Comment by David
Mind Orgasms
I'll look forward to the post.
And I'll wear my lycra to read it.
David ...
Comment by KylieW
Record Reviews
Celebrity Obsession
It's partly because I truly dislike Nicole. But I was sure that this was the movie that I was finally going to like her in. But it wasn't just that. I can't watch anything where people are so easily manipulated into doing dumb things (like Joaquin's character). I know it happens in real life (there's plenty of dumbasses out there). But I can't watch it on screen....just makes me angry.
Comment by David
Mind Orgasms
That's fair enough. There's certain films I can't watch due to the personal distaste 'cringe factor'.
The fact that Nicole was the 'star' in it almost put me off watching it, but the storyline, and the fact that is was a Gus van Sant movie appealed to me so much, I watched it.
To me, it's a cleverly constructed and executed film. It's the thinking mans film for men who would sleep with Nicole in their dumb moments.
Why do I have my hand raised?
David ...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
To Die For is the only film with Nicole Kidman in it that I rank, mainly because her callous and shallow character is exactly how I imagine her in real life.
Gus van Sant's sense of humour is so sardonic and this film leaves me laughing out loud at the hollow cultural rituals it exposes.
.
Comment by David
Mind Orgasms
I'm glad you've like a few of my 'reviews'. I enjoy discussing films, and have enjoyed this stint on Peeker's Blog, but have no ambitions to be a film reviewer.
I think this film is a bit underrated. If I can get over my distaste for Nicole Kidman, there has to be something to the film to make me like it so much.
I think you nailed it on the head. It's Van Sant the film-maker:
I rarely watch a film purely for recreational purposes. Stuff, my whole life is one big holiday. Why would I? I just prefer films that make me think a bit. Good luck to the people who enjoy mindless films. I just can't get into them. Good luck to people who have jobs?
David ...