Does anybody remember the T.V. movie "Murder in New Hampshire"? No? Well it's hardly surprising, considering it was a terribly dull, forgettable show based on a true story of a scheming, manipulative teacher who enticed one of her young students to kill her husband because she didn't like him any more.
With that in mind, it's hard to understand why a director of Gus Van Sant's calibre ("Drugstore Cowboy") would believe there was more to be gained from remaking this film with a slightly different angle, that of black comedy. Unfortunately Van Sant's film is not black, not humorous and not the slightest bit effective.
Nicole Kidman is really the only thesp worth watching, justifying all the rave reviews with probably her best performance to date as the ambitious, deceitful bombshell who wants nothing else but to be a TV. star. And if that means bumping off her strangling husband, then so be it.
In support of Nicole is an impressive cast headed by the hunky Matt Dillon, who plays the victim, a likable Italian guy with a big heart who falls for the gorgeous Sue Stone. Also stars Dan Hedeya, Illeana Douglas, Casey Affleck, Alison Folland and a most impressive Joaquin Phoenix, who gives the flick's other strong turn as the confused, unsure, but totally love struck teen whom Sue bends to her own will with ease.
What a shame the performances from Kidman and Phoenix are the only strong points of the movie. In his attempt to make a hip, observant film from Joyce Chopra's original, bland drama "Murder in New Hampshire", Van Sant has completely missed the mark. Having seen it all before doesn't help, but even if this isn't the case, our director has failed to create humour from any of the situations presented, and the script from Buck Henry hasn't nearly enough to get your teeth into. Kidman does her best in a role that, like an oasis, is surrounded by wide expanses of nothing.
Even the talking to the camera trick has no impact.
Sunday, March 10, 1996 - Knox District Centre
With that in mind, it's hard to understand why a director of Gus Van Sant's calibre ("Drugstore Cowboy") would believe there was more to be gained from remaking this film with a slightly different angle, that of black comedy. Unfortunately Van Sant's film is not black, not humorous and not the slightest bit effective.
Nicole Kidman is really the only thesp worth watching, justifying all the rave reviews with probably her best performance to date as the ambitious, deceitful bombshell who wants nothing else but to be a TV. star. And if that means bumping off her strangling husband, then so be it.
In support of Nicole is an impressive cast headed by the hunky Matt Dillon, who plays the victim, a likable Italian guy with a big heart who falls for the gorgeous Sue Stone. Also stars Dan Hedeya, Illeana Douglas, Casey Affleck, Alison Folland and a most impressive Joaquin Phoenix, who gives the flick's other strong turn as the confused, unsure, but totally love struck teen whom Sue bends to her own will with ease.
What a shame the performances from Kidman and Phoenix are the only strong points of the movie. In his attempt to make a hip, observant film from Joyce Chopra's original, bland drama "Murder in New Hampshire", Van Sant has completely missed the mark. Having seen it all before doesn't help, but even if this isn't the case, our director has failed to create humour from any of the situations presented, and the script from Buck Henry hasn't nearly enough to get your teeth into. Kidman does her best in a role that, like an oasis, is surrounded by wide expanses of nothing.
Even the talking to the camera trick has no impact.
Sunday, March 10, 1996 - Knox District Centre