To Die For Psycho

Two killer films from Gus Vant Sant: To Die For, starring Nicole Kidman, and Psycho, the director's daring remake of the Hitchcock's horror classic. A wickedly smart black comedy adapted by Buck Henry from Joyce Mayard's novel, To Die For showcases Nicole Kidman as a suburban TV weathergirl pursuing by any means necessary the American right to be famous. With Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Casey Affleck. (1995; 103 mins.)

Van Sant confounds the notion of "remake" with his version of Hitchcock's Psycho, a shot-by-shot color update of the original with Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortenson, Vince Vaughn, William Macy, and Anne Heche as the showering Marion Crane. (1998; 109 mins.)