19世纪的爱尔兰，英俊健硕的佃户青年约瑟·多尼利（汤姆·克鲁斯 Tom Cruise 饰）遭遇丧父之痛。为给父亲报仇，这个莽撞的青年决心杀死地主丹尼尔·克里斯迪（Robert Prosky 饰）。阴差阳错让他功败垂成，不过却因此邂逅了地主美丽的女儿夏莲（妮可·基德曼 Nicole Kidman 饰）。与保守的父母不同，个性张扬却又娇贵单纯的夏莲一心离开故土，到外面闯荡天地。

专业摄影师米奇丹尼迷上了超级歌星切尔西，但一直希望抓拍她的计划却屡屡遭挫。当他最终夙愿以偿后，却发现那人并非切尔西本人而只是一个与她容貌相似的“替身”。更蹊跷的是，她与切尔西先后遭谋杀，而且自己竟成了头号嫌疑犯。米奇必须与时间赛跑，查清事实真相以示清白…… Paparazzi photographer Mickey Dane is obsessed with elusive pop singer Chelsea, and his attempts to capture her on film often land him in trouble. He jumps at the chance to photograph a Chelsea look alike, but when Chelsea and her double are found murdered, he becomes the main suspect. Discovering a clue in one of his old photographs, Mickey must race against time to prove his innocence and find out what really happened……