Basic Instinct (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
In the mood for a raw, pulpy, sexy, twisted, 'so bad it's good' movie? Check out Paul Verhoeven's 'Basic Instinct'. Recently clean (off drugs & alcohol) San Francisco Police Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) & his partner, Gus (George Dzundza), have been called-in to investigate the brutal, ritualistic murder of has-been rock star, Johnny Boz. They arrive at the scene of the crime with said rock star bound to his bed, naked, covered in cocaine, covered in his own semen, & covered with blood, thanks to tens of stab wounds - left by an ice pick. The prime suspect is the rock star's favorite sex partner, crime novelist Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone). Tramell was seen with the victim on the night of his death, & the method of killing mimics a death in one of her murder novels.
For Nick, who is under investigation by Internal Affairs for the accidental shooting of 2 tourists, Catherine is viewed as a clever, beautiful, dangerous, & seductive object of sexual luring. She's a drug to him. He can't stay away. He believes she killed the rock star (!), but he's addicted to her, nevertheless. Even the warnings of his former lover & police psychologist, Dr. Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn), can't deter him. And she may have a secret or two up her own sleeve; with regards to this murder case. All the while, Catherine maintains innocence. But IS she the killer? Will Nick's basic sexual instinct override his investigatory instincts? Wild sex, cheap melodrama, & grisly murder ensue. Yay!
Erotic & exploitative. If ever a movie were both simultaneously, it would be this movie. 'Basic Instinct' is fast-paced (to distract us from thinking too hard about how silly it all is), bloody, sexy, & endlessly watchable. Some critics have even gone on to say that 'Basic Instinct' is little more than soft-core porn with esteemed actors & an esteemed director; writers, filmmakers, musicians, etc.. I have to give this film more credit than that; though, it's funny how close to those critiques this movie are {haha}! This movie is stylish, dark, & hypnotic. The 'sex' scenes (one can't call them 'love') are as visceral as they come. Steamy & vulgar. And there's one memorable (iconic, even) scene near the beginning when Catherine is being interrogated by a room of male cops/detectives. Sharon Stone's Catherine crosses her legs suggestively, giving us a glimpse of the fact that she's wearing no panties.
Speaking of Stone, she's an enigma, here -- scary, yet gorgeous beyond belief. And the sly, slinky, mischievous way she delivers her lines of dialogue are absolutely stupendous. Stone is a strong woman putting in a strong performance. Michael Douglas is great as the too-confident maverick cop, Nick. He thinks he's SO cool with all his alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sexual prowess, & women ... but he's really behind the 8-ball many a time; and made to be a fool more often than not. Another aspect of the film I enjoy is the somewhat ambiguous ending. Is Catherine guilty, or framed for murder? I think I know, but an answer is not definite. Overall, I just really enjoyed the film noir aspect, some cheeky performances, & cheap thrills. And I liked it's blending of sex, violence, & psychology.
For Nick, who is under investigation by Internal Affairs for the accidental shooting of 2 tourists, Catherine is viewed as a clever, beautiful, dangerous, & seductive object of sexual luring. She's a drug to him. He can't stay away. He believes she killed the rock star (!), but he's addicted to her, nevertheless. Even the warnings of his former lover & police psychologist, Dr. Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn), can't deter him. And she may have a secret or two up her own sleeve; with regards to this murder case. All the while, Catherine maintains innocence. But IS she the killer? Will Nick's basic sexual instinct override his investigatory instincts? Wild sex, cheap melodrama, & grisly murder ensue. Yay!
Erotic & exploitative. If ever a movie were both simultaneously, it would be this movie. 'Basic Instinct' is fast-paced (to distract us from thinking too hard about how silly it all is), bloody, sexy, & endlessly watchable. Some critics have even gone on to say that 'Basic Instinct' is little more than soft-core porn with esteemed actors & an esteemed director; writers, filmmakers, musicians, etc.. I have to give this film more credit than that; though, it's funny how close to those critiques this movie are {haha}! This movie is stylish, dark, & hypnotic. The 'sex' scenes (one can't call them 'love') are as visceral as they come. Steamy & vulgar. And there's one memorable (iconic, even) scene near the beginning when Catherine is being interrogated by a room of male cops/detectives. Sharon Stone's Catherine crosses her legs suggestively, giving us a glimpse of the fact that she's wearing no panties.
Speaking of Stone, she's an enigma, here -- scary, yet gorgeous beyond belief. And the sly, slinky, mischievous way she delivers her lines of dialogue are absolutely stupendous. Stone is a strong woman putting in a strong performance. Michael Douglas is great as the too-confident maverick cop, Nick. He thinks he's SO cool with all his alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sexual prowess, & women ... but he's really behind the 8-ball many a time; and made to be a fool more often than not. Another aspect of the film I enjoy is the somewhat ambiguous ending. Is Catherine guilty, or framed for murder? I think I know, but an answer is not definite. Overall, I just really enjoyed the film noir aspect, some cheeky performances, & cheap thrills. And I liked it's blending of sex, violence, & psychology.