Basic Instinct

Home
Smell the Movies
Smell the TV

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Year:	1992
Country of origin:	USA / France
Director:	Paul Verhoeven
Genre:	Sexy thriller, apparently
Starring:	Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone
Rating:	3/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/
Tagline:	A brutal murder. A brilliant killer. A cop who can't resist the danger.
Favourite line:	"She's evil. She's brilliant!"

Every so often something courts controversy for, well, no discernible reason.
This movie is one such example.
At time of release, much fuss was made, not only about the sexual content of the movie but also, perhaps mainly, the fact that the protaganist of violence was bisexual, as if penning such a role is somehow a blanket statement that all bisexuals are serial killing, novel writing femme fatales.
Utter nonsense, I'm sure you'll agree. We all know bisexuals are vegetarian assassins.
So besides the tit count, pussy shot and sexual politicking, is it any good?
Well, not really.

The plot itself involves a gradual obsession building between detective and suspect, and the manipulative games we play between genders, here amplified to the nth degree. Verhoeven handles graphic violence well, as ever, and there is plenty of bloodshed here, with necks attacked with some venom, usually whilst naked but, the odd moment of brutality aside, there is little here to enjoy.

The infamous upskirt shot is worth a look, I guess, assuming you don't have a broadband connection, but is hardly a reason to watch the damn movie in the first place.
Stone is perfectly competent in her role, with Douglas his usual self and, I must confess, I felt compelled to fast forward the scenes with him copulating as it reminded me too much of a frog mating ritual I saw once on Wildlife on One.
The film noir leanings are only slight and, disappointingly, it is crippled somewhat by an absolutely atrocious score by the usually highly reliable Jerry Goldsmith.
Disappintingly average all round.