Basic Instinct (1992)

Basic Instinct: Directed by Paul Verhoeven. With Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn. A violent police detective investigates a brutal murder that might involve a manipulative and seductive novelist.

“Paul Verhoeven is one of my favorite directors. His movies are so damn entertaining. They always, well I should say most of the time, have wit and intelligence [Forget u0026#39;Showgirlsu0026#39; and u0026#39;Hollow Manu0026#39;, any director can make mistakes] and have either graphic sex or violence or both. u0026#39;Basic Instinctu0026#39; is in the latter category. It is so erotic and Stone and Douglas have so much sexual chemistry that when you look at an Adrian Lyne film, you see them for the crap they are.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBasic plotline has Stoneu0026#39;s character, u0026#39;Catherine Tramellu0026#39;, accused of the vicious sex murder of a retired rock and roll star. Douglasu0026#39;s character has a strange attraction to her, which may not lead to good things….. Paul Verhoven has openly admitted that this film is a homage to Alfred Hitchcocku0026#39;s classic masterpiece u0026#39;Vertigou0026#39;. In fact, Stone wears, in sequence, the same wardrobe as Kim Novak did [which makes you wonder, was she wearing panties under her clothes]. That brings us to the interrogation scene, which is the best in the movie. Stone shamelessly flirts with the copsu0026#39; libidos until the buildup of sexual tension is so great, Stone releases it by playing u0026#39;peek-a-boou0026#39; with the space in between her legs. Every male viewer cherishes that scene, simply because it is so sexy. That word can be used throughout the film, as Stone and Douglas do the mattress mumbo. At the time, the sex scenes were so realistic that the press went wild and debated whether or not viewers were witnessing un-simulated sex. The film is still quite sexually daring today and has an intriguing spideru0026#39;s web plot too. The plotu0026#39;s twists and turns manage to make the movie sexier as the viewer wonders whether Sharon is innocent or guilty……….u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe filmu0026#39;s only misstep occurs at the end, with an unsatisfactory ending that makes the whole film seem like some stupid, contrived game. But itu0026#39;s not. It keeps itu0026#39;s fascination and itu0026#39;s sexiness and its suspense right up till the end, which is what a good erotic thriller should. Actually, the ending for some will lead to a lot of discussion if you watch the film with someone, as the film toys with two of the filmu0026#39;s characters innocence or guilt and does not give up all its secrets…..u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film is great Verhoeven. It has his usual, hilarious, seemingly inappropriate kinky humor and extreme sex and violence to match. The fact that Verhoeven is actually able to balance the film and make it funny and sexy is wonderful film-making. Well, have I said u0026#39;sexyu0026#39; enough times? Then go rent it………8/10u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP.S. If you like this one, check out Verhoevensu0026#39; Dutch film u0026#39;u0026#39;The Fourth Manu0026#39;u0026#39;. It has a similar plot and even a similar character that resembles Catherine Tramell. If the ending of u0026#39;Basic Instinctu0026#39; leaves you wanting, check that film out. It is even better than u0026#39;Basicu0026#39; and is more u0026#39;artyu0026#39;. It is also a little bit more daring erotically.”