Original_To:  CINEMA-L
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cinema-l
Date:         Wed, 15 Apr 1992 11:06:00 EST
From:         "David M Stein, D.I." <STEIN@LTUVAX.BITNET>
Subject:      REVIEW: Basic Instinct

BASIC INSTICT
or
"Who was that Ice Pick I saw you with last night?"

BASIC INSTINCT is a story of boy meets girl, girl meets girl, girl meets boy
who met girl, girl meets boy who met girl who met girl... and on and on and on.

Michael Douglas plays Nick, a police detective (in San Fransisco) with an
addictive personality who has not had a great life so far.  He's just out of
rehab for Coke and booze addictitions, he's been clear but is still being
watched after a teensy-weensy little problem.. something about gunning down two
tourist accidentally during a shootout.  He is called in on a case where a
famous old rock star/club owner has been tied to bed, had an apparitly lively
night with a young lady, who proceded to run him through with an icepick 30 or
40 times... right at the moment of mutual pleasure..

The investigation leads to Sharon Stone's character, Catherine who is an
independently weathly woman, who has degrees in Litreture and Psychology and is
currently a best selling author of grusome murder novel.  Her latest being
about an authoress who murders her boy friend.. an old rock star/club owner who
was killed tied to a.. I think you can see the pattern forming here.  The
police head shrink, Douglas' ex-bedmate says that this is the perfect aliby..
no one would honestly believe someone would write a book with a detailed murder
in it then actually turn around and commit the murder as described.. it's take
an utter wacko to do it  (Ah ha.. )

Well, Catherine loves to play mind games, and get deep in to the brain of Nick
who, in turn, wants to get deep into her (but not her brain).  Luckily they
each get what they want.. much to the chigrin of her live in ladyfriend, Roxy.

More murders.. more sex follow.  Suspects abound

Well, enough plot.

PLOT: Part of the problem of this film is that their is too much plot.  It
folds against itself (and so the characters.. repeatedly) at every turn.  At
one point I think you can honestly think that each and every person in the
story is the murderer.. or they all are.. or no one is.  A more convuluted plot
I have not seen in a long time.

ACTING: Sharon Stone is excellent as Catherine.  She plays her emotions across
her face for all to read.. I've come to enjoy all her work

Michael Douglas could have phoned his performance in.  A capable job, but no
great sweat for him.

The police HeadShrink (I'm sorry, the actress' name illudes me) is very good.
She's a relative newcomer and I'm looking forward to seeing her in the future
(Besides, *SEXEST REMARK TO FOLLOW* she has the most kissable looking lips I've
ever seen)

As far as a mystery goes, it turns just few too many times to really be
followable.. to many rabbit-out-of-the-hats for my taste.  Each new clue is
more unbelievable than the last.

I will warn those of weak hearts and straight laced morals that this is a VERY
sexual movie.  Every line just drips with sex.  The sex is used very
affectively, though.  Everybody in the group I saw it with found that they had
one or more of their "buttons" pushed by the various scenes.  There are scenes
of "violent, slam into the wall" style sex.  Some truely affectionate (and some
hot) scenes between Catherine and Roxy and some melt the screen scenes between
Nick and Catherine.

There are Two VERY VERY bloody ice pick murder scenes.. faint hearts, please
look at the floor.

I can see why the lesbian groups were a little perturbed at the film.  Without
giving away too much, let me say that there are lesbian characters who are
portrayed to be looney-toons, which does get a little grating.  It would have
been nice to put a positive image gay female character in the film to "take the
curse off of it".

All in all, it was an okay murder mystery.  If you are a fan of twisted plots,
this ones for you.  If you want to see some Jim-Dandy Heavy "R" sex scenes,
this ones for you.

Dave
Stein
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU