Basic Instinct (1992)

Basic Instinct is a classic whodunit story. What makes it different, however, from most everything else we've seen produced by Hollywood is the brash use of sex. Relying on the acting talents of two top-notch actors Paul Verhoeven has added plenty of depth to a script that filmed in any other way but the one seen here would have amounted to a serious disappointment. Fortunately, the dark and stylish execution is more than enough to turn the viewer's attention away from a few rather noticeably plot-holes.

The lingo, colorful and deemed inappropriate for mainstream TV, is on par with the film's edgy style. The main protagonists converse in a manner that very much mirrors their twisted actions. Not surprisingly, when Sharon Stone begins to toy with Michael Douglas her words throw the audience in a sea of doubt and uncertainty. Instead of learning more about Catherine the more she speaks the less the audience feels comfortable predicting her next move. Thus, Basic Instinct evolves into a guessing enigma that literally remains unsolved until the very last scene.

Despite of its explicit tone, however, Basic Instinct never ever once feels vile or insulting. Which was precisely what a number of moralistic watchdogs and outspoken feminist leaders attempted to prove some years ago. The passionate debates the film spurred where leading critics also attacked its portrayal of homosexuals as yet another example that Hollywood is nothing but a biased profiler are so off the mark that all one needs to do is look where contemporary cinema has gone to realize how ludicrous these calls were. Suffice to say, I cannot name a single similarly themed, yet "politically correct", picture that has generated the same kind of admiration from film buffs after Basic Instinct premiered.

I would also like to spare a few words for the skeptics out there who have questioned the film's plot and its ability to overcome a few obvious weaknesses. Yes, with current advancements in forensic studies the mystery behind Basic Instinct would have been solved rather quickly. It is difficult to argue otherwise. What I wish to clarify, however, is that Basic Instinct isn't a mystery story only. It is also a character study which more or less draws heavy inspiration from classic noir cinema where logic isn't necessarily used as a foundation for a successful, and in this case wickedly entertaining, story.

Technically, Basic Instinct shines with a strong and eye-popping cinematography where beautiful vistas from San Francisco are coupled with subdued intimate scenes feeding the story's sense of suspense. Indeed, Jan de Bont's contribution here is integral to the manner in which the story resonates with the audience. Furthermore, the film's construction, a carefully designed mosaic of misleading bits of "evidence", is equally rewarding as it sustains the guessing mode introduced in the opening scenes until the very end. Finally, the soundtrack by Hollywood legend Jerry Goldsmith adds a nice touch to an already exquisitely stylish picture.