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Basic Instinct (1992)

Director: Paul Verhoeven

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1 review

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Nick Curran (Douglas) is a cop on the edge. Investigated for an over-zealous approach to his work, saddled with a drink and relationships problem, he becomes slowly embroiled with the case, then with the suspect, when a former rock star is found murdered at the climax of some bondage-style sex. Catherine Tramell (Stone), an ultra-clever, ultra-rich author and bisexual free spirit, is at the core of all the basic instinct paraded in the film. One scene in which she teases and bosses a roomful of hard law enforcement men is probably the best illustration of post-feminism in action that Hollywood has offered. Yet the film's depiction of not one but several bisexual women with murky, murderous pasts has angered activists, and does illustrate that sensitivity is not always the strong suit of Verhoeven or scriptwriter Joe Eszterhas. But if you like things unrestrained, hard, adult and off-the-rails, then Douglas and Stone are superb, and George Dzundza (as sidekick Gus) delivers another classic hard-boiled cameo.

Author: SGr 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


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User reviews of this film

  • Thomas Noctor said...
    Posted on Sep 05 2009 13:31 Average movie. No need for a 'cop' to rape his Shrink though. Bit of a bore. Avoid unless your a perv!
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