Basic Instinct

Basic Instinct

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Produced by Alan Marshall
Written by Joe Eszterhas
Starring
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography Jan de Bont
Edited by Frank J. Urioste
Production
company
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date
  • March 20, 1992 (1992-03-20) (US)
  • May 8, 1992 (1992-05-08) (UK)
Running time
 128 minutes[1]
Country
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France
Language English
Budget $49 million
Box office $352.9 million[2]

Basic Instinct is a 1992 neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, and starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The film follows a police detective, Nick Curran (Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. During the investigation Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the prime suspect, Catherine Tramell (Stone), an enigmatic writer.

Even before its release, Basic Instinct generated heated controversy due to its overt sexuality and graphic depiction of violence. It was strongly opposed by gay rights activists, who criticized the film's depiction of homosexual relationships and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous narcissistic psychopath.[3][4] In a 2006 interview, Stone alleged that the infamous leg-crossing scene in which her vulva was exposed was filmed without her knowledge.[5]

Despite initial critical negativity and public protest, Basic Instinct became one of the most financially successful films of the 1990s, grossing $352 million worldwide.[6] Several versions of the film have been released on videocassette, DVD, and Blu-ray including a director's cut with extended footage previously unseen in North American cinemas. The film has contemporarily been recognized for its groundbreaking depictions of sexuality in mainstream Hollywood cinema, and has been referred to by scholars as "a neo-noir masterpiece that plays with, and transgresses, the narrative rules of film noir."[7] A 2006 sequel, Basic Instinct 2 starring Stone was made without Verhoeven's involvement, but received negative reviews from critics and was unsuccessful at the box office.[8][9]

Plot

A retired rock star, Johnny Boz, is tied to his bed with a white silk scarf and stabbed to death with an ice pick during sex by a mysterious blonde woman at his apartment. Homicide detective Nick Curran investigates, and the only suspect is Catherine Tramell, Boz's bisexual girlfriend and a crime novelist who has written a novel that mirrors the crime. It is concluded that either Catherine herself did it or someone is trying to frame her out of spite. Tramell is uncooperative and taunting in the investigation, smoking in the interrogation room and exposing her bare genitalia in front of the officers. She presents alibis and passes a lie detector test. Nick discovers that Catherine has a habit of befriending murderers, including her girlfriend Roxy, who is later shown to have murdered several young boys on impulse, and Hazel Dobkins, who murdered her family.

Nick, who accidentally shot two tourists while high on cocaine, attends counseling sessions with police psychologist Dr. Beth Garner, with whom he has had a sexual affair. Nick discovers that Catherine plans on using him as a fictional detective in her latest book, wherein his character is murdered after falling for the wrong woman. Catherine becomes aware of Nick's past after paying Lt. Nielsen to look into Nick's psychiatric file; Beth gives it to him after Nielsen recommends Nick's termination. Nick publicly assaults Nielsen in his office and later becomes a prime suspect after Nielsen is killed. Nick suspects Catherine, and when he joins in her behavior in front of his co-workers, he is put on leave.

A torrid affair between Nick and Catherine begins with the air of a cat-and-mouse game. Nick shows up at a club and witnesses her sniffing coke in a bathroom stall along with Roxy and another man. Nick and Catherine begin to dance and make out at a club. Later, observed by Roxy, they have sex. Catherine ties Nick to her bed with a white silk scarf and begins riding on him the same way she did with Boz, but doesn't kill him. Roxy, jealous of Nick, attempts to run him over with Catherine's car, but dies in a crash when the car goes off the edge of the road. Catherine is saddened by Roxy's death and reveals to Nick that a previous lesbian encounter at college went awry when the girl, Lisa Hoberman, became obsessed with her, causing him to believe that she may not have killed Boz. Nick identifies the girl as Beth Garner, who acknowledges the encounter, but claims Catherine was the one who became obsessed.

Nick discovers the final pages of Catherine's new book in which the fictional detective finds his partner lying dead with his legs protruding between the doors of an elevator. Catherine breaks off their affair; Nick becomes upset and suspicious. Nick later meets his partner Gus, who has arranged to meet with Catherine's college roommate at an office building to find out what really went on between Catherine and Beth. As Nick waits in the car, Gus is stabbed to death with an ice pick. Nick runs into the building, only to find Gus' legs protruding from the doors of the elevator. Beth, standing in the hallway, explains that she received a message to meet Gus. Nick suspects she murdered Gus and when he believes she is reaching for a gun, he shoots her only to find that Beth was only fingering an ornament on her key chain.

A search of the scene and Beth's apartment turns up the evidence needed to identify her as the killer. Despite knowing Catherine's apparent foreknowledge of Gus' death, that she must actually have been the killer, and that she must have set up Beth, Nick tells no one. He returns to his apartment where Catherine meets him. She explains her reluctance to commit to him and the two have sex. As they discuss their future, an ice pick is revealed to be under the bed.

Cast

Production

The screenplay, written in the 1980s, was popular enough to prompt a bidding war; it was eventually purchased by Carolco Pictures, for a reported US$3 million.[10][11] Eszterhas wrote the film in 13 days,[12] and had been the creative source for several other blockbusters, including Flashdance (1983) and Jagged Edge (1985). Gary Goldman was sequently hired to do a minor re-write on the script.[13]

Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Robert De Niro, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Christopher Lloyd, Jack Nicholson, Charlie Sheen, Richard Gere, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Denzel Washington, and Kevin Costner were considered for the role of Nick Curran. In preparation for the car chase scene, Douglas reportedly drove up the steps on Kearny Street in San Francisco for four nights by himself. Douglas recommended Kim Basinger for the role of Catherine Tramell, but Basinger declined.[14] He had also proposed Julia Roberts,[15] Greta Scacchi[16] and Meg Ryan,[17] but they also turned down the role, as did Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, Ellen Barkin, and Mariel Hemingway.[10] Verhoeven considered Demi Moore.[18] Stone, who was eventually selected for the role, was a relative unknown until the success of this movie; she was paid a minimal amount of $500,000, considering the film's extensive production budget.

Filming in San Francisco was attended by gay and lesbian rights activists and demonstrators,[19] and San Francisco Police Department riot police were present at every location daily to deal with the crowds.

The scene where Douglas has sex with Tripplehorn was filmed unbeknownst to the actors, who were simply rehearsing the scene. Things heated up quickly, as evidenced by the footage in the final film, and Verhoeven liked the performances so much that he included it in the final film. Verhoeven initially fought during the production for a lesbian love scene to be added to the script over the objection of Eszterhas, who thought such a scene would be gratuitous. Verhoeven eventually agreed with Eszterhas and apologized to him for forcing the issue. Following the success of Basic Instinct, Eszterhas and Verhoeven went on to collaborate on Showgirls.

Stone alleged that the infamous leg-crossing scene in which her vulva was exposed was filmed without her knowledge; Stone had been wearing thin underwear for the scene which Verhoeven said reflected light on the camera lens; and it was not until Stone saw the film in a screening room with a test audience that she became aware of it, leading her to slap Verhoeven in the face and leave the screening.[5] However Verhoeven strongly denied her claim, and said she was fully aware in advance that her vulva would be filmed.[20]

Soundtrack

Basic Instinct (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Jerry Goldsmith
Released March 17, 1992
Genre Soundtrack
Length 57:12
Label Varese Sarabande
Producer Jerry Goldsmith
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Filmtracks link

The film score to Basic Instinct was composed by Jerry Goldsmith. The score to Basic Instinct garnered Goldsmith nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.[21] Goldsmith described it as one of his most challenging efforts, later stating, "Basic Instinct was probably the most difficult I've ever done. It's a very convoluted story with very unorthodox characters. It's a murder mystery, but it isn't really a murder mystery. The director, Paul Verhoeven, had a very clear idea of how the woman should be, and I had a hard time getting it. Because of Paul pushing me, I think it's one of the best scores I've ever written. It was a true collaboration."[22]

Apart from the score, professionally released music did not play a major part in the film. The scene in which source music plays a prominent role occurs during the club scene; Curran, Tramell, and Roxy are seen at Downtown San Francisco. It features "Blue" by Chicago house music performer LaTour and "Rave the Rhythm" by the group Channel X. It also features "Movin' on Up" by Jeff Barry and Janet DuBois.

The soundtrack was released on March 17, 1992. A considerably expanded release of Jerry Goldsmith's score, featuring previously omitted sections and alternative compositions of certain elements, was issued by Prometheus Records in 2004.

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

  1. "Main Title (Theme from Basic Instinct)" – 2:13
  2. "Crossed Legs" – 4:49
  3. "Night Life" – 6:03
  4. "Kitchen Help" – 3:58
  5. "Pillow Talk" – 4:59
  6. "Morning After" – 2:29
  7. "The Games Are Over" – 5:53
  8. "Catherine's Sorrow" – 2:41
  9. "Roxy Loses" – 3:37
  10. "An Unending Story" – 7:56

The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

  1. "Main Title" – 2:13
  2. "First Victim" – 1:39
  3. "Catherine & Roxy" – 5:14
  4. "Shadows" – 0:41
  5. "Profile" – 0:49
  6. "Don't Smoke" – 2:26
  7. "Crossed Legs" – 4:49
  8. "Beth & Nick" – 2:21
  9. "Night Life" – 6:03
  10. "Home Visit" – 1:13
  11. "Your Wife Knew" – 1:44
  12. "Untitled" – 0:52
  13. "That's Real Music" – 0:27
  14. "One Shot" – 1:27
  15. "Kitchen Help" – 3:58
  16. "Pillow Talk" – 4:59
  17. "Morning After" – 2:29
  18. "Roxy Loses" – 3:37
  19. "Catherine's Sorrow" – 2:41
  20. "Wrong Name" – 2:22
  21. "She's Really Sick" – 1:31
  22. "It Won't Sell" – 1:02
  23. "Games Are Over" – 5:53
  24. "Evidence" – 1:39
  25. "Unending Story / End Credits" – 9:23
  26. "First Victim" (alternate version) – 1:34

Distribution

Director, producer and stars Sharon Stone, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Michael Douglas at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.

The film was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.[23]

MPAA rating

Basic Instinct is rated R for "strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language". It was initially given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA, but under pressure from TriStar, Verhoeven cut 35–40 seconds to gain an R rating.[10] Verhoeven described the changes in a March 1992 article in The New York Times:

Actually, I didn't have to cut many things, but I replaced things from different angles, made it a little more elliptical, a bit less direct.[10]

The film was subsequently re-released in its uncut format on video and later on DVD.

Home media

Following the theatrical version, the film was first released in its uncut format in an unrated version onto video in 1992, running at 129 minutes. This was followed by a DVD release in 1997, in a "barebones" format that contained the R-rated version. A Collector's Edition was released on DVD in 2001, containing the uncut version of the film with a commentary by Camille Paglia and a small ice-pick (the villain's weapon of choice). This version of the film, running 127 minutes, was re-released twice: in 2003 and 2006.

In March 2006, the unrated version (also known as the Director's Cut) was re-released on DVD and labeled as the Ultimate Edition. In 2007, the film was released on Blu-ray with the Director's Cut label.

The film was cut by 35–40 seconds to avoid an NC-17 rating on its theatrical release in 1992,[10] with some violence and sexuality explicit content removed. The missing or censored material (later released on video and DVD unrated as the director's cut) included:

Reception

Box office

Basic Instinct opened in theaters in the United States and was one of the highest-grossing films of 1992, after its March 29 release. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $15 million. It was the fourth highest-grossing film of 1992, grossing $352,927,224 worldwide.[24]

Critical response

The film's critical reaction was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a score of 54% based on 59 reviews with the consensus: "Unevenly echoing the work of Alfred Hitchcock, Basic Instinct contains a star-making performance from Sharon Stone, but is ultimately undone by its problematic, overly lurid plot."[25] On Metacritic the film holds a score of 41 based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[26]

Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised the film, saying "Basic Instinct transfers Mr. Verhoeven's flair for action-oriented material to the realm of Hitchcockian intrigue, and the results are viscerally effective even when they don't make sense."[27] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone also praised the film, saying it was a guilty pleasure film; he also expressed admiration for Verhoeven's direction, saying "[his] cinematic wet dream delivers the goods, especially when Sharon Stone struts on with enough come-on carnality to singe the screen," and praised Stone's performance: "Stone, a former model, is a knockout; she even got a rise out of Ah-nold in Verhoeven's Total Recall. But being the bright spot in too many dull movies (He Said, She Said; Irreconcilable Differences) stalled her career. Though Basic Instinct establishes Stone as a bombshell for the Nineties, it also shows she can nail a laugh or shade an emotion with equal aplomb."[28]

The international critical reception was favorable, with Australian critic Shannon J. Harvey of the Sunday Times calling it one of the "1990s['] finest productions, doing more for female empowerment than any feminist rally. Stone – in her star-making performance – is as hot and sexy as she is ice-pick cold."[29]

The film was not without its detractors.[30] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times dismissed the film, giving it two out of four stars, stating that the film is well crafted, yet dies down in the last half hour: "The film is like a crossword puzzle. It keeps your interest until you solve it. Then it's just a worthless scrap with the spaces filled in."[31] Dave Kehr of the Chicago Tribune also gave a negative review, calling it psychologically empty: "Verhoeven does not explore the dark side, but merely exploits it, and that makes all the difference in the world." [32]

Accolades

Award Category Subject Result
Academy Awards Best Film Editing Frank J. Urioste Nominated
Best Original Score Jerry Goldsmith Nominated
BMI Film & TV Award Best Music Won
Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Paul Verhoeven Nominated
CFCA Award Best Actress Sharon Stone Nominated
DVD Exclusive Award Best Original Retrospective Documentary Jeffrey Schwarz Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Sharon Stone Nominated
Best Original Score Jerry Goldsmith Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actor Michael Douglas Nominated
Worst Supporting Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn Nominated
Worst New Star Sharon Stone Nominated
Japan Academy Prize Best Foreign Film Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Movie Nominated
Best Male Performance Michael Douglas Nominated
Best On-Screen Duo Nominated
Sharon Stone Nominated
Best Female Performance Won
Most Desirable Female Won
Best Villain Nominated
Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Foreign Film Won

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

Controversy

The film generated controversy due to its overt sexuality and graphic depiction of violence. During principal photography, the film was protested against by gay rights activists who felt that the film followed a pattern of negative depiction of homosexuals in film.[36] Members of the lesbian and bisexual activist group LABIA protested against the film on its opening night. Others also picketed theatres to dissuade people from attending screenings, carrying signs saying "Kiss My Ice Pick", "Hollywood Promotes Anti-Gay Violence" and "Catherine Did It!"/"Save Your Money—The Bisexual Did It".[37] Verhoeven himself defended the groups' right to protest, however he criticized the disruptions they caused, saying "Fascism is not in raising your voice; the fascism is in not accepting the no."[38]

Film critic Roger Ebert mentioned the controversy in his review, saying "As for the allegedly offensive homosexual characters: The movie's protesters might take note of the fact that this film's heterosexuals, starting with Douglas, are equally offensive. Still, there is a point to be made about Hollywood's unremitting insistence on typecasting homosexuals—particularly lesbians—as twisted and evil."[39] Camille Paglia denounced gay activist and feminist protests against Basic Instinct, and called Sharon Stone's performance "one of the great performances by a woman in screen history", praising her character as "a great vamp figure, like Mona Lisa herself, like a pagan goddess".[40]

The film was also widely criticized for glamorizing cigarette smoking. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas was later diagnosed with throat cancer and publicly apologized for glamorizing smoking in his films.[41]

The film was parodied in 1999 in DreamWorks Animation and Pacific Data Images's animated short film Basic Insect as part of the Antz franchise. Directed by Marty Sixkiller, and set to the music from the film, Basic Instinct, the short film stars the likes of Princess Bala (voiced by Sharon Stone), and the Foreman (voiced by Grant Shaud), as they both burlesque the roles of the characters in the Basic Instinct film.[42]

References

  1. ↑ "BASIC INSTINCT (18)". British Board of Film Classification. 1992-03-18. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  2. ↑ Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Leistedt, Samuel J.; Linkowski, Paul (January 2014). "Psychopathy and the Cinema: Fact or Fiction?". Journal of Forensic Sciences. American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 59 (1): 167–174. PMID 24329037. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12359. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Dr. Fredricks Cinema Therapy Blog - Narcissistic personality disorder". Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  5. 1 2 "A Conversation with Sharon Stone" from the Basic Instinct: Ultimate Edition DVD (Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2006).
  6. ↑ Basic Instinct at Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  7. ↑ Murray, Terri (2008). Feminist Film Studies: A Teacher's Guide. Auteur.
  8. ↑ "Moviefone Top 25 Box Office Bombs of All Time". Moviefone.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  9. ↑ Rotten Tomatoes: 2009 Worst of the Worst Archived March 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Weinraub, Bernard (March 15, 1992). "'Basic Instinct': The Suspect Is Attractive, and May Be Fatal". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-09. But the sexual content of the film helped determine the choice of its female star. Ms. Stone, who played Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife in 'Total Recall', was cast in 'Basic Instinct' only after better-known actresses like Michelle Pfeiffer, Kim Basinger, Geena Davis, Ellen Barkin and Mariel Hemingway rejected her part, largely because it demanded so much nudity and sexual simulation.
  11. ↑ Basic Instinct at UK Critic. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Joe Eszterhas’ 10 Golden Rules of Screenwriting" at Moviemaker . Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ http://2010philipkdickfans.philipkdickfans.com/interviews/goldman.htm
  14. ↑ "Blogs - Basic Instinct - AMC". Blogs.amctv.com. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  15. ↑ Warren, Jane (March 29, 2011). "Michael Douglas's real basic instinct". Daily Express. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  16. ↑ Greta Scacchi, a BBC Drama Faces article
  17. ↑ Meg Ryan: In The Cut (Interviewed by Stephen Applebaum), an October 2003 BBC article
  18. ↑ Bryce Hallett (10 February 2001). "Her world's a stage". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
  19. ↑ Basic Instinct (Making of, The). 20th Century Fox. 2001.
  20. ↑ http://pagesix.com/2000/08/20/instinct-tells-him-no/
  21. ↑ Basic Instinct soundtrack review at Filmtracks.com
  22. ↑ Velez, Andy. "Evening the Score" Jerry Goldsmith interview. Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  23. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Basic Instinct". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  24. ↑ "1992 Worldwide Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  27. ↑ Maslin, Janet. Basic Instinct. New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  28. ↑ Travers, Peter. Basic Instinct. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  29. ↑ Basic Instinct at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  30. ↑ Lundin, Leigh (2010-07-25). "Erotic Mystery Thrillers". sex-n-violence. Criminal Brief.
  31. ↑ Reviews :: Basic Instinct from Roger Ebert's website
  32. ↑ Kehr, Dave. "Blatant 'Instinct' – Thriller Crosses The Line Into Exploitation." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  33. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  34. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  35. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  36. ↑ Los Angeles Times, April 29, 1991: Gays Bashing Basic Instinct Archived July 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.. See also Phyllis Burke, Family Values: Two Moms and Their Son. New York: Random House (1993), which covers the protests over several chapters.
  37. ↑ Couvares, Francis G. (2006). Movie Censorship and American Culture (2nd ed.). ISBN 1-55849-575-4.
  38. ↑ Keesey, Douglas (2005). Paul Verhoeven. p. 130. ISBN 3-8228-3101-8.
  39. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Chicago Sun-Times.
  40. ↑ Paglia, Camille. Vamps & Tramps: New Essays. London: Penguin Books, 1994. p. 489
  41. ↑ Ball, Ian (August 22, 2002). "A smoking star is a loaded gun". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  42. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=likCRz4BEjw
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