Even without the controversy, Basic Instinct is a cold and heartless movie. Verhoeven's film is fascinating, if stupid and stylish, if shallow. And there is very little to connect with emotionally. The characters are simply unattractive. In this, it probably is a good movie for gay activists to take a stand on. Actually, it seems that female sexuality, as usual, is the source of all evil in Basic Instinct. But it's also true that Verhoeven finds human sexuality fascinating and he uses it in all its forms to seduce the audience. He challenges the preconceptions of an audience titillated by Stone's bisexuality. He overplays his hand, however and by the end of the film, after a few too many cute misdirections, you just won't want to go all the way with him.
Credits
Director:
- Paul Verhoeven
Cast:
- Michael Douglas
- Sharon Stone
- George Dzundza
- Jeanne Tripplehorn
