Basic Instinct (1992)

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

Brilliant and touching

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

How did I get the impression this film is the most modern classic film I've seen? The unnecessary dramatic music, the choice of an old male with a young female, and the unrealistic depiction of a femme fatale. It looks like it was made for a different age.

A very wealthy, sexy but devious woman is accused of murdering a former partner and the case is being handled by a detective with a troubled past and an insecure present. He becomes attracted to her but as the time pasts, more and more people with connections to her get killed without a clear reason. As the story progresses, the detective is thrown away from side to side, not knowing who to blame or what to believe. He'll have to face his own problems first in order to get to the bottom of the mystery and this will prove to be a big challenge for him.It's a thrilling movie which throws the viewer into the middle of a puzzling killing spree, with an apparently clear murderer which nobody seems capable of convicting. Although it has very good actors and very good story, it evolves slowly and apparently without any direction, maintaining a slow pace for about half of the movie. Its finale is also unexpected and leaves room for controversy but also for a sequel which, in this case, is actually a good thing. It indeed contributes to the mystery but I would have preferred a bit more pace. Despite that, it is a very good movie overall.

Took me till 2017 to finally see this. Not as shocking or sleazy as expected but Sharon Stone definitely lights up the screen, and this is one of her best roles. Basic Instinct is a non stop thrill ride from start to finish and it keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end. Paul Verhoeven has made better films, but Basic Instinct is still a well acted film. It is a reminder of the difference between exhilaration and exhaustion, between tension and hysteria, and between eroticism and exhibitionism. The line may be fine, but it is real enough to separate porn from erotic thrillers!

The suspense and building of tension is off the charts in this Paul Verhoeven movie. As a fellow Dutchman I am proud of his work! The erotic feel throughout the movie is very appealing, as well as the intellectual conversations.I saw the movie in the cinema and it was mind-blowing. Not one dull moment because of the mysterious Catherine Tramell. The flirting and courting between the two lead characters is very sexy. The jealousy and mind games are nice to watch as well as the raw emotions that cause death and betrayal. A masterpiece that fitted Sharon Stone as a glove. Her best work I think. The movie music is just right and adds to the mysteriousness.A must-watch movie that has survived a lot of controversy!