Basic Instinct

Last updated

Basic Instinct
Basic Instinct.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Written by Joe Eszterhas
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Jan de Bont
Edited by Frank J. Urioste
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • March 18, 1992 (1992-03-18)(Los Angeles)
  • March 20, 1992 (1992-03-20)(United States)
  • May 8, 1992 (1992-05-08)(France and United Kingdom)
Running time
128 minutes [1]
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France
LanguageEnglish
Budget$49 million
Box office$352.9 million [2]

Basic Instinct is a 1992 neo-noir [3] erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. Starring Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Wayne Knight, the film follows San Francisco police detective Nick Curran (Douglas) as he investigates the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. During the course of the investigation, Curran becomes entangled in a passionate and intense relationship with Catherine Tramell (Stone), an enigmatic writer and the prime suspect.

Contents

The script for Basic Instinct was developed by Eszterhas in the 1980s, and it became the subject of a bidding war. Carolco Pictures secured the rights to the film and brought Verhoeven on board to direct. Stone was cast as Tramell after the role was rejected by several actresses. Production was plagued by protests and intense conflict between Eszterhas and Verhoeven.

Basic Instinct premiered in Los Angeles on March 18, 1992, and was theatrically released in the United States by TriStar Pictures on March 20, 1992. [4] The film received mixed reviews upon its release, with praise for the performances of the cast, score, and editing, while its writing and character development were criticized. It also generated controversy due to its sexually explicit content, violence, and depiction of homosexual relationships. [5] [6] Despite the public protest, Basic Instinct was a commercial success, grossing $352.9 million worldwide and becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 1992. [7] Due to its success and controversy, it inspired many imitators, and has been labelled as "perhaps the quintessential erotic thriller of the 1990s." [8] [9]

Since its release, Basic Instinct has undergone a critical reevaluation. The film has been recognized for its groundbreaking depictions of sexuality in mainstream Hollywood cinema, and was described by one scholar as "a neo-film noir masterpiece that plays with, and transgresses, the narrative rules of film noir." [10] Numerous versions of the film have been released on videocassette, laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray, including a director's cut with extended footage previously unseen in North American cinemas. [11]

A sequel, Basic Instinct 2 , was released 14 years later in 2006. The film stars Stone, but was made without the involvement of Verhoeven or Douglas. It received negative reviews and was relatively unsuccessful. [12] [13]

Plot

Homicide detective Nick Curran and his partner and best friend Gus Moran investigate the murder of retired rock star Johnny Boz in San Francisco. Boz was stabbed to death with an ice pick tool while having sex with a mysterious blonde woman. Nick's prime suspect is Boz's girlfriend, crime novelist Catherine Tramell, whose novel mirrors the crime. Catherine is uncooperative and taunts the investigators by smoking and exposing herself. Although she is released, Nick discovers that she has a history of befriending murderers. This includes Roxy Hardy, Catherine's girlfriend, who impulsively killed her two younger brothers at the age of 16, and Hazel Dobkins, who killed her husband and children.

Nick, who accidentally shot two tourists while high on cocaine during an undercover assignment, attends counseling sessions with police psychologist Dr. Beth Garner. The two have an on-and-off affair. Nick discovers that Catherine is using him as the basis for the protagonist of her latest book, in which his character is murdered after falling for the wrong woman. He becomes suspicious that she has bribed Lt. Marty Nilsen for his psychiatric file. In response, Nick assaults Nilsen in his office. Nilsen is found murdered, and Nick is suspected and placed on leave. Moran later uncovers evidence that Nilsen had been paid fifty thousand dollars three months earlier, before Nick had even met Catherine.

Nick and Catherine embark on a passionate but tense affair, much to Moran's chagrin given his suspicions about her. It starts one night when Nick sees Catherine snorting cocaine with Roxy at Boz's club. They return to Catherine's place and Roxy observes Nick and Catherine having rough sex, with Catherine tying Nick to the bed. This mirrors the way Boz was tied up by the mystery blonde. Jealous of Nick, Roxy tries to run him over with Catherine's car but dies when the vehicle crashes. Catherine is saddened by Roxy's death and confesses to Nick about a college encounter with a girl that ended badly as the girl became obsessed with her. Nick identifies that girl as Beth; Beth claims that it was Catherine who was obsessed. Catherine insists that the obsessive behavior came from Beth and even led her to file a report to the Berkeley campus police; when Nick visits Berkeley, he finds out that Catherine's report was withdrawn by Nilsen a year earlier. Nick also learns that a college professor of Catherine and Beth's was killed with an ice pick in an unsolved homicide that inspired one of Catherine's early novels. He also discovers that Beth's former husband was mysteriously murdered five years earlier (this, too, had been investigated by Nilsen before), and that unconfirmed rumours at the time pointed to the involvement of Beth's unnamed lesbian lover.

Nick discovers the final pages of Catherine's book, where the fictional detective finds his partner's body in an elevator. Catherine breaks off their affair, leaving Nick upset and suspicious. He meets Moran, who has arranged to meet Catherine's college roommate in Oakland to learn about Catherine and Beth. Moran is stabbed to death with an ice pick in the elevator and Nick finds Moran's body in a fashion similar to the description in the book. Beth arrives unexpectedly and claims that she received a message to meet Moran. Nick suspects Beth of killing Moran and shoots her when he believes she's reaching for a gun. However, Beth was only fiddling with her keychain.

Evidence implicates Beth in the murders of Boz, Nilsen, Moran, and her own husband. The investigators also find photos and newspaper clippings of Catherine that imply an obsession with her. Nick is left confused and dejected. Catherine meets him at his apartment and explains her reluctance to commit to him due to her loved ones dying. However, they have sex and discuss their future. As they do, an ice pick is seen under the bed, implying that Catherine was the killer all along.

Cast

Production

The screenplay, which was written in the 1980s, sparked a bidding war until it was finally purchased by Carolco Pictures for US$3 million. [14] [15] Joe Eszterhas, who had previously been the creative force behind several blockbuster films such as Flashdance (1983) and Jagged Edge (1985), managed to complete the script in just 13 days. [16] However, Paul Verhoeven had suggested changes to the script that Eszterhas strongly disagreed with, including a lesbian sex scene that Eszterhas deemed "exploitative". [4] With Verhoeven unwilling to budge, Eszterhas and producer Irwin Winkler left the production.

Gary Goldman was subsequently brought on board to rewrite the script four times at Verhoeven's suggestion. However, by the fourth draft, Verhoeven himself acknowledged that his proposals were "undramatic" and "really stupid". By the fifth and final draft, the script had returned to Eszterhas' original vision, with only minor tweaks to visuals and dialogue. [17] As a result, Joe Eszterhas received sole writing credit for the film. In preparation for the car chase scene, Douglas drove up the steps on Kearny Street in San Francisco for four nights by himself.

The home of Sharon Stone's character, prominently featured in the film, is said to be in Stinson Beach, California, just north of San Francisco. In reality, the scenes were shot at a mansion near Carmel-by-the-Sea, about 120 miles (190 km) south of San Francisco. The property had been previously owned by the late adventurer Steve Fossett and his wife until her death in 2017. [18] In 2018, the residence was purchased by software engineer Gary Vickers, who combined it into an estate with four adjoining cottages he also owned; he put the entire property on sale the following year for $52.4 million. [19] [20] By 2022, the asking price had been lowered to $29.6 million. [19]

Casting

After numerous actors turned down the lead role, Carolco worried they would not be able to cast a suitable male lead. [21] CAA's agent Ronald Meyer called Carolco and said that he knew the script had been turned down by actors; Meyer said Michael Douglas would agree to star in the film if Carolco could meet his salary requirement, and Carolco quickly agreed. [21] Douglas was cast in the project early on. He recommended Kim Basinger for the role of Catherine Tramell, but she declined. [22] He also suggested Julia Roberts, [23] Greta Scacchi, [24] and Meg Ryan, [25] but they all turned down the role. Debra Winger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, Kelly Lynch, Ellen Barkin, and Mariel Hemingway all turned down the role as well when offered by Verhoeven and producers. [14] [26]

Verhoeven considered Demi Moore, [27] but ultimately chose Sharon Stone, with whom he had previously worked on Total Recall. Verhoeven had been particularly struck by the way she quickly transitioned from evil to love in a couple of seconds before her character's death in that film. [28] Verhoeven tested with Stone as Douglas first refused to test with her. Verhoeven kept playing her test after testing everyone else, and Douglas later agreed to test with Stone after 12 other actresses turned down the role. [29] Michael Douglas was initially upset that the relatively unknown Stone was cast in the role, determined to have another A-list actress star in the movie with him. Worried about taking the risk on his own, he said, "I need someone to share the risks of this movie. [...] I don't want to be up there all by myself. There's going to be a lot of shit flying around." [23] He later remarked that "we had a fabulous actress in Sharon. She was just perfect for the role". [30] Stone was paid $500,000 for her role, while Douglas received $14 million. [31]

Music

Soundtrack

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Filmtracks Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link

The musical score for Basic Instinct was composed by Jerry Goldsmith and earned him nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. [32] Goldsmith described the process as challenging, stating, "Basic Instinct was probably the most difficult [score] 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." [33]

In terms of featured music, commercially released tracks played a minor role in the film. The club scene prominently features "Blue" by Chicago house music performer LaTour and "Rave the Rhythm" by the group Channel X, as well as "Movin' on Up" by Jeff Barry and Ja'Net DuBois. Chris Rea's "Looking for the Summer" is heard during a scene between Douglas and his partner at Mac's Diner.

The film's official soundtrack was released on March 17, 1992. In 2004, Prometheus Records issued an expanded version of Goldsmith's score, which included previously omitted sections and alternative compositions for certain elements.

Release

Theatrical

Jeanne Tripplehorn, Michael Douglas, Martine Tours (wife of Verhoeven), Paul Verhoeven, Sharon Stone and Mario Kassar at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival Basic Instinct Cannes 1992.jpg
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Michael Douglas, Martine Tours (wife of Verhoeven), Paul Verhoeven, Sharon Stone and Mario Kassar at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival

The film opened in North American theatres in March 1992, and after being entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival [34] continued on to a worldwide release.

MPAA rating

Basic Instinct is rated R for "strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language". Initially, the film was given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA for "graphic depictions of extremely explicit violence, sexual content and strong language". However, under pressure from TriStar and Carolco, Verhoeven cut 35 to 40 seconds from the film to achieve an R rating. [14] 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. [14]

Home media

The theatrical release of the film was cut by 35 to 40 seconds to avoid an NC-17 rating, [14] with some violence and sexually explicit content removed. The missing or censored material, later released on video and DVD as the director's cut, included:

In 2021, StudioCanal released a restored 4K Ultra HD 'collector's edition' of the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download in the UK (June 14), Australia (July 7), and New Zealand (July 14). The restoration was supervised by the director and completed in 2019–2020, using the original 35MM negative. Additionally, a new documentary titled "Basic Instinct, Sex, Death & Stone" was added as a special feature. [35]

Reception

Box office

Basic Instinct opened in theaters in the United States and Canada on March 20, 1992, and became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. It debuted at number one at the US box office, grossing $15 million in its opening weekend. After briefly dropping down the charts, it returned to number one in its fifth week, where it remained for four weeks. In total, the film grossed $117.7 million in the United States and Canada. Internationally, it grossed $352,927,224, [36] making it the fourth-highest-grossing film released in 1992 worldwide. [37] In Italy, it had a record opening of $5.44 million and remained number one for four weeks, [38] ultimately grossing $20 million and becoming the highest-grossing film for the year. [39] It was the highest-grossing film in Spain of all time, with a gross of $21.6 million, [40] [41] and in the United Kingdom, it was number one for three weeks and the highest-grossing film for the year with a gross of £15.5 million. [42] It was also number one for the year in France ($27 million), Germany (4.5 million admissions), South Africa ($3 million), Iceland, and Ireland. [43] [44] In Australia, it was number one for three weeks and the second-highest-grossing film for the year, grossing A$13.1 million. [45]

Critical response

Basic Instinct's critical reaction was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a score of 56% based on 77 reviews, with an average rating of 6.20/10 and the consensus that "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." [46] On Metacritic the film holds a score of 43 based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [47] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. [48]

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." [49] 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 Arnold Schwarzenegger 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." [50]

Australian critic Shannon J. Harvey of the Sunday Times called 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." [51]

The film had many detractors. [52] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded it two out of four stars, saying the film was well crafted but died 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." [53] 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." [54]

Controversy

Initial

After the script was made available to gay rights activist groups in early 1991, concerns arose as to the film's depiction of homosexual relationships, and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous psychopath. Activists claimed that the film followed a pattern of negative depictions and stereotypes of homosexuals in film. [55] While Eszterhas was open to addressing these concerns, Verhoeven, Douglas, and producer Alan Marshall rejected the changes, claiming that they "undermined" Eszterhas' script and "lessen the integrity of the picture." [56] Upon resuming filming in San Francisco in late April 1991, gay and lesbian rights activists and demonstrators attended, [57] and the San Francisco Police Department's riot police were present at every location to manage the crowds. Protesters outside the filming locations held signs that said "Honk if you love the 49ers" and "Honk if you love men." On April 29, Marshall ordered a citizen's arrest and personally identified each protester he wanted arrested. However, this did not result in any action by the local police department. [4] [55] [56]

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". [58] Verhoeven himself defended the groups' right to protest, but criticized the disruptions they caused, saying "Fascism is not in raising your voice; the fascism is in not accepting the no." [59]

Six protestors disrupted the filming of Saturday Night Live on April 11, 1992, while Stone was hosting. [60] The protestors attempted to rush the stage, but they were apprehended by security; two women and four men were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. [61] [62] The live version of Stone's interrupted monologue was replaced in repeat broadcasts with footage from the dress rehearsal. [60]

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." [53] Camille Paglia denounced the 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." [63]

Women's rights groups also protested the film over its negative depiction of women and a brutal rape scene, with a branch of The National Organization for Women calling the film "the most blatantly misogynistic film in recent memory." Its Los Angeles branch president at the time claimed the movie sent a message "that women like violence, women like to be used, women like to be raped." [64] The film was also criticized for glamorizing cigarette smoking. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas was later diagnosed with throat cancer and publicly apologized for glamorizing smoking in his films. [65]

In 1992, in Les Herbiers, France, the mayor Jeanne Briand banned the movie in her municipality, claiming that this movie was "apologism for crime and violence, which exacerbates impulses that can lead to rape." [66] [67] [68] [69]

Renewed

Since the release of the film, Stone has alleged multiple times that a scene in which her vulva was exposed as she crossed her legs was filmed without her knowledge. [70] Stone later said she was told that her lack of underwear would only be alluded to and not shown. [71] She had been wearing white underwear until Verhoeven said it reflected light on the camera lens and asked her to remove it, assuring her that only a shadow would be visible. Stone stated that it was not until she saw the film in a screening room with a test audience that she became aware of the visible nudity, leading her to slap Verhoeven in the face and leave the screening. [70]

In her 2021 memoir, Stone again stated that she was misled by Verhoeven with regard to the circumstance of the filming of the scene, even though she ultimately did not seek an injunction against it. [72] Verhoeven responded that it was "impossible" and "she knew exactly what we were doing." However, despite having a "radically different" memory about the particular scene, he praised Stone's performance and said they are on good terms. [73] In a 1998 Inside the Actors Studio interview, Stone said that while she was initially angry, she realized the director's decision was the right one, saying, "And I thought about it for a few days and I knew in my heart, he was right. I hated that it existed, I hated it more that he stole it from me instead of allowing me to choose. But he was right." [74] She has also allegedly joked, "At least it proves I'm a natural blonde." [75]

In a 1993 Entertainment Weekly interview, Jeanne Tripplehorn stated that the notorious "brutal, bruising sex" between her and Douglas's character was somewhat "lighter" when described to her by Verhoeven before shooting. [76] During the trial for Luka Magnotta for the murder of Jun Lin, the prosecution stated that Luka Magnotta stabbed Lin to death with a screwdriver painted silver in order to resemble the ice pick used by Stone's character, Catherine Tramell. [77] [78]

Awards and nominations

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards Best Film Editing Frank J. Urioste Nominated [79]
Best Original Score Jerry Goldsmith Nominated
BMI Film & TV Awards Film Music AwardWon
Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Paul Verhoeven Nominated [34]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Sharon Stone Nominated [80]
DVD Exclusive Awards Best Original Retrospective Documentary Jeffrey Schwarz Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Sharon StoneNominated [81]
Best Original Score – Motion Picture Jerry GoldsmithNominated
Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actor Michael Douglas (also for Shining Through )Nominated [82]
Worst Supporting Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn Nominated
Worst New Star Sharon Stone's tribute to Theodore Cleaver Nominated
Golden Screen Awards Won
Japan Academy Film Prize Outstanding Foreign Language Film Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Movie Nominated
Best Male Performance Michael DouglasNominated
Best Female Performance Sharon StoneWon
Most Desirable Female Won
Best Villain Nominated
Best On-Screen Duo Michael Douglas and Sharon StoneNominated
Nikkan Sports Film Awards Best Foreign Film Won
Saturn Awards Best Horror Film Nominated [83]
Best Director Paul VerhoevenNominated
Best Writing Joe Eszterhas Nominated
Best Actress Sharon StoneNominated
Best Music Jerry GoldsmithNominated

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Stone</span> American actress (born 1958)

Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress. Known for primarily playing femmes fatales and women of mystery on film and television, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a nomination for an Academy Award. She was named Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2005.

<i>Total Recall</i> (1990 film) 1990 film by Paul Verhoeven

Total Recall is a 1990 American science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven, with a screenplay by Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon, and Gary Goldman. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, and Michael Ironside. Based on the 1966 short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick, Total Recall tells the story of Douglas Quaid (Schwarzenegger), a construction worker who receives an implanted memory of a fantastical adventure on Mars. He subsequently finds his adventure occurring in reality as agents of a shadow organization try to prevent him from recovering memories of his past as a Martian secret agent aiming to stop the tyrannical regime of Martian dictator Vilos Cohaagen (Cox).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Verhoeven</span> Dutch film director (born 1938)

Paul Verhoeven is a Dutch film director. His films are known for their graphic violence and sexual content, combined with social satire. After receiving attention for the TV series Floris in his native Netherlands, Verhoeven's breakthrough film was the romantic drama Turkish Delight (1973), starring frequent collaborator Rutger Hauer. Verhoeven later directed successful Dutch films including the period drama Keetje Tippel (1975), the war film Soldier of Orange (1977), the teen drama Spetters (1980) and the psychological thriller The Fourth Man (1983).

<i>Showgirls</i> 1995 erotic drama film by Paul Verhoeven

Showgirls is a 1995 erotic drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Joe Eszterhas, starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, Alan Rachins, and Gina Ravera. An ambitious young woman hitches a ride to Vegas to pursue her dreams of being a professional dancer and showgirl.

<i>Fatal Attraction</i> 1987 film by Adrian Lyne

Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American psychological thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne and written by James Dearden, based on his 1980 short film Diversion. It follows Dan Gallagher, an attorney who cheats on his wife Beth with a colleague, Alex Forrest. When Dan decides to end the affair, Alex grows increasingly unstable and begins stalking him and his family.

<i>Cutthroat Island</i> 1995 film by Renny Harlin

Cutthroat Island is a 1995 adventure swashbuckler film directed by Renny Harlin and written by Robert King and Marc Norman from a story by Michael Frost Beckner, James Gorman, Bruce A. Evans, and Raynold Gideon. It stars Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Frank Langella. It is a co-production among the United States, France, Germany, and Italy.

József Antal Eszterhás, credited as Joe Eszterhas, is a Hungarian-American writer. Born in Hungary, he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. After an early career as a journalist and editor, he entered the film industry. His first screenwriting credit was for the film F.I.S.T. (1978). He co-wrote the script for Flashdance, which became one of the highest-grossing films of 1983, and set off a lucrative and prolific run for his career. By the early 1990s, he was known as the highest-paid writer in Hollywood, and noted for his work in the erotic thriller genre. He was paid a then-record $3 million for his script Love Hurts, which was produced as Basic Instinct (1992), and following its success, news outlets reported he earned seven-figure salaries solely on the basis of two-to-four page outlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolco Pictures</span> Defunct US independent film production company

Carolco Pictures, Inc. was an American independent film studio that was founded by Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna in 1976. Kassar and Vajna ran Carolco together until 1989, when Vajna left to form Cinergi Pictures. Carolco hit its peak in the 1980s and early 1990s, with blockbuster successes including the first three films of the Rambo franchise, Field of Dreams, Total Recall, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Basic Instinct, Universal Soldier, Cliffhanger and Stargate. Nevertheless, Carolco was losing money overall, requiring a corporate restructuring in 1992. The film Cutthroat Island was produced as a resurgence for Carolco, but it instead lost them $147 million, and Carolco eventually went defunct at the end of 1995.

StudioCanal S.A.S. is a French film & television production and distribution company which is a subsidiary of the Canal+ Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Lynch</span> American actress (born 1959)

Kelly Ann Lynch is an American film and television actress. She had her breakthrough role in the 1988 film Cocktail, before playing a romantic lead opposite Patrick Swayze in the cult film Road House (1989). She was subsequently nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Drugstore Cowboy (1989), and for Best Supporting Female for The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1994).

<i>Basic Instinct 2</i> 2006 film by Michael Caton-Jones

Basic Instinct 2 is a 2006 erotic thriller film and the sequel to 1992's Basic Instinct. The film was directed by Michael Caton-Jones and produced by Mario Kassar, Joel B. Michaels, and Andrew G. Vajna. The screenplay was by Leora Barish and Henry Bean. It stars Sharon Stone, who reprises her role of crime mystery author Catherine Tramell, and David Morrissey. The film is an international co-production of German, British, American, and Spanish production companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Kassar</span> Lebanese-American film producer (born 1951)

Mario F. Kassar is a Lebanese-American film producer and industry executive who produced the first three films of the Rambo series, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Total Recall, The Doors, Angel Heart, Jacob's Ladder, Rambling Rose, Basic Instinct, Universal Soldier, Chaplin, Showgirls, and Stargate, among other films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Tramell</span> Basic Instinct character

Catherine Tramell is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the film Basic Instinct (1992) and its sequel Basic Instinct 2 (2006). Tramell, created by writer Joe Eszterhas, is played by Sharon Stone in both films. Tramell is considered to be one of Stone's most iconic roles, with Stone describing Tramell to be her most famous and relevant character. Tramell was nominated for the American Film Institute's list of the "Best Villains", and was named one of the greatest characters by Entertainment Weekly in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erotic thriller</span> Film and literary sub-genre

The erotic thriller or sexual thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or sexual fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain in close proximity and equally important to the plot." Most erotic thrillers contain scenes of softcore sex and nudity, though the frequency and explicitness of those scenes can differ from film to film.

<i>Sliver</i> (film) 1993 film by Phillip Noyce

Sliver is a 1993 American erotic thriller film starring Sharon Stone, William Baldwin, and Tom Berenger. It is based on the Ira Levin novel of the same name about the mysterious occurrences in a privately owned New York high-rise sliver building. Phillip Noyce directed the film, from a screenplay by Joe Eszterhas. Because of a major battle with the MPAA, the filmmakers were forced to make extensive reshoots before release which necessitated changing the killer's identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leilani Sarelle</span> American actress

Leilani Sarelle is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Roxy in the 1992 film Basic Instinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Stone filmography</span>

Sharon Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. The following is a filmography of her work.

Ellen Mirojnick is an American costume designer. She is a frequent collaborator of actor Michael Douglas, having overseen the costume design for the films Fatal Attraction (1987), Wall Street (1987), Basic Instinct (1992), A Perfect Murder (1998), Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) and Behind the Candelabra (2013). The wardrobe which she created for the character of Gordon Gekko inspired a fashion trend in the late 1980s and early 1990s for boldly patterned ties, sleek suits, crisp white shirts, and colorful suspenders in men's business wear. She has also been a frequent collaborator of directors Jan de Bont and Paul Verhoeven, acting as costume designer on de Bont's films Speed (1994), Twister (1996) and The Haunting (1999), as well as Verhoeven's films Basic Instinct (1992), Showgirls (1995), Starship Troopers (1997) and Hollow Man (2000).

References

  1. ↑ "Basic Instinct (18)". British Board of Film Classification. March 18, 1992. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Basic Instinct (1992)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ Silver, Alain; Ward, Elizabeth, eds. (1992). Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style (3rd ed.). Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press. p. 424. ISBN   978-0-87951-479-2.
  4. 1 2 3 "Basic Instinct". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  5. ↑ Leistedt, Samuel J.; Linkowski, Paul (January 2014). "Psychopathy and the Cinema: Fact or Fiction?". Journal of Forensic Sciences. 59 (1): 167–174. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12359. PMID   24329037. S2CID   14413385.
  6. ↑ "Dr. Fredricks Cinema Therapy Blog - Narcissistic personality disorder". Dr. Randi Fredricks, PhD. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Basic Instinct (1992) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ Raftery, Brian (March 17, 2022). "The Rise and Fall of the Erotic Thriller". The Ringer .
  9. ↑ Hudson, David (March 27, 2023). "Erotic '90s". The Criterion Collection .
  10. ↑ Murray, Terri (2008). Feminist Film Studies: A Teacher's Guide. Auteur.
  11. ↑ Basic Instinct (1992) - IMDb, archived from the original on April 7, 2017, retrieved October 8, 2020
  12. ↑ "Moviefone Top 25 Box Office Bombs of All Time". Moviefone.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Worst of the Worst 2009 - Dragonfly". Rotten Tomatoes. March 16, 2010. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Weinraub, Bernard (March 15, 1992). "'Basic Instinct': The Suspect Is Attractive, and May Be Fatal". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2009. 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.
  15. ↑ "Retrospectives: BASIC INSTINCT". Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
  16. ↑ "Wisdom Wednesday: Joe Eszterhas' 10 Golden Rules of Screenwriting by Joe Eszterhas". Moviemaker Magazine. October 2, 2013. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  17. ↑ "AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Basic Instinct". catalog.afi.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  18. ↑ "California Compound Where Basic Instinct Was Filmed Listed For $52.375 Million". Architectural Digest. June 4, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Blake, Lindsay (March 22, 2022). "Sharon Stone's 'Basic Instinct' House Gets Massive Price Slash". Dirt.
  20. ↑ Chen, Joyce (June 4, 2019). "California Compound Where Basic Instinct Was Filmed Listed For $52.375 Million". Architectural Digest.
  21. 1 2 Winkler, Irwin (2019). A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood. Abrams Press. ISBN   978-1419734526.
  22. ↑ "Basic Instinct". AMC. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  23. 1 2 Warren, Jane (March 29, 2011). "Michael Douglas's real basic instinct". Daily Express. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  24. ↑ "BBC - Drama Faces - Greta Scacchi". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  25. ↑ "BBC - Films - interview - Meg Ryan". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Why Kelly Lynch Doesn't Regret Turning Down 'Basic Instinct'". People.
  27. ↑ Bryce Hallett (February 10, 2001). "Her world's a stage". Sydney Morning Herald . p. 3.
  28. ↑ Siegel, Alan (June 4, 2020). "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mission to Mars". The Ringer . Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  29. ↑ ""You Can't Shame Me": Sharon Stone on How Basic Instinct Nearly Broke Her, Before Making Her a Star". Vanity Fair . March 18, 2021.
  30. ↑ Holub, Christian (May 17, 2023). "Michael Douglas says Basic Instinct sex scene was 'overwhelming' at Cannes premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Sharon Stone reveals she was paid just $500,000 for Basic Instinct". National Post. March 30, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Filmtracks: Basic Instinct (Jerry Goldsmith)". Filmtracks.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  33. ↑ Velez, Andy. "Evening the Score" Jerry Goldsmith interview Archived April 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine . Barnes & Noble. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  34. 1 2 "Basic Instinct". Cannes Film Festival . Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  35. ↑ "'Basic Instinct' Gets 4K Restoration by Studiocanal, Set for Theatrical, Home Entertainment Releases". Variety.com. April 21, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  36. ↑ Klady, Leonard (January 8, 1993). "Carolco's Instinct is global champ". Screen International . p. 9.
  37. ↑ "1992 Worldwide Grosses". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  38. ↑ Groves, Don (September 28, 1992). "'Basic' boffo in Italo bow". Variety . p. 29.
  39. ↑ "Italian foreign top 10". Screen International . January 29, 1993. p. 18.
  40. ↑ "Top 10 grossers in Spain". Variety . October 4, 1993. p. 66.
  41. ↑ Groves, Don (November 22, 1993). "Dinos set o'seas mark of $500 mil". Variety . p. 16.
  42. ↑ "UK Top 50 Films". Screen International . January 29, 1993. p. 15.
  43. ↑ "Statistics". Screen International . March 26, 1993. pp. 34–35.
  44. ↑ "South African top 10 1992". Screen International . January 29, 1993. p. 27.
  45. ↑ "Top 50 Films Each Year - 1992". Screen Australia. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango. March 20, 1992. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  48. ↑ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  49. ↑ Maslin, Janet (March 20, 1992). "Review/Film; Sure, She May Be Mean, but Is She a Murderer?". The New York Times . Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  50. ↑ Travers, Peter (March 20, 1992). "Basic Instinct". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  51. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Rotten Tomatoes . March 20, 1992. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  52. ↑ Lundin, Leigh (July 25, 2010). "Erotic Mystery Thrillers". Criminal Brief. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  53. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (March 20, 1992). "Basic Instinct". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020– via Rogerebert.com.
  54. ↑ Kehr, Dave (March 20, 1992). "Blatant 'Instinct'". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  55. 1 2 Fox, David J. (April 29, 1991). "Gays Bashing 'Basic Instinct' : Movies: Activists take to the streets of San Francisco to battle a film they call offensive. The writer and director are considering script revisions". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  56. 1 2 "Citizen's Arrests On 'Basic Instinct' Set". Variety . May 6, 1991. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  57. ↑ Basic Instinct (Making of, The). 20th Century Fox. 2001.
  58. ↑ Couvares, Francis G. (2006). Movie Censorship and American Culture (2nd ed.). Amherst, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN   978-1-55849-575-3. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  59. ↑ Keesey, Douglas (2005). Paul Verhoeven. Taschen. p. 130. ISBN   978-3-8228-3101-4.
  60. 1 2 Miller, Andrew (May 18, 2023). "Why Sharon Stone's 1992 "SNL" Monologue Was Pulled and Never Aired Again". Best Life. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  61. ↑ Abramovitch, Seth (November 6, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' on Heckling High-Alert for Donald Trump Appearance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  62. ↑ Staff (April 13, 1992). "6 ARRESTED AT PROTEST OF 'SNL' SKIT WITH 'BASIC INSTINCT' STAR STONE". Buffalo News. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  63. ↑ Paglia, Camille (1994). Vamps & Tramps: New Essays. New York City: Vintage Books. p. 489. ISBN   978-0679751205.
  64. ↑ Harris, Scott; Corwin, Miles (March 21, 1992). "Opposition to Film 'Basic Instinct' Rises : Entertainment: A coalition of women's and gay rights activists fears the movie's depiction of bisexuals and lesbians will result in increased violence against women". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  65. ↑ Ball, Ian (August 22, 2002). "A smoking star is a loaded gun". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  66. ↑ Riou, Alain (1996). Le droit de la culture et le droit à la culture (in French). E.S.F. p. 189. ISBN   978-2-7101-1157-3 . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  67. ↑ Triollet, Christophe (2020). Censure & cinéma en France. Darkness, censure et cinéma (in French). LettMotif. p. 207-208. ISBN   978-2-36716-329-1 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  68. ↑ G, Ph (December 30, 2015). "Le scandale de Basic Instinct aux Herbiers". Ouest-France.fr (in French). Retrieved January 19, 2025. pas correct [...] une apologie du crime et de la violence, qui exacerbe des pulsions qui peuvent conduire au viol [...] Si la criminalité est en hausse en France, c'est à cause de ces films.
  69. ↑ Simkin, Stevie (September 16, 2017). Basic Instinct. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 75. ISBN   978-1-137-29609-2.
  70. 1 2 "A Conversation with Sharon Stone" from the Basic Instinct: Ultimate Edition DVD (Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2006).
  71. ↑ "Sharon Stone talking about BI". September 12, 2014. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2018– via YouTube.
  72. ↑ Owoseje, Toyin (March 19, 2021). "Sharon Stone says she was misled about explicit scene in 'Basic Instinct'". CNN. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  73. ↑ Lang, Brent (July 7, 2021). "'Benedetta' Director Paul Verhoeven on Sex, His Jesus Fascination and Hollywood Puritanism'". Variety . Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  74. ↑ Inside the Actors Studio interview with Sharon Stone. Episode dated January 10, 1999.
  75. ↑ Sanello, Frank (1997). Naked Instinct: The Unauthorized Biography of Sharon Stone. New Jersey: Carol Publishing Group. p. 96. ISBN   978-1-55-972402-9.
  76. ↑ Zeman, Ned (July 23, 1993). "Jeanne Tripplehorn in The Firm". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  77. ↑ Shivji, Salimah (November 17, 2014). "Luka Magnotta inspired by film Basic Instinct, Crown says". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  78. ↑ Don't F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (Streaming). Netflix. 2019.
  79. ↑ "The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  80. ↑ "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives". Chicago Film Critics Association. January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  81. ↑ "Basic Instinct". Golden Globe Awards . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  82. ↑ "1992 Golden Raspberry Awards". Golden Raspberry Awards. August 23, 2000. Archived from the original on February 21, 2006. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  83. ↑ "Past Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.