Basic Instinct (1992)

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writer (WGA):

Joe Eszterhas (written by)

Release Date:

20 March 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

A brutal murder. A brilliant killer. A cop who can't resist the danger.

Plot:

A police detective is in charge of the investigation of a brutal murder, in which a beautiful and seductive woman could be involved.

Plot Keywords:

Bleeding | Extreme Sex | Hiding | Legs | Explicit Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 16 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 18	10:30 PM	AMC
Sat. July 19	3:30 AM	AMC

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	Det. Nick Curran
Sharon Stone	...	Catherine Tramell
George Dzundza	...	Gus Moran
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Dr. Beth Garner
Denis Arndt	...	Lt. Philip Walker
Leilani Sarelle	...	Roxy
Bruce A. Young	...	Andrews
Chelcie Ross	...	Capt. Talcott
Dorothy Malone	...	Hazel Dobkins
Wayne Knight	...	John Correli
Daniel von Bargen	...	Lt. Marty Nilsen
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Dr. Lamott
Benjamin Mouton	...	Harrigan
Jack McGee	...	Sheriff
Bill Cable	...	Johnny Boz

Also Known As:

Basic Instinct (France)
Ice Cold Desire (Singapore: English title) (censored version)
Love Hurts (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language.

Runtime:

127 min | USA:128 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | LC-Concept Digital Sound (France)

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) (also director's cut) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) (2007) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 (video rating) (cut) (1992) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2001) | USA:R (certificate #31380) | India:A | Hungary:18 | Singapore:PG (video rating) (heavily cut) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) (1992) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Brazil:18 | Finland:K-18 (theatrical rating) (1992) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Belgium:KNT | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (also director's cut) | Chile:18 | France:-12 (re-rating) | France:-16 (original rating) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Mexico:C | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

1158 Montgomery Street, Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

Joe Eszterhas wrote the script in ten days while listening to The Rolling Stones non-stop. He then sold it three days later at auction.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Lt. Nilsen is found dead of a close contact gunshot wound to the head, Gus opines that the weapon used was a .38 caliber revolver. Lt. Walker then demands that Nick turn over his weapon. Nick produces a Glock semi-automatic pistol and Lt. Walker smells it, presumably to see if it had recently been fired. Although the bullet diameter could be said to be similar and thus produce similar bullet holes (a point much too esoteric for this film), Nick's pistol is definitely not a revolver.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gus: Who was this fucking guy?
Nick: Rock and Roll, Gus. Johnny Boz?
Gus: Never heard of him.
Nick: Before your time, cowboy. Hey, Ronny! Where they hiding?
Ronny: Upstairs to the right.
Nick: Mid Sixties he had five or six hits. Got a club down in Fillmore now.
Gus: Not now, he don't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Deed Poll (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Movin' On Up

the sexiest movie ever made

You know a movie achieves its objective when you think that a character is sexier than the person that plays her. That is exactly what Catherine Tremell does. She exudes sex and that is exactly her game. She knows that she can play with people's minds by using her beauty and her sex appeal. And she does it so well.

The epitome of this is the interrogation scene. Much has been made about nudity in film but this is one of those movies where every breast and every shot of someone's crotch is done so to further the plot. The famous scene that we have all witnessed now is a major part of Tremell's M.O. She knows there are a room full of men asking her questions and she uses that sexuality to play with them. And it works.

The cast and the script and the direction are top notch and the movie feels like it is one big game. And Catherine Tremell is the ultimate game master. I really loved this film and I rate it a perfect ten.