Judy Thorburn's Movie Reviews
Basic Instinct 2
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- Category: Judy Thorburn
- Published on 07 November 2008
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Judy Thorburn
"Basic Instinct 2" - Stone Cold Risky Business
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“BASIC INSTINCT 2” - STONE COLD RISKY BUSINESS
Fourteen years after giving audiences a flashing view of her privates in the provocative, sexy thriller Basic Instinct (which has become a sort of cult classic) that made her a star, Sharon Stone is back in the long awaited sequel. First off I must say that for a woman nearing fifty years old (give or take a few years) Stone still has what it takes to pull off the role of a smoldering femme fatale, with her slinky well-toned body, and fabulous wrinkle free face. I don’t care if she vehemently denies it; there is no way a woman of her age can look that great without help from Dr.90210, i.e. the best plastic surgeon that money can buy on Rodeo Drive. Be that as it may, Stone looks hot and plays it to the vampy, hammy hilt, conjuring up the spirit of Mae West.
If you recall, her character, Catherine Tramell is a best selling crime novelist known for writing murder mysteries that entail mind games and sex, lots of it. She is also a manipulative schemer suspicious of being a psycho/serial killer. Okay, we KNOW she is! In any case, Catherine once again uses her feminine attributes to entice, seduce and control, leaving dead bodies in her wake. In other words, she is still up to no good, whether just for kicks or research for her latest book.
Instead of San Francisco, the sequel finds Catherine now residing in England. It starts with an attention grabbing sequence that has Catherine in the driver’s seat speeding across London streets as she is receiving sexual gratification from her male passenger, who is in a drug induced stupor. After losing control, the car crashes into the river where Catherine is able to save herself, but not her soccer star lover who is left to drown. An investigation by the police leads to Catherine’s arrest for murder and she is ordered to be evaluated by psychiatrist, Dr. Michael Glass who diagnoses Catherine as being addicted to taking risks, the greater the better.
In the last outing Michael Douglas was Stone’s co-star, the detective who fell victim to Catherine’s cunning and manipulative scenario. This time it’s a shrink, played by British actor David Morrissey, looking sooo serious and tightly wound, as the doctor with knowledge of a former patient that could threaten his career. Nevertheless, Glass becomes dangerously physically and mentally obsessed with his new evil vixen patient and is drawn into her seductive web seemingly unaware of her scheming ways or her power hungry fixation. Soon, one by one, surrounding characters including Glass’s former wife, start turning up dead. Needless to say, red herrings are thrown in for distraction.
The film mostly focuses on Morrissey, which is not a plus since someone hotter, like Clive Owen would have created more of a sizzling chemistry with sultry Stone. I won’t go so far as to say Morrissey is bad. He just doesn’t evoke the kind of steamy sex appeal nor generate any heat with Stone. Best in supporting roles are David Chewlis, as Roy Washburn, the police inspector anxious to get Catherine locked up for good, and the less visible, underused Charlotte Rampling as the shrink’s mentor/advisor Dr. Milena Gordesh. Speaking of Rampling, I was expecting to see some girl on girl action with Stone, who was originally depicted as bisexual. The American version doesn’t include any lesbian scenes. But, the European version is said to be more graphic with more kinky action (I’ve been told 15 minutes worth) deleted. I guess, stateside, we will have to wait for the DVD release if we want to see what is missing.
In the cut I viewed there are some titillating moments and teasers, and a few sexcapades that involve rough sex, an orgy and of course Catherine and the doc getting down and dirty. With Glass, Catherine’s use of a tight, leather, neck collar does the trick. Rather, erotic asphyxiation is the correct term. Now, for those who are eager to see Stone in her naked glory, they won’t be disappointed. Stone appears happy to oblige with a Jacuzzi scene that unfortunately shows off her awful boob job (the one, or rather two, things the docs did not get right).
As sequels go this one isn’t the awful mess I expected. Yes, it’s definitely not the erotic shocker of its day, nor as good. But director Michael Caton-Jones took a cue from Paul Verhoeven and delivers a fairly interesting script by Leora Barish and Henry Bean that pays homage to the original written by Joe Esterhaus. Basic Instinct 2 is what it is and makes no bones about it…a trashy psychological thriller loaded with mind games. I found it unexpectedly satisfying. I don’t smoke, but if I did, the only thing missing after the climax would be a cigarette.