Taglines: A brutal murder. A brilliant killer. A cop who can’t resist the danger.
Basic Instinct movie storyline. A former rock star, Johnny Boz, is brutally killed during sex, and the case is assigned to detective Nick Curran of the SFPD. During the investigation, Nick meets Catherine Tramell, a crime novelist who was Boz’s girlfriend when he died. Catherine proves to be a very clever and manipulative woman, and though Nick is more or less convinced that she murdered Boz, he is unable to find any evidence.
Later, when Nilsen, Nick’s rival in the police, is killed, Nick suspects of Catherine’s involvement in it. He then starts to play a dangerous lust-filled mind game with Catherine to nail her, but as their relationship progresses, the body count rises and contradicting evidences force Nick to start questioning his own suspicions about Catherine’s guilt.
Basic Instinct is a 1992 neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, and starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The film follows a police detective, Nick Curran (Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. During the investigation Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the prime suspect, Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), an enigmatic writer.
Even before its release, Basic Instinct generated heated controversy due to its overt sexuality and graphic depiction of violence. It was strongly opposed by gay rights activists, who criticized the film’s depiction of homosexual relationships and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous narcissistic psychopath. In a 2006 interview, Stone alleged that the infamous leg-crossing scene in which her vulva was exposed was filmed without her knowledge.
The film score to Basic Instinct was composed by Jerry Goldsmith. The score to Basic Instinct garnered Goldsmith nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Goldsmith described it as one of his most challenging efforts, later stating, “Basic Instinct was probably the most difficult 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.”
Apart from the score, professionally released music did not play a major part in the film. The scene in which source music plays a prominent role occurs during the club scene; Curran, Tramell, and Roxy are seen at in Downtown San Francisco. It features “Blue” by Chicago house music performer LaTour and “Rave the Rhythm” by the group Channel X. It also features “Movin’ on Up” by Jeff Barry and Janet DuBois.
About the Production
The screenplay, written in the 1980s, was popular enough to prompt a bidding war; it was eventually purchased by Carolco Pictures, for a reported US$3 million. Eszterhas, who wrote the film in 13 days, and who had been the creative source for several other blockbusters, including Flashdance (1983) and Jagged Edge (1985), was replaced by Gary Goldman as the writer. Adjusted for inflation, the budget of the film was an estimated US$49,000,000.
Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Robert De Niro, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Christopher Lloyd, Jack Nicholson, Charlie Sheen, Richard Gere, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Denzel Washington, and Kevin Costner were considered for the role of Nick Curran. In preparation for the car chase scene, Douglas reportedly drove up the steps on Kearny Street in San Francisco for four nights by himself.
Douglas recommended Kim Basinger for the role of Catherine Tramell, but Basinger declined. He had also proposed Julia Roberts, Greta Scacchi and Meg Ryan, but they also turned down the role, as did Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, Ellen Barkin, and Mariel Hemingway. Verhoeven considered Demi Moore. Stone, who was eventually selected for the role, was a relative unknown until the success of this movie; she was paid a minimal amount of $500,000, considering the film’s extensive production budget.
Filming in San Francisco was attended by gay and lesbian rights activists and demonstrators,[18] and San Francisco Police Department riot police were present at every location daily to deal with the crowds. The scene where Douglas has sex with Tripplehorn was filmed unbeknownst to the actors, who were simply rehearsing the scene. Things heated up quickly, as evidenced by the footage in the final film, and Verhoeven liked the performances so much that he included it in the final film.
Verhoeven initially fought during the production for a lesbian love scene to be added to the script over the objection of Eszterhas, who thought such a scene would be gratuitous. Verhoeven eventually agreed with Eszterhas and apologized to him for forcing the issue.[citation needed] Following the success of Basic Instinct, Eszterhas and Verhoeven went on to collaborate on Showgirls.
Stone alleged that the infamous leg-crossing scene in which her vulva was exposed was filmed without her knowledge; Stone had been wearing thin underwear for the scene which Verhoeven said reflected light on the camera lens; and it was not until Stone saw the film in a screening room with a test audience that she became aware of it, leading her to slap Verhoeven in the face and leave the screening. However Verhoeven strongly denied her claim, and said she was fully aware in advance that her vulva would be filmed.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Denis Arndt, Leilani Sarelle, Bruce A. Young, Chelcie Ross, Dorothy Malone, Stephen Tobolowsky
Screenplay by: Joe Eszterhas
Production Design by: Terence Marsh
Cinematography by: Jan de Bont
Film Editing by: Frank J. Urioste
Costume Design by: Ellen Mirojnick
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language.
Distributed by: TriStar Pictures
Release Date: March 20, 1992 (US), May 8, 1992 (UK)
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