Dish of the Day

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Today’s “Dish of the Day” has a brief review of mine that was inspired by a post in one of the film related Facebook chat rooms. This includes the Cinema Cafe group (all readers are encouraged to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902349343110685).

Basic Instinct (1992)

For cinephiles looking for a little more consequence beyond did he/she do it, please tell me when in a Joe Eszterhas scripted film, this question has not been its sole element of substance worth hanging around for. And this is at his best, i.e. Jagged Edge (1985), Music Box (1989) and Basic Instinct (1992). Scripts like Flashdance (1983), Sliver (1993) and Showgirls (1995) don't even have that feature to hold the viewer's interest. All superficial glitz and glamour substitute for any real concern or emotion in Basic Instinct with the filmmakers (Paul Verhoeven directing) proudly displaying apathy through their narcissistic characters. That is why the answer to the big question (as previously posed) regarding this film's final reveal is about as meaningful as which side of the bed Sharon Stone was on. Jerry Goldsmith’s polished score is not only the most evocative aspect of this overwrought poseur of a narrative, it’s the most credible. Even so, there was a sequel in 2006. Use your basic instinct and see the same director’s The 4th Man (1983) instead. The 1983 film has even more of the mysterious eroticism than Basic Instinct but with outcomes that matter.

All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

A.G.