April 13, 2020
'Basic Instinct'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin grab their ice picks and record the pod of the century on the 1992 erotic thriller 'Basic Instinct' starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone.
Cast
Michael Douglas as Nick Curran
Sharon Stone as Catherine Tramell
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Dr. Beth Garner
George Dzundza as Gus Moran
Wayne Knight as John Correli
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Written by: Joe Eszterhas
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
Notes
- Joe Eszterhas wrote the script in 10 days with no outline. Sold it for $3 million to Carolco Pictures, a record at the time.
- Sharon Stone bounced around in B-movies for years before 'Total Recall' showed her potential. She was 34 years old when she finally got this role and was paid $500,000. She modeled the part after Kathleen Turner.
- The famous uncrossing-legs shot is not in the original script – Verhoeven came up with it on set. Stone claims she didn't know it would be in the final film; Verhoeven says they discussed it.
- The 'fuck of the century' sex scene was filmed over 5 solid days, 10-hour shoots each day – 50 hours total. No body doubles used.
- The film made $352 million worldwide, fourth-highest grossing film of 1992.
- Nick Curran was originally written as a lesbian cop with Kathleen Turner in mind.
- Douglas said one reason he made the movie was that it was the height of AIDS fear, and he saw an opportunity to say 'we can still make a sexy movie.'
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“Basic Instinct 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.”
The hosts concede this is 'really fair' since the first half is stronger, but argue the movie is more of a 'vibe movie' than a mystery.
Most re-watchable scene
- The car ride to the police interrogation and the entire interrogation sequence – Bill's pick.
- The nightclub scene through the 'fuck of the century' sex scene – Chris and Mallory's pick.
- Catherine's beach house visit: 'I wasn't dating him, I was fucking him' and 'Have you ever fucked on cocaine, Nick?'
What aged the best?
- Sharon Stone's performance – Mallory: 'The answer for what aged the best is obviously just Sharon Stone's performance.'
- Cigarette smoking as symbolic of Nick's unraveling – Bill's pick.
- Pre-tech-boom San Francisco – Chris's pick: 'It was fun to see '92 San Francisco.'
What aged the worst?
- DNA evidence not being used – Bill: 'I just feel like this is done in five minutes.'
- The sexual assault scene with Beth (Jeanne Tripplehorn) – 'Does not play very well.'
- LGBT depictions – the film was protested by gay rights activists. All suspected murderers are gay or bisexual characters.
- No condoms in sex scenes amid the AIDS pandemic.
Casting what-ifs
- Kim Basinger, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis all declined Catherine. Douglas was against Stone initially (wanted a bigger star).
- Nick was originally written as a lesbian cop for Kathleen Turner. Tom Berenger was Verhoeven's choice. Swayze, Costner, De Niro, Willis, Gibson, Harrison Ford all considered.
Over-acting award
- Michael Douglas – 'Stop riding me, man, I'll kick your fucking teeth in!' Bill: 'He goes Brick Tamland a bunch of times.'
- Gus – 'She got that magna cum laude pussy on her that done fried up your brain.'
Best "heat check" performance
Roxy – 'You don't leave her alone' / 'She likes me to watch.' The hosts suggest renaming the award after Roxy.
Best "that guy"
- Daniel von Bargen (Lt. Nielsen / 'Internal Affairs') – Bill's pick: 'I don't even know what that guy's name is, but I know him.' Best line: 'You fucked yourself, Shooter.'
- Wayne Knight ('Newman from Seinfeld') as the assistant DA.
- George Dzundza (Gus) – 'basically Brian Dennehy's rival.'
Apex Mountain
- Sharon Stone – unanimous, easiest Apex Mountain ever.
- Pre-Silicon Valley San Francisco.
- V-neck sweaters.
Half-assed (internet) research
- Eszterhas based Catherine on a go-go dancer he knew in Ohio who pulled a .22 on him in a hotel room.
- The Douglas/Tripplehorn sex scene was filmed 'unbeknownst to the performers who were simply rehearsing' – Verhoeven liked the footage and included it.
- Verhoeven wanted Douglas to do full-frontal; Douglas had a contractual clause prohibiting it.
- The beach house was listed for around $52 million.
Picking nits
- No DNA evidence collected or used despite the technology existing in 1992.
- Hazel Dobkins timeline: killed her family in 1956, released in 1965 – only 9 years for killing 4 people.
- The SFPD closing the case because 'the coat was the right size' with zero forensic evidence.
- Nick is 'the worst tail of all time' – gets spotted every time he follows someone.
Sequel, prequel, prestige TV or untouchable?
Yes, absolutely. Mallory suggests telling it from Roxy's perspective – 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead of the 'Basic Instinct' universe.'
Who won the movie?
Sharon Stone – unanimous, no debate.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- Has anyone named Gus ever made it to the end of a thriller?
- How long do Nick and Catherine date after the ending? Bill: 'Three weeks, then she'll do drug rehab.'
- Why does Nick never ask to see the last few pages of Catherine's book manuscript?