Abstract
The Ice Pick Cometh.
Basic Instinct is one of the most famous films of the 1990s. It would break new ground for its shocking portrayal of on-screen nudity (galvanized by its most famous scene - an underwear-free interrogation) despite delivering a plot full of holes and some dreadful dialogue (“he got off before he got offed”). But Basic Instinct was all about star power: that elusive charisma elevating a one-dimensional part into an iconic role that defines the historical moment. Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas both had bags of it and their assured performances in the leading roles propelled the film to one of the biggest hits of the decade.
Basic Instinct is one of the most famous films of the 1990s. It would break new ground for its shocking portrayal of on-screen nudity (galvanized by its most famous scene - an underwear-free interrogation) despite delivering a plot full of holes and some dreadful dialogue (“he got off before he got offed”). But Basic Instinct was all about star power: that elusive charisma elevating a one-dimensional part into an iconic role that defines the historical moment. Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas both had bags of it and their assured performances in the leading roles propelled the film to one of the biggest hits of the decade.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | The Conversation |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Mar 2022 |
Keywords
- feminism
- female sexuality
- Michael Douglas
- film noir
