Basic Instinct
1992
****
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Leilani Sarelle, Stephen Tobolowsky, Wayne Knight, Dennis Miller, Bruce A. Young, Chelcie Ross
When a rock star is found murdered with an ice pick, detective Nick Curran becomes personally involved with the main suspect, a sexy and smart crime novelist Catherine Tremell. This trashy, entertaining, and hugely successful erotic thriller offers sex, psychological mind games, and terrific dialogue. Michael Douglas is typecast as a man who is in over his head and Sharon Stone uncrosses her legs memorably in a terrific breakthrough performance. Followed by a poorly received sequel in 2006.
