SYNOPSIS

In the psychological thriller Basic Instinct 2, after re-locating from San Francisco to London, best-selling crime novelist Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) once again finds herself on the wrong side of the law.

Dr. Michael Glass (David Morrissey), a respected London criminal psychiatrist, is brought in by Scotland Yard detective Roy Washburn (David Thewlis) to perform a psychiatric profile and evaluation of Tramell following the mysterious death of a top sports star. Physically drawn to Tramell and mentally intrigued by her, Glass, against the advice of his mentor, Dr. Milena Gardosh (Charlotte Rampling), is quickly sucked into her web of lies and seduction. The professional boundaries between Glass and Tramell are obliterated when she uncovers his basic instincts. A deadly battle of wits ensues, climaxing as Glass faces a choice that will change both their lives forever.

Celebrated London psychiatrist Dr. Michael Glass (David Morrissey) is at the top of his game. Charismatic and successful, he has a thriving practice, he is highly respected by his peers and his academic articles win him praise and accolades.

When Detective Superintendent Roy Washburn (David Thewlis) asks Glass to evaluate a beautiful and captivating woman who has been linked to the mysterious death of a famous sports star, his entire world is turned upside down.

The woman in question is Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a best-selling American crime novelist whose grisly fictional crimes take place in real life with alarming frequency.

The magnetism between the two is immediate and Glass is intrigued by Catherine both mentally and physically. Quickly sucked into her web of lies and seduction, Glass’ own basic instincts are uncovered as professional boundaries are obliterated.

As people around him are murdered one by one, a deadly battle of wits ensues between Glass and Tramell, leading to a startling climax in which he must make a choice that will change both of their lives forever.

A slick psychological thriller, Basic Instinct 2, explores what happens when the darker side of human nature is uncovered. Has the intelligent, seductive and manipulative Tramell finally met her match?

Review by
MICHAEL SMITH

"I've got these really great nude videos of Sharon Stone -- do you have a movie we can put them in?" I can almost imagine this pre-production dialogue between writers on Basic Instinct 2. Or perhaps this: "I have this really cool mystery thriller. Do you have any nude videos of Sharon Stone we could throw in?"

With the current trend of filming comic books and graphic novels (V for Vendetta, Spawn, X-Men, Superman, Spider-man), actors play comic book characters. But in Basic Instinct 2, the actors become comic book characters.

BI2 is an ineffective thriller. It tries too hard to divert audience attention from the truth -- like disguising the butler as the chauffeur so people will suspect the nanny. None of the character actions are motivated. Catherine Trammell (Sharon Stone) is a tramp, Dr. Michael Glass (David Morrissey) is a psychologist who can’t resist his weaknesses, and neither of them are believable as villain or victim. There are only a few moments where you feel any empathy for them or the murder victims. The character who evokes the most empathy is police inspector Roy Washburn (David Thewlis, the one good performance).

Here's the “thriller” part of the film: Londoners are being murdered and all of them have a connection with Dr. Glass. His ex-wife, her new lover, and a one night stand of Catherine’s -- they're all murdered. Is Dr. Glass being set up? Is Catherine's trying to kill him? Is she trying to manipulate him into killing for her? Or is she just making the nanny take the fall for the chauffeur impersonating the butler?

Though it's actually not a bad idea for a plot (psychological thrillers are supposed to surprise), it gets weird. Toward the middle, I began comparing it to the 1981 steamfest Body Heat with Kathleen Turner. But this one just didn’t come off as well. I couldn’t see what drew Dr. Glass to Catherine. He uses her as a shield to perform his own heinous acts, yet she's as omniscient and ubiquitous a stalker as I’ve ever seen. And Dr. Glass (whose office is in a comical glass phallus - the famous Gherkin Building) is supposedly Great Britain’s premier psychoanalyst. Caveat Emptor!

Most of this movie's thrills are lost in contrivance. Every crime scene and “chance” meeting between Catherine and Dr. Glass is too convoluted, implausible, or convenient. Though Catherine and Michael have cause not to be together -- Michael for professional reasons, and Catherine because there are better fish in the sea -- they're always together. And with no fire between them, there's no struggle to stay apart. I guess Dr. Glass was just curious, and Catherine was, um, just the victim.

Basic Instinct 2 has all the symbolism and cliché of a cheap porno flick: phallic buildings, strategically placed bad art, pretentious parties, and cheap sex talk with a backdrop of sexual zymology. The story could have been interesting enough without the gratuitous nude scenes. Don’t get me wrong—Sharon Stone still looks great, but they have magazines for that.

In the end, Catherine’s book gets written and it plays out just like the movie. Perhaps the screenplay uses future and past with impunity. Perhaps there is a back story that I am not aware of. The bottom line is that this is a missed opportunity. A great psychological thriller of intrigue, betrayal, and double-cross—a sordid sex affair to cloud everyone’s thinking—almost happened. I just think there was too much of a good thing (i.e., Sharon Stone, skin, perversion, plot) to make the story flow.

Honestly, I guess I’m just not all too thrilled to see so much (literally) of Sharon Stone. Really, I do enjoy a good thriller—and I was truly hoping for one.

Unfortunately, I just got Sharon Stone in the nude.