The aam junta had suspicions about the movie even before it released. When it released, critics tore it apart. The worst review that can be written has been written. Still I went to the theatre to watch it. Why?
The only reason - when the first part released in 1992, I was too small to understand it or watch it in theatre. You shouldn’t be surprised when I say, I had problems getting an entry to an A rated movie even during my engineering days. I grew up, wondering why is the movie so talked about and always in a low voice with a hush hush feeling.
Almost a decade later when I got to see the movie in a small apartment in Andheri, I felt - the movie was terrific. Kaash, I had seen it on big screen. I didn’t want the Kaash feeling to repeat. so I headed straight to the big screen to catch the movie whose tag line says "Everything Interesting begins in the mind".
Sharon Stone has aged but her character Catherine Tramell isn’t. The film makers should have real guts to cast such an old lady, but then who can compete her. The point is she delivers. Her performance cannot be questioned. She oozes confidence and attitude. No one can speak the
dirty talk better. Every word she utters has a punch.
David Morrissey (Dr. Michael Glass) is good looking but no Michael Douglas. There are a couple of main characters more. A character that caught my eye was of the ex-wife. I thought she has a tint of Indian ness in her face and voila she turns out to be Indira Verma.
Its unfair to compare but then the movie is made in such a way, it by default refreshes the first. The story line/theme and central idea is basically the same. The starting scene is same. Even the Ice pick makes a comeback. The background score also has bits lifted from the first.
The story is of a psychopathic serial killer who is able to manipulate everyone in her life and gets a kick out of it. She considers the whole exercise as a risk and she has risk addiction.
The action shifts from San Francisco (1992) to London (2006). Hence, less open air shots, no lush green trees and bright sun light. Remember the scene from the first where the police visit her, while she is at her garden portico. The modern indoor architecture used to film blends so naturally, giving the right feel to the mood depicted. Never does it attract too much attention than required.
Where the first excelled the second falters. Its not captivating, doesn’t get you hooked. Having said that, you cant look away either. The end leaves you confused, you don’t get the hang of it. You get to
know all the possibilities, you will figure out the right one but cannot convince yourself. There’s a feeling all possibilities are equally possible or equally impossible.
Basic Instinct is not what it is remembered for generally. For me, its about the story, the erformances, the dialogues and the way they are recited onscreen. With such metrics, the second installment of the terrific first is not a complete disappointment. Watch it.