Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Basic Instinct Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 30, 2008

An ice pick killer is roaming the streets of San Francisco. Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) and his partner Gus Moran (George Dzundza) are dispatched to visit the home of the wealthy and stunningly beautiful Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), whose dead boyfriend is the killer’s latest victim. Following an edgy introduction, Catherine begins provoking Nick and the two quickly find each other entangled in a complex web of sex, alcohol, and drugs. While their unorthodox relationship progresses, Catherine becomes the prime suspect in a complex investigation, and Nick is tasked to determine whether she might be the greatest chameleon his department has ever encountered.

Looking for trouble

Basic Instinct is a classic whodunit story. What makes it different from most everything else we have seen produced by Hollywood is its brash use of sex. Relying on the acting talents of two top-notch actors, Paul Verhoeven has added plenty of depth to a script that filmed in any other way but the one seen here would have amounted to a serious disappointment. Fortunately, the dark and stylish execution is more than enough to turn the viewer’s attention away from a few rather unmissable plot holes.

The lingo, which is quite colorful and was once deemed inappropriate for mainstream TV, is on par with the film’s edgy style. The main protagonists converse in a manner that very much mirrors their twisted actions. Not surprisingly, when Sharon Stone begins to toy with Michael Douglas her words throw the audience in a sea of doubt and uncertainty. Instead of learning more about Catherine, the more she speaks, the less the audience feels comfortable predicting her next move. Thus, Basic Instinct evolves into a guessing enigma that literally remains unsolved until the very last scene.

Despite of its explicit tone, however, Basic Instinct never ever once feels vulgar or insulting -- which was precisely what a number of moralistic watchdogs and outspoken feminist leaders attempted to prove some years ago. The passionate debates the film spurred where leading critics also attacked its portrayal of homosexuals as yet another example that Hollywood is nothing but a biased profiler are so off the mark that all one needs to do is look where contemporary cinema has gone to realize how ludicrous these calls were. Suffice to say, I cannot name a single similarly themed yet politically correct film that has generated the same kind of admiration from film buffs since Basic Instinct premiered.

I would also like to spare a few words for the skeptics out there who have questioned the film’s plot and its ability to overcome a few obvious weaknesses. Yes, with current advancements in forensic studies the mystery behind Basic Instinct would have been solved rather quickly. It is difficult to argue otherwise. What I wish to clarify, however, is that Basic Instinct is more than a mystery film. It is also a character study that draws heavy inspiration from classic film noirs where logic isn’t necessarily used as a foundation for a successful, and in this case wickedly entertaining, story.

Technically, Basic Instinct shines with a strong, often eye-popping cinematography where beautiful vistas from San Francisco are coupled with subdued intimate scenes feeding the story’s sense of suspense. Indeed, Jan de Bont’s contribution is integral to the manner in which the story resonates with the audience. Furthermore, the film’s construction -- it is essentially a carefully designed mosaic of misleading bits of evidence -- is equally effective as it sustains the guessing game that is introduced in the opening scenes until the very end. A very chic soundtrack of original tunes by Hollywood legend Jerry Goldsmith and club hits does some pretty special things to strengthen the suspense as well.

Basic Instinct Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded in MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Basic Instinct arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films.

The presentation is decent but not impeccable. Detail is mostly strong and convincing, colors are lush and vivid, and contrast acceptable. The panoramic vistas from San Francisco for example are solid, with enough depth allowing the viewer to truly appreciate Verhoeven's vision. Some of the indoor scenes, however, are a bit problematic. The color scheme is notably weaker here as the lushness noted earlier is often absent. Furthermore, occasionally I noticed a tiny dose of color bleeding, which may bother some of you with more elaborate setups. I also see that there have been some efforts were made to clean up some of the easily noticeable aging patterns the transfer has suffered. However, I don't believe that this was an elaborate project as consistency appears to be an issue. Still, this is a tremendous improvement over previous DVD releases of the film. With this in mind, I don't believe that if you like this film as much as I do you would need much of an encouragement to consider upgrading from standard-def to high-def. Without a shadow of a doubt currently this is the best presentation of the film in any format.

Basic Instinct Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two tracks on this disc: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and English: DTS-HD 5.1. It is somewhat of a letdown that Basic Instinct did not receive a full-blown DTS-HD Master audio treatment as the film certainly would have benefited greatly from it but nevertheless the DTS-HD track adds enough for one to enjoy the film. The surround activity here is very good and as far as I am concerned notably more impressive than the Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track (a good scene to compare the two would be the road chase after Catherine leaves the house and heads to her mother). Dialog on the other hand is crisp, crystal clear, and very easy to follow. Balance is upheld expertly and I did not detect any hissing, pop-ups, or cracks. Finally, I found the bass to be rich and strong enough to meet the expectations on the more demanding amongst us (the dancing scene in the night club could be a good barometer). To sum it all up, I do agree that a DTS-HD Master would have been the perfect solution for this disc but it is what it is, and the current treatment is quite pleasing as well.

Basic Instinct Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The extras department is where this disc shines. Yes, all of them are ported from the special edition that Lions Gate Films released awhile ago (the rather cheesy Ice Pick-offer) but even with the DVD version I found a lot of these to be more than just rehashed comments and footage. There is plenty here that will definitely add to your appreciation of this film.

First there is top-notch commentary by the director of Basic Instinct Paul Verhoeven and the Director of Photography Jan De Bont (Speed). Both of them go in great detail explaining the excessive use of sex and violence and the reaction the story was meant to spur amongst moviegoers. The perception of sex as convenient form of empowerment is certainly analyzed by Verhoeven in a manner most directors working in Hollywood nowadays would have a difficult time justifying this well. I strongly recommend that you plan on listening to the Dutch director's words. They are most illuminating.

The second commentary on this disc is by feminist critic and author Camille Paglia and as far as I am concerned is in harsh dissonance with what Verhoeven talks about earlier. It deconstructs Basic Instinct through an entirely different set of moral and social norms that more or less are not applicable to the ideas and message Verhoeven introduces through his commentary. It appears that the bulk of the criticism (I would not call it a benevolent analysis) here is justified on the premise of disagreeing in principle rather than critiquing to highlight what the film may or may not misrepresent.

"Blonde Poison" –The Making of Basic Instinct is a look back at the history of the film. There is plenty of discussion surrounding the script of the film by Joe Eszterhas (Jagged Edge), how it was approached by Verhoeven, how the public responded to the film, and what the critics thought about it. To sum it all up while a lot of the comments here recall old "controversies" they do not seem that controversial anymore.

"Cleaning up Basic Instinct" is nothing more than a side by side comparison between the sanitized for TV version of the film and the original theatrical presentation. This is censorship in action, plain and simple. In addition there are a few storyboard comparisons for some of the edgier scenes and a few tests with Sharon Stone and Jeanne Tripplehorn. Finally, we have the original theatrical trailer for the film as well as a gallery with trailers for other LionsGate Films productions.

Basic Instinct Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have a great deal of admiration for Paul Verhoeven's Basic Instinct. Despite a few minor inconsistencies it certainly set a standard of excellence very few films have been able to challenge. There is a timeless sense of wickedness here, and the older this film gets, the more lucrative it feels. Indeed, this is a special thriller which critics and audiences will keep coming back to in the years to come. The Blu-ray release from LionsGate Films is good. It is not solid by any stretch of the imagination, but it far surpasses any other home video release of Basic Instinct. Thus, if you treasure the film as much as I do, adding this release to your collections would be more than justified.