Plot
In London, American best-selling author Catherine Tramell is driving with her companion, famous English football star Kevin Franks. Tramell takes Franks's hand and begins masturbating herself with it as she accelerates the car, but the semi-unconscious Franks appears unaware of what is happening. At the point of orgasm, Tramell veers off the road and crashes into the West India Docks on the Thames. She attempts to save Franks but is unable to undo the seatbelt. When questioned later by the police, she says, "When it came down to it, I guess my life was more important to me than his". Tramell's interrogator, Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Roy Washburn, notes that D-tubocurarine (DTC), a neuromuscular blocking agent used to relax muscles during general anaesthesia for medical surgery, was found in her car and in Franks' body and the autopsy shows he was not breathing when the crash occurred. Washburn says that a drug dealer claims he sold Tramell DTC, but Tramell counters that he is lying and has no evidence. Tramell begins therapy sessions with Dr. Michael Glass, who has conducted a court-ordered psychiatric examination and given testimony in her case. Dr. Glass suspects Tramell is a narcissist who cannot differentiate between right and wrong. Tramell begins to manipulate Glass, who becomes increasingly frustrated and intrigued by her, although he has just begun a relationship with another psychiatrist, Michelle. Meanwhile, the journalist boyfriend of Glass's ex-wife, Denise, who was writing a article criticizing one of Glass' past cases, is found strangled to death. More murders occur around Dr. Glass, including the killing of Denise & Tramell's drug dealer 'Dickie Pep'. His obsession with Tramell grows, and he is increasingly unable to distinguish between right and wrong. When the police begin to suspect Glass of the murders, Washburn, the only one who believes Glass, informs him that Tramell had an affair with Towers & Denise, gave Michael an false alibi for Denise's murder, & she is the real killer attempting to frame him. He confronts Tramell at her apartment, where they passionately have sex. Tramell gives Glass a copy of the draft of her next novel, titled ''The Analyst''. After reading it, he realizes that Tramell has novelised most of the recent events, with Glass and herself as characters. A character based on Glass's female colleague, Dr. Milena Gardosh, is depicted as the next murder victim in the novel. Glass runs to Dr. Gardosh's apartment, finding Tramell already there. Gardosh betrays Michael & informs him that she is now in charge of Tramell and that his license will be revoked. He and Gardosh struggle, and she is knocked unconscious. Tramell then threatens Glass with a gun she carries, but Glass confiscates it from her. Roy arrives at the scene, Glass shoots him and points the gun at Tramell before police tackle him. Later, Tramell visits Glass, now apparently insensible and institutionalised at a mental hospital. She tells him that her novel has become a best seller. Tramell suggests that Glass used her proximity to him as an excuse to murder his enemies, intending to frame her. Flashbacks or imaginings show Glass committing the murders. She says she suspects he is faking insanity; murdering Washburn so he wouldn't be fit to stand trial. She gives him a copy of the book with the inscription, "I couldn't have done it without you." Tramell kisses him and leaves, and Glass begins to smile.Cast
Development
MGM had planned to produce the sequel for release in 2002, but announced in 2001 that they would no longer be making the film. On the same day of the announcement, Stone filed a lawsuit against the movie's producers Andrew G. Vajna and Mario Kassar, claiming she was guaranteed "at least $14 million for her commitment to the sequel, even if the movie never got made" and "as much as 15 percent of gross receipts if the film were released". Paul Verhoeven, who directed the previous film, was offered to direct, but he declined. ''Production
Michael Caton-Jones signed on to direct the film, later stating, "I was completely broke and had to take anything that came in. ''Basic Instinct 2'' was this poisoned chalice that had been passed around and eventually it arrived at my door." David Morrissey was cast in the co-starring role as the psychiatrist who analyzes Catherine Tramell. He said he "loved the script" and "immediately hit it off" with Sharon Stone "and it remained that way through the filming." The film was threatened with an NC-17 rating by the MPAA and went through cuts to achieve an R rating.Reception
Critical response
BBC film critic Mark Kermode was one of the few critics to give it a positive review.Box office
The film was a noteworthy domestic failure at the box office; it grossed only $3.2million in its first weekend of release in the United States and Canada, falling by nearly 70% (to just $700 per theatre) in its second weekend. In the end, the film was in theatres for only 17 days before Sony decided to stop tracking its progress, and finished with a domestic gross of $6.0million. The film earned $32.7million in international markets, for a worldwide theatrical gross of $38.6million, against a budget of $70million. In 2007, Moviefone ranked the film as number 16 on its Top 25 Box Office Bombs of All Time.Awards and nominations
Notes
References
External links
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