Continuity mistake: During the infamous leg un-crossing scene when Sharon Stone is being interrogated, a cigarette in her hand disappears and then reappears.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Plot summary
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Jeanne Tripplehorn, George Dzundza
Former rock star and San Francisco nightclub owner Johnny Boz is found murdered in his bed. Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) is assigned to the case; he has a history of alcoholism and drug abuse although he is clean now. The prime suspect is Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), an attractive and manipulative novelist who had been seeing Boz for a while. Police psychiatrist Beth Gardner (who happens to be Nick's ex-girlfriend) is brought in on the case when it is discovered that Boz's murder was copied directly from one of Catherine's novels. Nick starts to get too involved and everyone seems to be a suspect.
More mistakes in Basic Instinct
Nick: How did you feel when I told you Johnny Boz had died, that day at the beach?
Catherine: I felt somebody had read my book and was playing a game.
Nick: But you didn't hurt.
Catherine: No.
Nick: Because you didn't love him.
Catherine: That's right.
Nick: Even though you were fucking him.
Catherine: You still get the pleasure. Didn't you ever fuck anybody else while you were married, Nick?
Trivia: Director Paul Verhoeven approached Peter Weller for the role of Nick Curran but the producers opted for Michael Douglas instead.
Question: Why did Catherine target Nick? I know he's a big douchebag, but that can't be the only reason right? Was it to get revenge against Beth for once and all for leaving her?
Answer: Because she's insane? And very ill. And dangerous. A pure bred psychopath. She got off screwing with him, his head. She has a degree in effing with you. Beth was just a bonus. Unlucky. Collateral damage. Unfortunate. Catherine was, is a clinical psychopath. She had no reason. Or it was fun for her. She was one twisted broad. An evil dame. (IMHO).
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Answer: No definitive answer is given in the film. Catherine didn't need a reason for anything that she did. As for Beth, that was just a bonus, or a coincidence. It could be argued that Catherine targeted Beth, and Nick was just unfortunate to be involved with Beth.
ChristmasJonesfan