A classic

I already saw this movie but, since it was ages ago and since it was available on Netflix, I thought I might as well check it out again. When it was released, this movie was a huge hit. Nowadays, it would seem impossible that a thriller like this one would ever again become the biggest movie of the year with all these huge blockbusters but, back in 1987, this movie managed to be the highest-grossing film worldwide. Anyway, in the erotic thriller genre, it is definitely a classic and, in my opinion, what made this movie worked was the perfect cast. Indeed, Michael Douglas was basically born to play such guys (see also ’Basic Instinct’) and he was fine. Even more impressive was Glenn Close who was a rather odd choice and no one at the time or even nowadays would  think of her to play a sexual psychopath but she really nailed it. Unfortunately, as pointed out by Glenn Close herself, the movie completely ignored the fact that  her character was probably mentally ill and this aspect was never developed in this movie which was too bad. Indeed, instead, the character played by Douglas was set as a victim, a guy who basically committed a rather minor ‘indiscretion’ and who should be allowed to go back to his life as if nothing really happened. I mean, if they had flirted but he had rejected her advances and she would have kept stalking him, that would have been a really different story. Even more problematic was the fact that, in spite of Close’s impressive efforts, her character was basically reduced to some kind of unhinged psychopath and there was no room to develop her thoughts and feelings about what she was going through. The ending was also so over-the-top and so removed from reality. In my opinion, it was an attempt to remind the viewers that they are actually watching a movie with some completely fictional characters so they shouldn’t bother reflecting about themselves and their own behavior. Anyway, in spite of its flaws, it is still a decent thriller though and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.