Contemporary Film Noir: The 80s Until Today: “Basic Instinct 1”
Contemporary cinema , always inspired by society, is characterised by the human curve for sex. The ultimate liberation of sexual taboos on that period is now established. Everything has to do with sex and power. Taking but not giving. Homosexuality is no longer a disgrace. Unconditional almost fetishist sex, with no restrictions, boundaries and shame is the main point. Exclusiveness in love has been replaced by constantly altering lovers. The disclosure of a new disease, called AIDS, shows exactly the wide range of sexual revolution that began in the 80s and still has not found its pick. Drugs, sex and “ fun ” are the new characteristic of the contemporary society.
The culture of consumption, that has began in the 70s, now has to do with a sort of “human consumption ” . Style, attitude and the way of looking are the basic representatives. Being cool, fancy, and all these in the most sexual way. Sexuality that is no longer hidden under insinuations and narrations but ultimately exposed on the screen.
Nonetheless, the invasion of psychology and psychoanalysis as the new trendy tendency of the 90s has influenced the cinema of the new period. The new film noir is still detective stories and unsolved mysteries but now they have to do with the way a pervert mind works. It has to do more with exploring a pervert mind rather than discovering a well hidden story. One could possibly claim that the only witness to the unsolved and still unrevealed secret is the mind rather than the eyes.
Under all these social changes, the 80s were the perfect timing for the femme fatale stereotype to disclosure itself. Having already a long past, now it ' s the time to regain its almost former glory. But now the chance is even better since the social norms have been altered so hard that the femme fatale does not need any excuses. She acts for herself without having the necessity to be forgiven by society. And the most important thing is that in contemporary cinema the figure of femme fatale can survive. Now the society is ready to let her be. But still when did she care about it?
The Revenge of the Femme Fatale
The brutal, evil, obsession, and almost “ animal ' instincts with no fear, regrets or guilt are the characteristics of the femme fatales in “ Basic Instinct 1 ” . The main difference on that film is that there is more that one diabolic and dark female figure. The “ epic ” thriller of the 90s is the revelation of the femme fatale in a period where sex crimes were the favourite theme of this era ' s cinema. Seduction is her ultimate weapon and she knows how to use it, driving her male protagonist, insane.
The writer Catherine Trammell (Sharon Stone) is getting involved in a murder of a famous rock star. The unsolved mystery of sex, drugs and rock n ' roll is a case to be solved by detective Nick Curran. A detective, known as the Shooter due to his fatal mistakes of the past, deals with his personal drama of being aggressive, former drug user and alcoholic. To solve these he is forced to be under psychiatric surveillance by her former lover Dr. Elizabeth Garner, performed by Jeanne Tripplehorn. A series of accidental coincidences that have to do with murders will lead him to the conclusion that the famous writer is a killer. But he can ' t resist her seductive charm and falls into her trap. While investigating, he realizes that his personal life is a part of the game that he plays between the writer and the psychiatrist. Lesbian lovers from the past and an obsession story of the ex Lisa Hoberman, present Dr Garner, for Catherine Trammell will lead him to an inane labyrinth.
The First Femme Fatale
The main figure of femme fatale in Basic Instinct is the main suspect, Catherine Trammell. Wealth, drugs, unconditional sex and a girlfriend are the basic characteristics. Strong and powerful, the ultimate female figure, the untouchable dream of all men, even though she is the main suspect for murder, make her irresistible to everyone. She does not care about feelings, norms, restrictions. The only thing she wants is sex. Her aggressive but still calm attitude makes her the master of the game. She totally exposes her sexuality, and now nudity and pornographic scenes are a part of the film. The weird plot of the movie swaps between her innocence and her guilt. In the beginning all the incidents lead to her being the main suspect of the murder and she in a way, encourages, though denies, having committed it. “ It teaches you how to lie ” she says to the detectives when they ask her about the book she writes (totally depicting the murder) just before the interrogation. “ I like men who give me pleasure. Games are fun ” is her respond when they ask her about her sexual life. No fear, no stress, no regrets. Mere sex, usually kinky and violent is her way of presenting herself. She plays with the detective ' s mind and though he is not an easy victim, he totally surrenders.
