… and the Second Femme Fatale
One of the main differences in the film noir movies of the last period is that they can have more than one femme fatales. The “ Basic Instinct 1 ” is a movie where this specific figure is obvious. The liberated, non-conservative contemporary society of the 90s is ready to accept more than one “ bad girls ” . The second figure of femme fatale in this movie is the ex-girlfriend of Catherine Trammel (Sharon Stone), named Dr. Elisabeth Garner, that now works as a doctor in the police. And that is a great « abnormality » and contradiction in the movie. A totally intriguing point for the plot. In fact, I would claim that this female figure is the main femme fatale of the movie.
She used to be obsessed with her former lover and classmate in college and after having restricted orders against her, she decided to change her name. So Lisa Hoberman, now became someone else. New present for a secret past. The first time that we can understand her character as a femme fatale is when the detective Nick Curran investigates her past. He figures out that her ex husband had also died in unclear circumstances some years ago. That ' s maybe the first attempt of the screenplay to focus on her as a femme fatale. Her dark past is one of the main “ stigmas ” that betray her as a lethal woman.
He is absolutely revealed of her deadly character when she frames and eventually kills “cold blood ” a colleague of hers, when he starts to dig up her past. But catharsis is inevitable and she is being killed by her ex lover and main hero of the movie performed by Michael Douglas. Some of her main quotes in the movie, while trying to persuade him that Catherine Trammel is a murderer, show her remorseless way of acting. But I will focus on “She seduces people, she manipulates people. ” , “ she ' s evil, she ' s brilliant ” , which are her lines to Michael Douglas when he asks her about the mysterious stories of her past and her relation with the main suspect. Her ruthless way of attempting to put the blame on Catherine Trammel by totally distorting their past together in the college is once again one of a femme fatale ' s “ hidden ” cards to win this battle of survival.
… or Maybe even a Third One?
The paradox in “ Basic Instinct 1 ” is that one can find even a third femme fatale in the movie. That is the character of Roxy( performed by Leilani Sarelle), Catherine ' s Trammel lesbian lover. Even if her part in the movie is small, you can see that she acts as a genuine femme fatale. She kills herself on an accident while trying to kill detective Nick Curran because he stole her lover. Ruthless and deadly, even though a bit clumsy and not a winner in the game of survival or reign. I would call her a femme fatale , or better a potential one, since she really walks a path of mystery and darkness. She attempts to murder the man that is on her way, even though not successfully. Her only weakness is that she lets her jealousy reign her mind and that is what leads her to her death. She has all the potential to became a great femme fatale but maybe three deadly figures would be too much, at least for one movie.
Femme Fatales Fulfill the dream?
The main thing in the femme fatales of the “ Basic Instinct 1 ” is that even though the society was ready for them, still there is no much room for all of them. One can conquer the story but two are more than enough. The basic characteristic of the femme fatale of the new age is that she ultimately represents the modern human being. Selfish, cruel, ruthless, aggressive. A true hunter. Never cares about anyone or anything. Willing to do what it takes in order to succeed. All these figures are those that represent the contemporary way of acting. In a society where we are tough to step on others in order to achieve our goals, to do anything it takes- no matter how irrational or wrong this is- the stereotype of femme fatale is maybe the only “ normal ” character. She is the ultimate representation of contemporary ' s needs for success and survival. It may sound weird- even stupid- and maybe some will stand up and scream that that ' s not the way people are taught to act today but at least that ' s what most people try to do. Money, personal success, drugs, mystery and unscrupulous methods are what a femme fatale is made of and nowadays, society “ offers ” her all the opportunities to do so.
I would dare to claim that maybe that ' s one of the main reasons that the stereotype of femme fatale is so “ wanted ” up until today. No one wants to be a looser. No one wants to be the victim and definitely no one wants to be seen as the background character of a hero's life. We all want for ourselves to be dominants, masters of the game and femme fatale is the master.
