What’s Up, Doc?

Good morning Consumers, This is Please Consume, the newsletter that loves movies more than Leo loves girls born between the years 2002 - 2005.

This is what we’ve got for today 👇️ 

• Tom wraps up A.I week.

• The staff gives you their picks for what you should be watching this weekend.

• News and Notes.

Let’s get rolling…

Now that The Creator is bursting onto the scene, bringing with it a discussion of A.I. in movies, we decided to take that idea and run with it. So this week we’ll be discussing movies about artificial intelligence.

Basic Instinct (1992)

Written by Tyler Clark

Today, we’ll be discussing one of the most infamous films of the '90s, a star-making, legend-solidifying, smash sensation - Basic Instinct.

It's the gold standard for the film you think of when you hear the term "erotic thriller", because it’s not Caleb’s pick with In the Cut (I’m sorry Jane, I still think you are a brilliant filmmaker).

DISCLAIMER:

Before we dive deeper, we must address the elephant in the room: the way Sharon Stone was treated on the set of Basic Instinct, especially around that scene, is genuinely terrible and was not okay, then or now, for good reason.

We mention this because, despite challenging conditions often found in Hollywood productions, works like The Shining, Apocalypse Now, and Basic Instinct still hold artistic and cultural value.

Cinematic Icons

It's undeniable that this film played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of both Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone in their own unique ways.

For Douglas, it cemented what was already evident - the sleazier the character, the stronger the audience's connection. Anecdotes abound, including one from a screening of another great erotic thriller, Fatal Attraction, where a producer turned to Douglas and said something to the effect of, "It's incredible. They just watched you cheat on your wife, and they're more on your side than ever."

That's the Douglas effect - whether it's the "greed is good" speech in Wall Street or today's pick, a cop fueled by cocaine, chasing bad guys and his own desires, he captivates us no matter how despicable he is.

Then there's Sharon Stone, previously gaining momentum as a potential leading lady, but still mostly known for playing Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife in Total Recall. Transitioning into a role like Catherine Tramell was a monumental leap, and she rose to the occasion, holding her own alongside the formidable Michael Douglas. Her portrayal is iconic, exuding a confident energy that makes you wonder why she wasn't already a movie star.

What’s Up, Doc?

One of the film's standout qualities is its playful cartoonishness, and this is no mere coincidence. Basic Instinct borrows from the world of Looney Tunes comedy, not in an unaware or goofy manner, but by employing the language of Chuck Jones style animation. The dynamic between Tramell and Detective Nick Curran is that of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, Tramell's interactions with Curran can only be characterized as hijinks.

Paul Verhoeven, the film's director, is a cinematic maverick. He's long claimed to be one of the few filmmakers who depict sex and violence on screen "correctly" and once stated, "In my opinion, having sex with a woman is not much different than having coffee with a woman." So, take his statements with a grain of salt.

While the sex and violence in the film are far from being "correct" or "realistic", they possess an ecstatic truth that seamlessly aligns with the film's tone. Much like how he chooses to light interrogation scenes with long stripes to exaggerate the room or the way all the performances are cranked to eleven, the exaggerated nature of the sex and violence highlights how we are all in a perpetual state of performance. This thematic thread runs through his other notable works like Showgirls and the recent Benedetta.

All in all, today’s scene epitomizes Sharon Stone's ascent to stardom, Michael Douglas embracing his iconic status, and Verhoeven harnessing the Bugs Bunny-like energy that Catherine Tramell naturally exudes, whether genuinely or performatively.

Today’s Scene

Here are some selections from our staff for what you should watch this weekend.

Stop the endless Netflix scroll and let us pick for you.

Christian’s Pick

It Follows - Netflix

Let’s keep rolling with the horror.

It Follows is a film that’s near and dear to my heart.

Often the horror genre has the ability to reflect the real world more than any other genre.

In this film, we look at what life can be like after catching an STD.

Turns out this STD follows you until it kills you.

Quite literally.

WATCH NOW

Tom’s Pick

Skinamarink - Hulu

This is the scariest movie I’ve ever seen.

The film itself is really all vibes with hardly a story at all, but it works so well. I’m not kidding when I say I really thought to myself that I might not be able to stomach another jump scare.

Also, it was freezing in the theater when I watched it so I was shivering from the cold and fear. It was brutal.

WATCH NOW

Tyler’s Pick

Us - Netflix

Listen, we were too harsh as a culture on this film. When it came out we all treated it like a dog in the mud for not being Get Out Part II, but can we all agree that in hindsight this movie kinda rips.

It’s fun, thoughtful, visually stunning, and has a tour-de-force performance from Lupita Nyong'o! Another great movie to watch during this chilling Halloween season.

WATCH NOW

Caleb’s Pick

 Memento - Prime

If you are just getting into Nolan or have been a big fan for a while this is an absolute must-watch. It has that dope early 2000’s noir vibe just like In the Cut and Se7en. Also, has one of the best twist endings in Nolan’s career.

WATCH NOW

Here is some of the latest news that we found interesting…