9 1/2 WEEKS
RATING: 6.5/ 10 --> So-so
Review Date:
September 22, 1998
Director:
Adrian Lyne
Writers:
Sarah Kernochan and Zalman King
Producers:
Antony Rufus Isaacs, Sidney Kimmel and Zalman King
Actors:
Mickey Rourke as John
Kim Basinger as Elizabeth
Genre:
Drama
Year of Release: 1986
Adrian Lyne follows his tremendous hit FLASHDANCE with a movie
that garnered the most sexual attention for a film since LAST
TANGO IN PARIS (6.5/10). Lyne went on to direct many other
perverted films such as FATAL ATTRACTION (8/10),
INDECENT PROPOSAL (7/10) and 1998's LOLITA.
PLOT:
Man sees woman. Woman sees man. Instant sexual attraction. Man
likes to play head games and control the woman. Woman likes it to
a point. Woman loves man? Man loves woman? Find out.
CRITIQUE:
Dated, redundant, yet still somewhat interesting sexual drama
that pits the young, good looking Mickey Rourke against the young
and even prettier Kim Basinger. The film rolls by without much
emotion, tension or resolution, but does feature a solid
performance by Mickey and some of the most graphic sex scenes
between two stars in a Hollywood picture. The shock and outrage
that people expressed when this movie was first released was now
replaced with a "been there, seen that" kind of feeling
for me.
The soundtrack sucks (except for Brian Ferry's "Slave to
Love" and the sex with food song), the direction is
standard, and the story line blows chunks, but still, the
nostalgia factor and Mickey Rourke acting, well, like Mickey
Rourke, still managed to keep this film afloat the recommendable
area. Also, if you're into Kim Basinger in any which way, shape
or form, check this piece of tape out, 'cause God knows there are
plenty of "provocative" shots in there to keep you busy
during those long and lonely winter nights.
Overall, the film's plot is jammed with sex, some small talk
about sex, kinky sex, some sadomasochistic undertones with a
touch of control and misogyny, and even kinkier sex. If you're
into any of that stuff, cheezy '80's soundtracks, Mickey Rourke's
younger days, or even Kim Basinger's rack, I suggest you walk
into your local video store and lease this Johnson for an
evening. If not, your life will not change, and you could still
catch an even greater acting coup by Mickey Rourke in the
under-appreciated BARFLY (8/10) co-starring the lovely Faye
Dunaway. Either way, Adrian Lyne's still a perv.
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars:
Note that Kim Basinger's character Elizabeth wears white or colorful clothing
except when she is with John (Mickey Rourke), when she wears
black or grey.
A few years after this film, Mickey Rourke tossed in his acting
gloves and replaced them with some real boxing mitts as per his
new career as a professional boxer. After an unsuccessful foray
into that field, and several face-altering operations, Rourke is
now attempting to re-ignite his Hollywood movie career.
Mickey Rourke wrote the screenplay for the film HOMEBOY under the
pseudonym Eddie Cook.
Mickey is in an on-again, off-again marriage to model/actress Carré Otis, with
whom he co-starred in WILD ORCHID. He's also been arrested on
several occasions, for busting up hotel rooms, smoking up in a
plane, and charges of spousal battery.
Writer Zalman King also co-wrote and directed the Mickey Rourke vehicle
WILD ORCHID.
Kim Basinger is married to hairy actor Alec Baldwin, with whom she has
mothered a child named Ireland. Alec once cracked a photographer
in the head for attempting to take a picture of his baby
daughter. He was let go with a simple slap on the wrist, with the
jury ordering him to cough up a mere $4,500 in damages for being
negligent.
(c) 1998 Berge Garabedian
Movie Reviews by Berge Garabedian