Basic Instinct (1992)

I saw Elle last summer, and was offended by the blatant misogyny of Paul Verhoeven. It is evident that he has been a misogynist for over twenty years. So we know that his depiction of women is offensive, but Verhoeven is actually terrible on all fronts. His depiction of bisexuality/homosexuality is horrendous. And Michael Douglas's heterosexual "hero" is toxic too. It is a little difficult to get past these points. That being said, Sharon Stone is devilishly seductive. Douglas's biases are projected onto the viewer. We know from the start who the murderer is. We are shown her blond locks if you could focus on her hair. And yet we question our recollection because Douglas is so easily manipulated. The plot gets a little muddled towards the end. You have to overlook it. But man, you are kept at the edge of your seat, teeth clenched the whole time. It is suspenseful, even if you know what's coming.  

Elle (2016)

This was a terrible movie. And the worst part was that people like it. OK, it has a couple of moments. I appreciate that the French audience could laugh at Catholic jokes. And there is a funny storyline about a black baby. But there is nothing else funny about this movie. And it is disturbing and offensive that other people were laughing so raucously. Moreover, it is so messed up that Paul Verhoeven thought this was OK. There is no situation in which a rape comedy is acceptable.

This is a really sick and misogynistic movie. Verhoeven gets close to redemption by almost portraying a strong independent woman succeeding in a man's world (she makes video games, albeit hypersexualized misogynistic video games). And just when you think that she has overcome her rapist and intimidated him into fear, Verhoeven makes her even more submissive. Elle is portrayed as if she likes rape, as if she is asking for it. What the hell kind of message is that? And in what world is that funny? And the very last couple of minutes just made me livid. When the rapist's wife has the audacity to say "I'm glad you could give him what he needed." What the hell is that supposed to mean? Well, I know exactly what it's supposed to mean, but how the hell is that acceptable? I refuse to believe that this is acceptable behavior in Europe. It can't just be my American sensibilities--it's just outright sick. I am really stunned that this movie has been getting such praise from male and female critics. People are messed up.