Sliver

Whether it's Sharon Stone, or the obvious truth about my voyeuristic tendencies, I like this movie. Sharon has seldom been more alluring and Baldwin's character, with his eerily magnificent toys, lives his life observing others. A movie for the CNN generation I'd contend.

I waited 18 years to see this movie because I had always heard how terrible it is. When it first came out, I seem to recall thinking it highly implausible that someone could have the kind of video and audio equipment you see in this movie. But the equipment and its use in the film is entirely plausible, even in 1993.

I found no problems with the plot. It's an interesting thriller with something that's hard to find--a unique story that hasn't been told a thousand times already. The acting is good. The characters and their actions are completely believable. I was never left thinking that a real person might not have done the things that the people in the movie did.

Having seen the movie, I really don't understand why so many people criticize it so harshly. In terms of telling a compelling, entertaining story, I would say it is far better than movies like Hereafter and on par with a movie like the Adjustment Bureau (just two recent movies I could think to compare it to).

If you haven't seen it, give it a chance.

"Sliver" was not nearly as bad as most reviewers have suggested, in my opinion. It may be true that Joe Eszterhas rehashes his basic formula one more time here - "Is the person with whom the hero/heroine gets sexually involved a murdered or an innocent victim, framed by someone else?" - but it's a formula that works, that grabs your attention instinctively. The plot is flimsy, yet inherently interesting. Maybe this thriller would've been tighter if the gratuitously protracted (and not very erotic) sex scenes had been trimmed down in length, but Baldwin is magnetic in his role and Sharon Stone, great to look at as always, also gives a decent performance; they both overshadow Tom Berenger who doesn't make even the slightest impression. (**)

35-year-old book editor Carly Norris, who was married for 7 years but is now having trouble starting a new relationship, wants to move into the posh high-rise Sliver Building on New York's East Side. She is surprised by how quickly her application is approved, but college professor Gus, who also lives in the building, says Carly looks just like the previous resident of 20-B. A number of the building's residents seem friendly, especially Zeke.

Someone is able to see what is going on in the apartments, and this person even has videotapes of some of the action. In addition to whoever this person is, Carly is also spying on people after someone gave her a telescope. Specifically, the couple having sex in a nearby building.

Carly's boss Alex won't give her a raise. He does take her to lunch, where they meet Jack Lansford, author of 'Flesh and Blood', which Carly has never read.

Strange things start happening in the Sliver building. And Carly knows something happened to the woman who had her apartment. The movie has a chilling quality that increases as time passes.

I thought Sharon Stone did a good job here, but her best moment was a funny scene where Carly's date wants to see her panties. And Carly did have a surprising reaction to ... well, I won't give it away. Stone was quite good in the scene, though.

There was plenty of good acting, but I think CCH Pounder stood out as one of the detectives.

Overall, I was happy with the movie. It was a little violent, which is to be expected, but just tense enough to be interesting.

Sharon was the absolute goddess back in the early 90s. She exuded the vibe of a blonde bombshell back in the 50s and 60s. Her every smile, every laugh touched the young soul of mine when I watched it as a kid. William Baldwin, however, couldn't act to save his life. The music was the highlight, eerie but atmospheric. However, the plot is a straight ripoff from Basic instinct, only 10 times thinner. The ending also made no sense at all. According to the backup ending, Zeke was supposed to be the bad guy and in the end, he flew a helicopter into a vocano with Carly after admitting he was the one behind it all. Makes sense since this and Basic instinct came from the same writer.

Sharon as Carly was absolutely beautiful though. The restaurant scene where she seduced Zeke was comparable to any scene in Basic Instinct. Strongly recommended for any Sharon fan.