Sliver

Stylistically this is one of the best films from the early-mid nineties. But style isn't substance. The script was less than perfect going into production, and several endings were filmed for lack of a clear resolution. But don't let that stop you from seeing this film. Stone and director Noyce polish a bad script into a fine music video. It's like watching VH1 merge with the Playboy channel. A fine soundtrack with an even better [unreleased] score from Howard Shore play well against the dramatic, color-rich backdrops and voyeuristic black and white camera shots. It's very easy on the eyes, and perfect for a $14 dvd (if they ever release it).

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.

"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. (**)

Stone moves into an apartment building, has weird neighbors, spooky things start happening left and right, "perv" Baldwin watches her through surveillance cameras etc.

Sliver had potential. While it's not a total time waster it is very disappointing. Director Noyce doesn't seem to know exactly what kind of film he's making here, always promising something that never comes. Rumour has it that the film was drastically cut and re shot and the end result here is not satisfying, though I don't know what was originally planned, but it must have been better. It has it's moments, certain scenes work very well and suspense is easily built but not sustained. As said, the ending is ridiculous and really hurts the film.

Stone is simply a goddess and delivers a good performance but William Baldwin is utterly intolerable, why this man was given leading roles in big budget Hollywood films I will never know. The always reliable Tom Berenger isn't given much to do and his role is a rather thankless one, underwritten and somewhat degrading. Sadly his career went downhill from here on.

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.