9 1/2 Weeks

A man. A Woman. And an attraction that became an obsession. Mickey Rourke (Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man) and Kim Basinger (Batman) take you on an erotic odyssey in this steamy story of a love affair that breaks every sexual taboo. Director Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction) creates "the most sexualized relationship seen in years" (Vanity Fair) in a lushly photographed rendition of secret fantasies and desires that come vividly to life on screen. Set against the high-tech backdrop of Manhattan, 9 1/2 Weeks is the length of the affair between Elizabeth, a beautiful art dealer, and John, the man who becomes her lover and changes irrevocably the course of her life. After a tantalizing initial encounter, John charts the course of their sensual journey together in a deadly serious game of sexual dominance, unlocking the door to hidden dreams, pain and ecstasy. With a scrip co-written by The Red Shoe Diaries' Zalman King, his wife Patricia Knop and Sarah Kernochan and with a puling soundtrack featuring Grace Jones, Eurhythmics, Joe Cocker and Bryan Ferry, 9 1/2 Weeks is a passionate and provocative look at love and obsession that is moving, thrilling and sometimes shocking.

Frequently given short shrift as a blue movie (which it is) and as mindless (which it isn't), director Adrian Lyne's follow-up to Flashdance (insert own joke here) is a thoughtful, smutty film about a bad sexual relationship. It follows the two-month affair between Elizabeth, an art-gallery dealer, and John, a Wall Street exec. The relationship spirals downward into raunchier sex (filmed, by the way, quite nicely) but principally is about two adults doing adult things but not acting anything like real adults. Attempts at actual human connection, about the longing to be "good," are present here and make this an above-average erotic film. Rourke is just honing his scumbag, bad-boy persona; but it doesn't overwhelm. Lots and lots of Kim Basinger. --Keith Simanton