plus nine. neo now.

It should come as no surprise that "Basic Instinct 2," the long-gestating follow-up to Paul Verhoeven's 1992 blip on the zeitgeist screen, is a disaster of the highest or perhaps lowest order. It is also no surprise that this joyless calculation, which was directed by Michael Caton-Jones and possesses neither the first film's sleek wit nor its madness, is such a prime object lesson in the degradation that can face Hollywood actresses, especially those over 40. Acting always involves a degree of self-abasement, but just watching trash like this is degrading.

Now, surprise, surprise! Anyway, that's what I really like about New York Times movie reviews. They're just in-your-face. Also, NYT has another excellent newsletter I can only recommend: Circuit, an excellent tech newsletter, which regularly comes with a top story written by the great David Pogue. They just got it right!