9 ? Weeks

Last week, I decided to rent "9? Weeks" out of a sudden, random interest in Mickey Rourke. Quite the heartthrob in this 1986 film, we see sparks fly between him and co-star Kim Basinger, who make a very sensuous yet tangled couple in this erotic drama.

Set in New York City, two lonely people, Elizabeth, played by Basinger, and John, played by Rourke, meet by chance and quickly act upon their instant chemistry. Freshly divorced, the naive Elizabeth cannot resist the handsome and mysterious John. He artfully seduces her, starting with a signature foreplay scene in which he teases her body with an ice cube as she lies blindfolded. Their relationship escalates into romance but not without its own erotic sadomasochism. It is through this sexual feeding and tension that John gains control over Elizabeth, only to eventually see his habits sadly get in the way of their romance.

The film is nicely mixed with scenes and games of erotica, including a famous striptease, as well as scenes portraying the true affection that beautifully develops between John and Elizabeth. We see a combination of lust, love and manipulation play around with the human psyche, leading to consequences that end up hurting both characters. Although "9 ? weeks" is entertaining to watch with its sexual and romantic content, it lacks creativity in its plot and therefore seems merely a typical romantic drama.

One thing that could've made the film more creative would have been the emphasis of the title in some manner. For example, director Adrian Lyne could have added indications as to which week of their relationship John and Elizabeth were in. This would've enhanced the movie's drama, as well as allow viewers to get a better sense of the couple's progression. Instead, from watching it, the movie could just as easily be called "2 weeks" or "12 ? weeks."

However, I must commend the film's soundtrack, which includes catchy '80s songs from Duran Duran, Corey Hart, and The Eurhythmics.