Sliver

Sliver (1993)

Based on Ira Levin’s novel, Sliver follows Sharon Stone’s Carly Norris as she moves into an exclusive New York City apartment building and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly mystery. Filmmaker Phillip Noyce, working from Joe Eszterhas’ screenplay, delivers a slow-moving erotic thriller that nevertheless remains relatively watchable for the duration of its runtime, as the picture boasts a fairly irresistible premise that’s heightened by its raft of above-average performances – with Stone’s vulnerable, affable turn matched by an appealingly eclectic supporting cast that includes William Baldwin, Tom Berenger, and Martin Landau. It’s fairly disappointing to note, then, that Sliver just isn’t quite able to become the suspenseful, engrossing endeavor Noyce has undoubtedly intended, with the odd (and palpable) lack of forward momentum paving the way for a midsection that’s really only effective in fits and starts – which, when coupled with an oddball, abrupt final stretch, ultimately does cement the movie’s place as a decent-enough timekiller that’s rarely as engrossing as its source material.

**1/2 out of ****

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