Psychiatrist Dr. Isaac Barr (Richard Gere) is treating Diana Baylor (Uma Thurman). His testimony gets Pepe Carrero released angering police detective Huggins (Keith David). Diana's sister Heather Evans (Kim Basinger) comes to his office. They have an affair but her husband Jimmy Evans (Eric Roberts) is a violent Greek gangster.This tries to be a Hitchcockian thriller using every superficial ways. The acting is melodramatically broad. Even the music is reminiscent of the most popular Hitchcock. It feels old and badly overwrought. It's a showy copy of better movies. It would be more compelling to NOT show the killing. It would allow the audience to guess at the truth of the incident and build paranoia which the great master would have done. The movie has to understand that the psychobabble is meaningless to the normal audience. This relies on us believing the jury would buy the psychobabble. For a movie relying on psychiatry, these people are simple-minded. I don't feel for any of these characters. I certainly don't care about Gere's character and by extension, I don't care about this movie.

"Final Analysis" is a moody and stylish psychological thriller in which murder, manipulation and deceit figure strongly and the numerous plot twists just keep on coming, right up to the final scene. It's also one of the most visually stunning neo-noirs ever made and in this context, the contributions of art director Dean Tavoularis and cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth are very significant and worthy of high praise.The opening credit sequence immediately makes it clear that "Final Analysis" is influenced both in its style and content by some of the great film noirs of the past (most notably "Vertigo" but also to a lesser extent "Double Indemnity" and "A Place In The Sun") and in common with these types of movies, it contains a typically gullible man, numerous double crosses and characters with unclear motives who may not be all that they seem.Dr Isaac Barr (Richard Gere) is an eminent psychiatrist who regularly acts as an expert defence witness in court cases where the accused pleads insanity in order to avoid a heavy sentence. At the same time, in his private practice, he has a patient called Diana Baylor (Uma Thurman) who is seeking his help because she's struggling to deal with some traumatic childhood memories. Diana suggests that it may help the progress of her treatment if Dr Barr could discuss some aspects of her background with her sister. Barr is initially reluctant to take up Diana's suggestion but when he subsequently meets her sister, Heather Evans (Kim Basinger), the couple soon become involved in a passionate affair.Heather is unhappily married to a sadistic gangster called Jimmy Evans (Eric Roberts) and also suffers from a condition called "pathological intoxication" which makes her become crazy and violent when she consumes even a very small amount of alcohol. When she attacks Jimmy and kills him and her medical condition is a factor, Dr Barr uses his expertise and connections to save her from the full force of the law. Unfortunately for the doctor, this success is no consolation for the trouble that he encounters when he starts to realise that he may have been set up to be the fall guy as the missing murder weapon could provide evidence of his involvement in the crime.Richard Gere is very suave and self assured as the very successful doctor who's used to being given a great deal of respect. Consistent success and respect can make those who are not vigilant develop an excess of pride and arrogance and can in turn have an adverse effect on their judgement. Dr Barr goes off the rails spectacularly when he gets involved with Heather and breaches the rules of his profession without any apparent concern.Kim Basinger and Uma Thurman are both good as the treacherous and devious sisters and Eric Roberts is especially effective as the vicious and fiercely jealous victim.This glamorous thriller is well written with some very quotable lines and is extremely easy of the eye. It's thoroughly absorbing, great fun to watch and should be regarded as essential viewing for all neo-noir fans.

This film, if analyzed visually is quite interesting, and the addition of a distinguished Richard Gere and still- beautiful Kim Basinger doesn't hurt, either.The sets are reminiscent of Hitchcock's "Vertigo"; there is even a scene with violets, right out of Freudian analysis, which Gere translates for his unsuspecting patient.Uma Thurman is Basinger's younger sister, there is a murder accusation, Eric Roberts as the abusive husband, ends up being murdered. (This part was a bit too formulaic; mob ties again) but Roberts also gives a believable performance.While you may have to ignore basic logic, if you enjoy the actors, this film is worthwhile. For some reason Basinger is better in under-stated roles, and Richard Gere transcends the material, and is interesting to watch. 8/10.

FINAL ANALYSIS, in my opinion, is an excellent, sexy, edge-of-your-seat romantic thriller. If you ask me, the opening credits were really neat. You'll have to see the movie if you want to know why I said that. Anyway, I'll get back to critiquing this movie. I thought that Heather (Kim Basinger) was a very beautiful seductress. To me, Barr (Richard Gere) and Diana (Uma Thurman) were excellent in all their scenes together. When Jimmy (Eric Roberts) got hit in the head, I got really uncomfortable. Now, in conclusion, I highly recommend this excellent, sexy, edge-of-your seat romantic thriller to any Richard Gere or Kim Basinger fan who hasn't seen it. You're in for a good time, so go to the video store, rent it or buy it, kick back with a friend, lock the doors and windows, and watch it.