Strange Days (1995)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers (WGA):

James Cameron (story)
James Cameron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Music | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

you know you want it

Plot:

A former cop turned street-hustler accidentally uncovers a police conspiracy in 1999 Los Angeles.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Rape | Police | Conspiracy | Death

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Lenny Nero
Angela Bassett	...	Lornette 'Mace' Mason
Juliette Lewis	...	Faith Justin
Tom Sizemore	...	Max Peltier
Michael Wincott	...	Philo Gant
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Burton Steckler
Glenn Plummer	...	Jeriko One
Brigitte Bako	...	Iris
Richard Edson	...	Tick
William Fichtner	...	Dwayne Engelman
Josef Sommer	...	Palmer Strickland
Joe Urla	...	Keith
Nicky Katt	...	Joey Corto
Michael Jace	...	Wade Beemer
Louise LeCavalier	...	Cindy 'Vita' Minh

MPAA:

Rated R for intense disturbing violence, sexuality and pervasive strong language.

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Iceland:16 | Canada:R (DVD rating) | South Korea:18 | France:-16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:R21

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lightstorm Entertainment

Trivia:

When the character Mace (Angela Bassett) is delivering a speech to Lenny (Ralph Fiennes) about how memories are designed to fade, Lenny is crumpling in front of a poster of elephants - a well-known symbol of memory. Director Kathryn Bigelow was asked at a special screening if this was intentional, to which she replied, "No. I'm going to have to ask the art director about that..."

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The pre-recorded clip of Lenny watching himself in a mirror shows him in profile, not from directly in front.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lenny Nero: Yeah, boot it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in China White Serpentine (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Lie In State

Cameron wrote and it shows

Yep. It sure shows that Cameron has laid his hand on this film. It has a superb plot, great timing and a spectacular ending - one of the best ever, I might add.

Just about everything you see in this film adds to the momentum. Just look in the background. There is always something going on, someone getting arrested or stealing something or burning something... all of it enhances the doomsday feeling you get when watching.

I also find Fiennes' acting just short of perfect. His face, his gestures and his entire being reeks of the sordid life his character leads. To cast him was genius. Lewis, Sizemore, Bassett and Wincott perform excellently as well - but it's really Fiennes that just makes this film happen.

Do you want to see something unusual for a change? Do you long to see a believable sf-story for once, even despite the fact that the events of the film took place in 1999? And do you yearn for a sensational film made to make you really feel something? See Strange Days.