Strange Days (1995)

Director:

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers (WGA):

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

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
David Carrera	...	Duncan
Jim Ishida	...	Mr. Fumitsu
Todd Graff	...	Tex Arcana
Malcolm Norrington	...	Replay
Anais Munoz	...	Diamanda
Ted Haler	...	Tow Truck Driver
Rio Hackford	...	Bobby the Bartender
Brook Susan Parker	...	Cecile
Brandon Hammond	...	Zander
Donald 'Donnie' Young	...	Young Zander
B.J. Crockett	...	Young Zander
Dex Elliot Sanders	...	Curtis
Ronnie Willis	...	Homeboy
David Packer	...	Lane
Paulo Tocha	...	Spaz Diaz
J. Michael Muro	...	Nervous POV (as James Muro)
Ron Young	...	Nervous POV Voice (voice)
Art Chudabala	...	Thai Restaurant Owner
Erica Kelly	...	Restaurant Hostess
Marlana Young	...	Waitress
Ray Chang	...	Thai Restaurant Cook
Raul Reformina	...	Busboy
Chris Douridas	...	Talk Radio Host (voice)
Billie Worley	...	Dan from Silverlake (voice)
Amon Bourne	...	Dewayne (voice)
Lisa Picotte	...	Lori from Encino (voice)
Kylie Ireland	...	Stoned Looking Girl
Dru Berrymore	...	Stoned Girl's Lover
Stefan Arngrim	...	Skinner
Agustin Rodriguez	...	Eduardo
Kelly Hu	...	Anchor Woman
Nynno Anderson	...	Angry Jeriko Fan
Liat Goodson	...	Retinal Fetish Bouncer
Honey Labrador	...	Beach Beauty
Delane Vaughn	...	Mace's Husband
Mark Arneson	...	Police Officer
James Acheson	...	Cop in Bathroom
John Francis	...	Death
Zoot	...	Mime
Royce L. Minor	...	Angry Black Kid (as Royce Minor)
Milan Reynolds	...	National Guard Medic #1
Russell W. Smith	...	National Guard #2
Sarah Abukutsa Marshall	...	African Dancer
Russell Hines	...	African Dancer
Michael Jaasi	...	African Dancer
Maurice Marshall	...	African Dancer
Carolyn Adunni McPherson	...	African Dancer
Jennifer Reeves	...	African Dancer (as Jennifer Jin-Jin Reeves)
Charmain Renata Hubbard	...	African Dancer
Reginald T. Thornton	...	African Dancer
Chester A. Whitmore	...	African Dancer
Lori Simone Wilkerson	...	African Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Arneson	...	Metro Division Officer (uncredited)
Yan Birch	...	New Years Eve Party Dude (uncredited)
Andrew Calder	...	New Years Reveler (uncredited)
Jaime Campos	...	Riot / Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Punker (uncredited)
John Daniels	...	Motorcycle cop (uncredited)
Gregory Diamond	...	New Years Eve Kiss (uncredited)
Sebastian Feldman	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
Masaaki Fujimori	...	Sexy Dancer (uncredited)
Kim Giancaterino	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
Paul Malinowski	...	Band - Season to Risk (uncredited)
Duane Trower	...	Band - Season to Risk (uncredited)
Tom Tom Typhoon	...	Crazy Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Kathryn Bigelow

Writing credits (WGA)
James Cameron		(story)
James Cameron		(screenplay) and
Jay Cocks		(screenplay)

Produced by
James Cameron	....	producer
Steven-Charles Jaffe	....	producer
Lawrence Kasanoff	....	executive producer
Rae Sanchini	....	executive producer
Ira Shuman	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Matthew F. Leonetti

Film Editing by
Howard E. Smith		(as Howard Smith)
James Cameron		(uncredited)

Casting by
Sharon Bialy
Debi Manwiller
Richard Pagano		(as Rick Pagano)
Melissa M. Thomas

Production Design by
Lilly Kilvert

Art Direction by
John Warnke

Set Decoration by
Kara Lindstrom

Costume Design by
Ellen Mirojnick

Makeup Department
Michael F. Blake	....	makeup artist
Kathy W. Estocin	....	hair designer
Michael Germain	....	makeup supervisor (as Mike Germain)
Linda Grimes	....	makeup department head: re-shoots
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair department head

Production Management
Ira Shuman	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Albert Cho	....	second assistant director
Kenneth D. Collins	....	first assistant director: second unit
Steve Danton	....	first assistant director
Suzanne Geiger	....	second second assistant director
Mark Hansson	....	second second assistant director
Sam Hoffman	....	second second assistant director
Steven-Charles Jaffe	....	second unit director
Todd Y. Murata	....	dga trainee
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	second unit director (as Phil Pfeiffer)
Rebecca Strickland	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Gregory P. Alcus	....	set dresser
Christopher Amy	....	first assistant property master
Kai Blomberg	....	set dresser
Tristan Paris Bourne	....	on-set dresser
Lloyd A. Buswell	....	construction/welding foreman
Patrick Cassidy	....	lead man
Randy L. Childs	....	propmaker
John Eaves	....	model maker
Michael Marcus	....	art designer
Erik L. Nelson	....	property master (as Erik Nelson)
Christopher S. Nushawg	....	assistant art director (as Chris Nushawg)
Tommy Samona	....	set dresser
Doug Sieck	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Sandina Bailo-Lape	....	foley editor
Tom Barwick	....	foley artist
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Phil Benson	....	sound effects editor
David Franklin Bergad	....	sound editor
Sara Bolder	....	dialogue editor
Gloria S. Borders	....	supervising sound editor
Lindakay Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Don Coufal	....	boom operator
Tony Eckert	....	foley recordist
Sean England	....	sound re-recordist
Dan Engstrom	....	assistant sound editor
Frank E. Eulner	....	sound editor
Andre Fenley	....	assistant sound effects editor
Clare C. Freeman	....	dialogue editor (as Clare Freeman)
Thomas Giordano	....	sound technician
Scott Guitteau	....	assistant sound editor
Lora Hirschberg	....	assistant sound designer
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tim Holland	....	sound editor
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mary Helen Leasman	....	foley editor
Barbara McBane	....	dialogue editor
Susan Popovic	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Rizzo	....	mix assistant
Marcie Romano	....	assistant sound editor
David M. Ronne	....	sound (as David Ronne)
Gary Rydstrom	....	sound designer
Gary Rydstrom	....	sound re-recording mixer
Claire Sanfilippo	....	dialogue editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Christian von Burkleo	....	sound recordist
Hugh Waddell	....	adr supervisor
Cary Weitz	....	boom operator
Jeff Wexler	....	sound
Marian Wilde	....	adr editor
Brian Williams	....	sound designer
Tina Canny	....	machine room operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eric Allard	....	special props
Jim Boulden	....	puppet builder
Craig Caton	....	special effects assistant
Donald Frazee	....	special effects foreman
Terry D. Frazee	....	special effects coordinator (as Terry Frazee)
Scott Lingard	....	special effects technician
Donald Myers	....	special effects foreman
Eugene P. Rizzardi	....	propshop foreman
James S. Trois	....	special effects
Gregor Joackim	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Andra Bard	....	digital production assistant: Digital Domain
Peter Baustaedter	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: Light Matters
Casey Cannon	....	computer graphics producer: BFTRE
Allen Cappuccilli	....	visual effects editor
Floyd Casey	....	digital artist
Mike Chambers	....	visual effects producer
Sean C. Cunningham	....	CG effects supervisor
Chris Dawson	....	motion control camera operator
Karen E. Goulekas	....	digital effects supervisor: Digital Domain
Jerry Hall	....	digital compositor
Caleb J. Howard	....	digital effects artist
Leslie Huntley	....	visual effects producer: Fantasy II Film Effects
Gary Jackemuk	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Amy Jupiter	....	digital effects producer
Jeffrey Kalmus	....	scanning and recording supervisor
James Lima	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Meagher	....	visual effects producer (as Tony Meagher)
Howie Muzika	....	scanning and recording operator
Simon O'Connor	....	digital artist
Shannon Leigh Olds	....	visual effects editor
Ethan Ormsby	....	digital compositor
Kelly Port	....	digital artist
Doug Roble	....	software developer
Andy Rosen	....	digital artist
Patrick Shearn	....	visual effects supervisor apprentice: Digital Domain
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects
Kara Stephens	....	visual effects coordinator
Milos Twilight	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Renée Tymn	....	digital artist (as Renee Chamblin)
Christopher Warren	....	camera operator: Fantasy II Film Effects
Gene Warren III	....	effects camera assistant
Jon Warren	....	miniature rigging: Fantasy II Film Effects
Gene Warren Jr.	....	special effects supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Edson Williams	....	digital compositor
Kieran Woo	....	production controller: Digital Domain
Harrison Zanuck	....	technical assistant
Jeffrey Edward Baksinski	....	digital assistant: Digital Domain (uncredited)
Jim Hillin	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Brian Ripley	....	specialty props (uncredited)
Scott Ross	....	general manager: Digital Domain (uncredited)
Xique Tymn	....	systems administrator (uncredited)

Stunts
Laura Albert	....	stunts
John Alden	....	stunt double: Engelman
Christopher 'Critter' Antonucci	....	stunt performer
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt performer
Chino Binamo	....	stunt double: Duncan
Richard L. Blackwell	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Ericka Bryce	....	utility stunts
Keith Campbell	....	stunts
Eric Chambers	....	stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunt coordinator
Eliza Coleman	....	stunt double: Vita (as Liza Sweeney Coleman)
Sonja Davis	....	stunt double: Mace
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts
Travis Dultz	....	action stunts
Jeffrey Eith	....	stunts
Danny Epper	....	stunt double: Steckler
Debbie Evans	....	stunts
Jeff Evans	....	stunt double: Streckler
Jeff Evans	....	stunts
Christian J. Fletcher	....	stunts
Gary Guercio	....	stunts
Mike Gunther	....	stunt double: Lenny
Dick Hancock	....	stunt double: Tex
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts
Kim Kahana Jr.	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts
Barbara Anne Klein	....	stunts
Paul M. Lane	....	utility stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Will Leong	....	stunts
Eddie Matthews	....	stunt double
Jeff Mosley	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	utility stunts
Patricia M. Peters	....	stunt double: Faith (as Patricia Peters)
Patricia M. Peters	....	stunts (as Patricia Peters)
Denise Lynne Roberts	....	stunt double: Iris
Denise Lynne Roberts	....	stunts
Lynn Salvatori	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunt double: Max
Paul E. Short	....	stunts
Monty L. Simons	....	stunts
James Turner Jr.	....	stunt double: Duncan
James Turner Jr.	....	stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt double: Engelman (as Gary Wayton)
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunts
Keith Woulard	....	stunts
A. David Burleigh	....	extra stunts (uncredited)
Jeff Cadiente	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eugene Collier	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dane Farwell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Al Goto	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Marrocco	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Shred	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Aldo Antonelli	....	camera operator
Kevin Blauvelt	....	rigging electrician
Pat Blymyer	....	chief lighting technician
Glenn Brown	....	assistant camera
John Busch	....	camera operator: New York City
Mike Cameron	....	camera operator
Randy Feemster	....	camera operator: second unit
Jackie Hamilton	....	electrician
Rick Harris	....	grip
Steve Hastings	....	best boy rigger
R. Derek Keener	....	best boy electric: New York
Scott C. Keys	....	lighting technician
Duane Manwiller	....	additional camera operator: second unit
Tim Marshall	....	best boy electric
Wayne Marshall	....	electrician
J. Michael Muro	....	Steadicam operator (as James Muro)
J. Michael Muro	....	camera operator (as James Muro)
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	director of photography: second unit (as Phil Pfeiffer)
Rick Pratt	....	grip
Dan Reilly	....	key grip
Mark Santoni	....	second assistant camera
Paul Santoni	....	camera loader
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator: second unit
Nick Shuster	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Bing Sokolsky	....	additional director of photography: second unit
Roy Unger	....	director of photography: insert unit
Merie Weismiller Wallace	....	still photographer (as Merie W. Wallace)
Chuck Weiss	....	video assist operator
Michael D. Weldon	....	first assistant camera
Ron Newburn	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Anthony Bozanich	....	assistant editor
Jason Gaudio	....	apprentice film editor
Bambi Sickafoose	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Wolfgang Amadeus	....	music mixer
Randy Gerston	....	music producer
Randy Gerston	....	music supervisor
Brian L. McCarty	....	digital music playback operator
Blake Martin Moulin	....	music editor: temp score
Eric Mouquet	....	composer: additional music
Michel Sanchez	....	composer: additional music
Patty von Arx	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
Brian Williams	....	music designer
Joshua Winget	....	music editor
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Phil Balani	....	driver generator operator
Bryce Guy Williams	....	transportation coordinator
Robert G. Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Ed Arneson	....	technical advisor: police
Rory J. Aylward	....	technical advisor: military
Lisa S. Beasley	....	crowd promotion
Daniel Boccoli	....	assistant: James Cameron
Kenneth Patrick Brady	....	production assistant
Becky Brake	....	assistant location manager
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	....	choreographer: slam pit
Edward Cass	....	production assistant
Kenny Chisholm	....	production assistant: Kathryn Bigelow
Mindy Elliott	....	assistant: Steven-Charles Jaffe
Mary-Rachel Foot	....	background cars
Ellen Gessert	....	assistant location manager
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager (as Robert Goldstein)
Ralph Greco	....	production assistant
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach: Ralph Fiennes
Michael Hendrickson	....	production executive: Fox
Amy Hughes	....	production assistant
Jamie Kehoe	....	craft service
Kevin LaRosa	....	helicopter pilot
Stevie Lazo	....	production accountant
Matthew F. Leonetti Jr.	....	production assistant
Ivan Martin del Campo	....	set production assistant: second unit
Bertram McCann	....	marine coordinator
Peter McKernan	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan)
Syd Mead	....	playback deck and additional trode design
David Penotti	....	production assistant
Edward Poveda	....	payroll accountant
Justice Richards	....	action team coordinator
Andrew T. Rothmund	....	executive assistant: Ms. Bassett
Sharyn Shimada-Huggins	....	production coordinator
Michele Short	....	production assistant
Rick Shuster	....	helicopter pilot
Randy Walker	....	technical advisor: police
Chris Winn	....	craft service

Production Companies

• Lightstorm Entertainment

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1996) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1996) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Pioneer (1997) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (2-disc special edition)
• Argentina Video Home (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cinema International (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• VCL Communications (199?) (Germany) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Animal Makers (animal effects)
• Banned from the Ranch Entertainment (BFTRE)
• Computer Film Company, The (CFC)
• Digital Domain
• Fantasy II Film Effects (underwater miniature effects and special photography)
• Light Matters Inc. (additional visual effects)
• Pacific Titles & Optical
• Video Image

Other Companies

• Epic Soundtrax  soundtrack
• Lightstorm Entertainment  soundtrack
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services

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:

In the opening sequence after Nero takes off the head piece, Tick's pet lizard is a collared lizard which can be found in California

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Bonaventure hotel room, Lenny knocks Max to the floor through a doorway, and at that moment Max is not wearing gloves. Once Max hits the floor, his gloves reappear on his hands.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in China White Serpentine (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Undone

Terrific science fiction offering.

Strange Days is a truly astonishing science fiction offering, part scripted by James Cameron and directed with relentless panache by maverick lady-director Kathryn Bigelow. It presents a depressing and bleak, yet worryingly probable, view of the near future, and hooks its story threads upon the impending millennium eve celebrations. Although December 31st, 1999, has been and gone since the making of this movie, it is a credit to the makers that this film still offers a plausible viewpoint about where the world might be at in the next decade or so.

Ralph Fiennes seems initially miscast, but soon wins over the audience as Lenny Nero, a sleazy racketeer who sells "memories" captured on some form of disk, similar to virtual reality but recorded from real experiences rather than computerised ones. He is desperately trying to get back with his ex-girlfriend Faith (Juliette Lewis), but she doesn't want him as she has hooked up with a music producer named Philo (Michael Wincott). Lenny acquires two disturbing tapes, one showing the rape and murder of a woman, the other showing a racially motivated slaying, and before he knows it he is on the run from the culprits who want to kill him before he exposes their crimes. The only person he can trust is his best friend, lady bodyguard Mace (Angela Bassett). To complicate matters further, his ex-girlfriend Faith seems to know something about the disks, and may either be involved in the crimes or at great risk from those responsible.

Bassett is the real star here, in the role of a lifetime as a morally strong and physically stronger heroine. Lewis plays the same old white trash girl she has played many times, but at least she has the experience to bring total conviction to the role. The production values are incredibly high, especially the party at the end which seems to realistically convey an entire city celebrating in the streets. The plot unfolds slowly, but this is a strength rather than a criticism. Each new development slots into place beautifully, and the audience is given time to get into the characters and the situations (which, in too many movies, we are not allowed to do since the pace is often too frenetic).

Strange Days is challenging and aggressive and frequently disturbing. It is also inventive and exciting and ingeniously staged. It is simply a terrific science film which any devotee of the genre absolutely must see.