Strange Days (1995)

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

Director:

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers:

James Cameron (story), James Cameron (screenplay)

Stars:

Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In 1999, Los Angeles is racial war zone with the army and LSPD and SWAT officers fighting Afro-American people. The former cop Lenny Nero is a dealer of illegal recording in CDs that gives the memories and sensations of the recorder to the user. He buys the recordings from the supplier Tick; he misses his former mistress Faith, who was a hooker and now is a singer; his best friend is the private eye Max Peltier and the limousine driver Lornette 'Mace' Mason, who has unrequited love for him. Two days before the turn of the century, the black rapper Jeriko One is murdered. The hooker Iris seeks Lenny out but there is an incident and they do not talk to each other. However she drops a recording into Lenny's car while he unsuccessfully tries to meet Faith at a night-club. However her boyfriend Philo Gant does not let them talk. When Lenny learns that Iris was sadistically raped and killed, he gets involved in a sick scheme and discovers dirty hidden secrets.

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Plot Keywords:

cyberpunk | virtual reality | murder | rape | year 1999 | 

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Taglines:

you know you want it

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strange Days 1999

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,062, 8 October 1995

Gross USA:

$7,959,291

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,959,291

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lightstorm Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS Dolby SR

Color:

Color (CFI)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At approximately 25 minutes in, when Lenny Ralph Fiennes meets Keith the Attorney, a drink is visible on the table that looks like a martini, but it has 3 pearl onions in the glass instead of an olive. It is called a Gibson, likely a reference to William Gibson, who is recognized as the godfather of cyberpunk fiction and coined the term 'cyberspace' in his 1984 novel Neuromancer. The SQUID technology in the film is very similar to the SImStims described in Neuromancer.

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Goofs

When Faith's handcuffs are supposedly being removed, it's clearly visible that she isn't cuffed anymore and that she just kept her hands close to the bed frame, while the unknown person pretends fumbling with the cuffs that are not there. He then picks them up from somewhere behind the bed frame so that it looks as if he just removed the handcuffs from her wrists.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tick:

• you ready?

Lenny Nero: Yeah, boot it.

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Crazy Credits

The ending credits end with the dedication "To Gertrude".

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Alternate Versions

Two scenes cut from the film for pacing are available on the US domestic laserdisc and DVD. The first one shows Lenny Nero trying to "boost the gain" on the first snuff clip so he can make out the face of the murderer (and very nearly frying his brain in the process). The second shows how Lenny and Mace sneak into "the most sold-out party in history:" they swipe a pair of media badges from cameramen. The main cameraman, Vincent, is portrayed by Hill Harper, and Lenny jumps in his shot, which is where the view of his face on the big-screen TV in the square comes from.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

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Soundtracks

Kesh Jig/Old Hag at Spinning Wheel
Performed by The 52nd St. Band

User Reviews

One of my all time faves!

Unfortunately, this film failed at the box-offices, although it´s one of the greatest masterpieces of the 90s. The first time I saw "Strange Days" was about five years ago, and then over and over again. If you think Ralph Fiennes is only able to play sensitive and problematic characters watch this: it´s his most unusual, but one of the best performances in his career - a performance of a coolness you only would expect from Samuel L. Jackson. Angela Bassett is one of the toughest women cinema has ever seen and Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Glenn Plummer, William Fichtner - every single role is casted perfectly...

"Strange Days" is thriller, drama and big city ballad in one piece. I can´t remember any movie that reflects the philosophy of life of Generation X better than this one. Lenny deals with the "Squids" which are the experiences and emotions of men saved on a mini disc. Emotions as a product, a drug - a compensation of modern life for the growing loneliness and anonymity. The only possibility for weak persons like Lenny to feel real. A movie like "Fight Club" wouln´t have been possible without "Strange Days"; other releases like "The Cell" or even Scorsese´s "Bringing out the dead" copied the incomparable make. Although this film is older than six years it hasn´t lost anything explosive effects, what is connected with the video clip style this movie has, which gives "Strange Days" a touch of being ageless. The two most brilliant scenes are the opening sequence - the robbery in the Chinese restaurant - and the showdown down in the streets at the millenium party. Also the soundtrack (Deep Forest, Peter Gabriel, Skunk Anansia, Strange Fruit...) is one of the best I´ve ever heard, what makes "Strange Days" an unforgettable experience for every watcher. (10/10)