I was introduced to this movie whilst watching a late-night film review programme in 1995. The scene where Mace pushes Lenny against the wall, shouting at him was playing and I remember thinking that I have to see this movie !
The critics have given this movie a hard time, saying that the film can't decide what it wants to be; Sci-Fi, Action or Romance. The very fact that you can't put this film in one category is what makes it all the more interesting for me.
Lenny Nero is a lazy, selfish, sweet-talking fashion victim who is not as slick as he makes out. He is in turn annoying, broken-hearted and sensitive.
Mace is a strong single mother who is not on drugs, has a legal job and acts as Lenny's unpaid bodyguard, nurse and conscience. She is most certainly the "action hero" of Strange Days.
Admittedly the film does have it's embarrassing moments; Lenny telling Mace that Faith could lift "all the hurt and hate up to heaven in one voice", Mace telling Lenny that the Jericho tape "could change things before we all go off the end of the road" and Max's hair !
However there are some brilliantly original scenes such as Lenny talking to Mace and Max after seeing the rape tape and asking "Why me ?", Mace kicking Lenny out of her car, the car chase that culminates on the pier, Lenny fainting, Lenny's tenderness when showing Mace the Jericho tape, the look that Lenny gives Faith after the fight in the hotel and of course the now infamous rape.
The occasionally corny lines/overacting are a small stain on Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett and Tom Sizemore's great acting. Also the roles of Faith, Max, Philo and others are somewhat over the top. Apparently Andy Garcia and Bono were to play Lenny and Max so how the movie would have turned out is anyone's guess.
However it's a movie that deserves more praise than criticism. Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett et all were bold enough to break down certain film stereotypes and they should be proud of that fact.
It's a film worth seeing more than once.
The critics have given this movie a hard time, saying that the film can't decide what it wants to be; Sci-Fi, Action or Romance. The very fact that you can't put this film in one category is what makes it all the more interesting for me.
Lenny Nero is a lazy, selfish, sweet-talking fashion victim who is not as slick as he makes out. He is in turn annoying, broken-hearted and sensitive.
Mace is a strong single mother who is not on drugs, has a legal job and acts as Lenny's unpaid bodyguard, nurse and conscience. She is most certainly the "action hero" of Strange Days.
Admittedly the film does have it's embarrassing moments; Lenny telling Mace that Faith could lift "all the hurt and hate up to heaven in one voice", Mace telling Lenny that the Jericho tape "could change things before we all go off the end of the road" and Max's hair !
However there are some brilliantly original scenes such as Lenny talking to Mace and Max after seeing the rape tape and asking "Why me ?", Mace kicking Lenny out of her car, the car chase that culminates on the pier, Lenny fainting, Lenny's tenderness when showing Mace the Jericho tape, the look that Lenny gives Faith after the fight in the hotel and of course the now infamous rape.
The occasionally corny lines/overacting are a small stain on Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett and Tom Sizemore's great acting. Also the roles of Faith, Max, Philo and others are somewhat over the top. Apparently Andy Garcia and Bono were to play Lenny and Max so how the movie would have turned out is anyone's guess.
However it's a movie that deserves more praise than criticism. Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett et all were bold enough to break down certain film stereotypes and they should be proud of that fact.
It's a film worth seeing more than once.
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