Where to watch Strange Days
3 Stars
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.
Kathryn Bigelow’s ambitious futuristic film is a rambling opus that includes enough fresh elements to warrant a recommendation. It is a technically impressive production that attempts to weave a traditional murder mystery within the framework of a science fiction thriller. One of the most surprising aspects of the story is a subplot involving the assassination of a militant rap artist, which leads to escalating tensions between citizens and law enforcement. All of this unfolds during the final days of the millennium, a time marked by rising concerns and widespread chaos.
While Bigelow’s previous film, Point Break, is considered an instant classic, this follow-up is somewhat of a letdown. This is especially notable given the screenplay was crafted by James Cameron and Jay Cocks; unfortunately, it results in an unwieldy story that suffers from over-plotting. Additionally, Ralph Fiennes is miscast and lacks chemistry with Angela Bassett, which makes their developing love story feel like a weak point in the narrative. Strange Days presents a compelling concept, but it ultimately falls short of being fully realized by a talented filmmaker.
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Written by: James Cameron, Jay Cocks
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis