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Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott ... see more see more... , Vincent D'Onofrio , Stefan Arngrim , Brigitte Bako , David Carrera , Art Chudabala , Chris Douridas , Richard Edson , William Fichtner , John Francis , Todd Graff , Ted Haler , Kelly Hu , Nicky Katt , Maurice Marshall , Royce Minor , Malcolm Norrington , David Packer , Glenn Plummer , Agustin Rodriguez , Paolo Tocha , Ron Young , James Acheson , Josef Sommer , Joe Urla , Brandon Hammond , Ray Chang , Jim Ishida

Set in Los Angeles two days before the end of 1999, Strange Days introduces us to Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), an ex-cop turned sleazy hustler who hawks the newest underground thrill on the black marke... read more read more...t: a "squid," a headpiece that allows one to transmit digital recordings of other people's thoughts, feelings, and memories into their brain; as Lenny describes it, "this is real life, pure and uncut, straight from the cerebral cortex." Lenny deals "clips" (the software) as well as "squids" (the hardware) for this new and illegal entertainment system, and while sex and violence are the most popular themes, Lenny refuses to deal in "blackjack" -- slang for snuff clips. Lenny is nursing a broken heart after his girlfriend, punk singer Faith Justin (Juliette Lewis), left him, and he spends a lot of time with clips he recorded when they were together. Faith is now involved with Philo Grant (Michael Wincott), a music business tycoon who once managed Jeriko One (Glenn Plummer), a hip-hop musician and political activist whose murder has sent L.A. into a state of chaos. When a clip emerges that shows that Jeriko was killed by L.A. police officers, Lenny finds his life in danger, and he tries to escape possible death on both sides of the law with the help of his friend Mace Mason (Angela Bassett). Strange Days was written by James Cameron in collaboration with former film critic Jay Cocks; Kathryn Bigelow directed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

32,645 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

40 critics

R, 2 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Release Date: October 13, 1995

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DVD Release Date: September 7, 1999

Stats: 1,333 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,333)

  • jmanard52
    June 6, 2008
    jmanard52
    One of my all time favorite sci fi flicks. Fiennes is awesome in this role. This movie feels so much like a possible future.
  • ythelastman89
    February 24, 2011
    ythelastman89
    I think this really stands out as the greatest example of 90s mindset action/sci-fi. In look and story structure, it has all the elements of the time period crushed together into one extravaganza of gunfire and chaos. It's still funny how believable Ralph Fiennes is as a good guy... read more, you'd just never expect it going in. You've also got Juliette Lewis walking around naked for pretty much the entire running time, so even if you don't like the movie there's a treat for you. One of its other standout contributors is the incredibly under-appreciated villain of the 90s, Michael Wincott. This movie really does have a lot to say about the future of society and pop culture, but it does so in a way that doesn't come off as heavy handed. While it has the shortcomings of being almost too 90s for its own good, the majority of this movie is just amazing. After seeing it a few times, even the not-so-lovable elements seem to disappear.
  • imrealgod
    May 5, 2010
    imrealgod
    The who-dun-it part is quite predictable, but overall, the movie is fairly watchable.
  • allan913
    April 14, 2010
    allan913
    A kinetic, stylish, sexy and mind-blowing action-packed thriller. It's electrifying and pulse-pounding all the way to the end. A dazzlingly original, hard-rocking, hard-boiled and wickedly entertaining thrill-ride. An absolute triumph from Director, Kathryn Bigelow and Writer/Pro... read moreducer James Cameron. A stunningly well-crafted and superbly performed film. It's astonishing, remarkable, compelling and exhilarating. A kick ass adrenaline-rush that just flat-out rocks. It's loaded with tremendous suspense, thrilling excitement and explosive action. A spectacular and unforgettable movie. Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett give excellent performances.
  • matertenebraum
    November 23, 2009
    matertenebraum
    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 t... read morehreads 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.
  • ironclad1609
    September 26, 2009
    ironclad1609
    Set on new year's eve 1999 this action thriller combines sci-fi- and psycho-murderer-elements (machines can record what people see through their eyes), the omni-present fear of the millennium and mega city problems like police violence and race issues into an extremely entertaini... read moreng and exciting mix. Ralph Fiennes shines in what was pretty much his only action hero role, as dealer of said first-person-clips who stumbles into a conspiracy and murder case that are taking quite a few twists and turns until the excellent two-part showdown solves it all with a bang. That's smart, fast, gripping and offers characters with a lot more than just a few layers. Angela Bassett portrays one of the strongest action heroines of the last 15 years and makes Fiennes (intentionally by writer James Cameron) look like a wuss. A bit dated, since we all survived the millennium, but still a great thrill ride with many surprised. Deserves more attention that it got.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    I don't know what it is about this film, it?s a strange one but I love it!
  • arashxak
    July 21, 2009
    arashxak
    Entertaining with an ejoyable atmosphere but has its corny moments & Angela Bassett's superwoman character is annoying, Ralph Fiennes is fun to watch like always & the opening sequence is brilliant
  • middleeasternfilms
    December 13, 2008
    middleeasternfilms
    Ralph is excellent in a very different role from what he's used to and Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis are good, too. The ending is pretty predictable, though.
  • Stinger839
    November 3, 2008
    Stinger839
    An interesting scifi noir set in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve 1999 . Fiennes play a great hustler of full cerebral cortex experience discs. This main technology in the film will remind many of eXistenZ, though Strange Days released first. Interesting dystopic view of Los Angeles... read more which reflects on the Rodney King riots. The pacing is addictive. The twists are typical, but still fun. Must watch for fans of scifi dystopia or those interested in virtual reality. I'm surprised this movie doesn't have a cult following.

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Critic Reviews

Rick Groen
April 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Once the premise has lost its promise, and Fiennes's brave attempts at characterization are sacrificed to pseudo-dazzle, everything appears awfully humdrum and, yes, distinctly dated. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Undeniably thrilling and troubling.

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Though the creators of Strange Days may well be interested in its dramatic and thematic elements, they do not have the same touch for these moments as they do for camera pyrotechnics. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Bigelow is so enamored of high-tech thrills, and so mesmerized by the violence she seeks to condemn, that her efforts at 11th-hour moralizing seem limp and halfhearted. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

It's a wildly messed-up, unwieldy, 145-minute movie designed specifically for those audiences who the filmmakers believe haven't been brutalized or quite desensitized enough. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

It's big, explosive entertainment and, although not directed by Cameron, is very much in the vein we've come to expect from him. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's fascinating the way Bigelow is able to suggest so much of VR's impact (and dangers) within a movie - a form of VR that's a century old. Full Review

Cole Smithey
May 7, 2012
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

"Strange Days" owes a debt to Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom," the film that ruined his storied career. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
April 16, 2007
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

[Bigelow] with the help of her talented cast, constantly wrestles against the script, and for a great deal of time, she appears to be winning. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
December 2, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Set in LA at the end of the century, this morality tales showed again the main problem in the director's work: The great divide between simlistic plots and technical sophistication. Even so, it's one ...

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    • Faith Justin: You know one of the ways movies are still better than playback? The music comes up, there's credits, and you always know when it's over... [turns to look at Lenny] IT'S OVER!
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Strange Days Trivia

  • Which movie script was Wrote by " James Cameron " ?  Answer »
  • Which actor has appeared in ALL of the following movies: The Crow Alien:Resurrection Basquiat Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves Strange Days  Answer »
  • From which film did Fatboy Slim, alias Norman Cook get the sample "Right Here, Right Now" for his single of that name.  Answer »
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