Strange Days (1995)

Strange Days (1995)

7/10

Starring

Ralph Fiennes

Angela Bassett

Juliette Lewis

Tom Sizemore

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Here’s an overlooked classic, an underrated gem that any sci-fi lover should see. Strange Days is one of those films where the writing is done just the way I like it. The creators ignored the limitations of the present and imagined technology that only exists in the movie’s timeline. The mastermind behind the screenplay and production of this movie is none other than James Cameron, who’s known for pushing boundaries like this.

The movie is directed by one of the best directors out there, Kathryn Bigelow. She outdid herself here, using handheld cameras and her unique directing style to pace the movie perfectly. She lets the story unfold gently, weaving together four different story arcs into a succinct and satisfying ending. Bigelow took this movie in an unconventional direction, creating something so ahead of its time that critics and audiences in the ’90s couldn’t fully grasp it.

Now, the movie is well-received and seen as a missed opportunity for those who overlooked it back then. Despite being a box office bomb (costing 42millionandmakingonly42millionandmakingonly8 million domestically), Bigelow’s work was recognized. She became the first woman to win the Saturn Award for Best Director in 1995 for Strange Days.

The movie’s pacing is deliberate, ensuring the viewer isn’t just dropped into the action. Instead, we get to see the lead and other characters navigate their world.

The plot takes place two days before January 1, 2000, and revolves around POV (point-of-view) recordings made using a technology that resembles a hairnet worn on the head. The device, called SQUID, is an illegal piece of tech that records memories and physical sensations directly from the wearer’s cerebral cortex. These recordings are stored on discs that can be played back.

Lenny (Ralph Fiennes), a former LAPD officer, is at the center of the story. His best friends are Mace (Angela Bassett) and Max (Tom Sizemore). Mace disapproves of Lenny’s illegal SQUID sales and makes her feelings clear.

The plot kicks off when Lenny’s friend Iris drops a disc into his car containing evidence of illegal activity. Lenny doesn’t see the disc at first because his car gets towed for unpaid fees. Meanwhile, Iris is trying to warn Lenny that she’s in trouble, something we see as she’s chased by two police officers.

Another disc is left for Lenny with a friend, and it also contains evidence of a crime. When Lenny finally views the disc Iris left in his car, he and Mace are pulled into connecting the two crimes and solving the mystery. The movie then delivers a surprising twist ending that you won’t see coming.

Angela Bassett’s performance was also recognized, earning her the Saturn Award for Best Actress that year.

Kathryn Bigelow’s directing style has made her a master in the industry. This wasn’t the last time she broke barriers as a female director in a male-dominated field. In 2008, her movie The Hurt Locker won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and she became the first woman to win Best Director.

Strange Days is a movie that paces itself perfectly and delivers its punch at just the right moment. Go see it.