“Jesus!”
“You know, statistically, that is the second most common thing people say when they are to die. ‘Shit’ is the first.”
STRANGE DAYS
1996
Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Screenplay: James Cameron
With: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott, Vincent D’Onofrio
What is it about:
Lenny Reno is an ex-cop who now deals in this new electronic ‘drug’ that gives people a thrill ride by inputting others’ memories of sex or adventure into their minds. One can record memories that last forever and relive them or to get one hell of a rush. Unfortunately, Lenny gets caught up in a conspiracy and a cover-up that he knoews nothing about. Certian events have been recorded onto tapes for the ‘wire’ machine that include a friend’s death. Now Lenny needs to find out who the Black Jack recorder is and why are they involving him. Let’s throw in the fact that Lenny never got over his girlfriend leaving him for a scumbag and a rapper brutaly murdered. It is December 31, 1999 and the world is about to end for some. (Sorry, no Prince songs in this film.)
Cephas’ notes and spoilers:
An interesting film written by Cameron. People say that Cameron deals with more special effects and storyline than he does with characterization - I say that there is a lot of character in this film, but there could have been more. Most of the characterization is dealt with actions than words between the two main characters of Lenny and Juliette Lewis’s character. A long film to be sure (two hours and twenty-five minutes) that does not have all the special effect action that is Cameron’s trademark. While Lewis’s character is bland, Fienne’s is rich and zesty. I think what this film lacks most is a history of the characters and the history of the ‘wired’ machine and the other characters in the film. We receive glimpses. But it is not substantial enough, it is more “This is what is happening now and that is all you need to know.” There are some damn good plot twists in this film that makes up for the dry moments. After the film, you begin to ponder other uses for the machine that gets you ‘wired.’ A subtle but substantial film that you should enjoy.
Cephas’ Rating:
GO AHEAD AND RENT IT. It is not a party video or one to watch with your lover if you wanna cuddle - this is the type of film that you wanna just sit back with a bag of chips/popcorn/what have you, and enjoy. It’s probably longer than it should have been, but the idea of this new drug is interesting and they put it to good use. Lots of cat-heads in this film. (That’s a new word I learned from the 1700’s meaning “a woman’s breasts.”) It is a good film to just sit back, relax and enjoy. And don’t worry about the few mistakes in this film. It just ain’t worth mentioning because Cameron tries to make as tight a story as possible and he succeeds in this sleeper film. (Sleeper meaning a film that is well taken by audiences even if it was not a box office hit.)