Written by: James Cameron & Jay Cocks
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Vincent D’Onofrio
Rating: [4/5]
Watching how stories land far after their initial release demonstrates power beyond their period, where they almost look prophetic in the narrative told and themes explored. Something Strange Days very much falls into in delivering an exhilarating story delving into quite the messy circumstance with the use of some incredibly dangerous but effective technology.
In 1999, with New Year’s Eve right around the corner, Lenny (Ralph Fiennes) peddles a piece of technology that records not only what the person wielding the device sees but also the sensory feeling attached to it. Deemed illegal because of its dangers, it rises to prominence when Lenny and his friend Mace (Angela Bassett) see one of the discs containing evidence of some heinous crimes.
Coming in with quite an awesome concept and setting, Strange Days presents a narrative with so much to dissect in the gritty story it tells in such a hectic period of American life culminating in something riveting to watch. First, digging into the technology in use, it fascinates me this idea gets brought to the forefront for a film released back in 1995, which gets brought up again in a Black Mirror episode because of what it brings. Having the ability to record moments of life to see them from one’s point of view makes for something quite fascinating but adding in the element of having the physical feeling as well allows for ways this can be used in seedy ways, which this film definitely explores. One particular terrible sexual assault gets witnessed by Lenny when viewing a recording, which must be the most disconcerting feeling ever because he feels what the perpetrator did while committing such a horrible crime. Gives some credence to why this technology remained illegal.
Wrapped in all of the investigating Lenny and Mace take on to get to the bottom of this issue, this feature takes place at the turn of the century at the end of 1999, which came with its own hysteria impacting Los Angeles. A city on the tipping point of riots makes some information Lenny and Mace find incredibly combustible to the already tense relations out in the streets. Adding this to the fact some believe the world ends at midnight adds to the boldness of some of the actions by these characters and the general fervor of everyone. As Lenny and Mace traverse around the city they encounter pandemonium out in the streets adding a level of tension to the story as something will eventually happen with this much congestion and anger. It adds fuel to the fire in such an exhilarating matter.
Directing this feature we have Kathryn Bigelow who simply knows how to craft some sensational action sequences and we get multiple throughout this feature. Crafting something so gritty and hard-hitting, she ensures the sequences very much match the tone of the feature. From the shootouts to the moments out in the streets, she manages to keep everything explicitly clear along with the motivations of everyone involved in those sequences. Taking the script co-written by James Cameron she creates something so impactful in each sequence to really let the gravity of this situation sink in with the characters and the massive repercussions of their actions thus testing their morality.
Leading this feature we have Ralph Fiennes and Angela Basset, who have never looked any better physically than how they do in this feature. Specifically, Bassett brings out those biceps to ensure everyone knows not to mess with her. They each stand as the good guys in this story amongst a sea of terrible people who engage in heinous acts for their own terrible reasons. The bond they connect powers the entire film, especially with Mace having unrequited feelings for Lenny allowing her to forgive some of his nonsense, and especially with his pursuit of the femme fatale of the feature, Faith portrayed by Juliette Lewis. Faith presents this alluring figure through much of the film Lenny wants to save but shows in moments she can more than hold her own. This love triangle propels the movie along in addition to serving as the source of some of the major reveals this feature has to offer.
Utilizing a brilliant technological device as the source of all its troubles, Strange Days crafts something quite special through its narrative, which Kathryn Bigelow handles incredibly well. She crafts a Los Angeles on the verge of breaking apart through the anticipation of the potential end of the world allowing the pandemonium to reign. It serves as an excellent background for Mace and Lenny to uncover something that could serve as the igniting match that blows everything up. The moral quandaries this feature presents allow these characters to demonstrate their true intentions and morality in a moment where pretty much everyone else lacks it. Science fiction always rules and this feature sits firmly on the list of reasons why.
Films with Josh 
