Strange Days
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Movie Reviews of Strange Days
Movie Review: Can't I give it more than a 5???
Summary: 5 Stars
Where was I when the film "Strange Days" was released? Where were you? Do any of you remember it?It's awesome...electrifying...superbly cast...well edited...a riveting soundtrack...and a must-see for thriller fans.
No! This is not another review of one of my horror flicks. This is simply a thriller...non-stop from start to finish. It's sci-fi theme is so subtle, you really don't feel like it's unreal.
If you liked "Natural Born Killers", "The Salton Sea", "Blow", and other riveting classics, this one's for you. How can you go wrong with a cast like this?
It stars Ralph Fiennes. Ralph, who is also the Red Dragon in last year's three-quel of "Silence of the Lambs", smuggles SQUIDS. What are SQUIDS? As you know, I don't give away plots. Let me just say that Ralph is "the Santa Claus of the subconscious" and peddles real-life cerebral clips (I'll leave it at that).
He's joined by Juliette Lewis, who starred in "Natural Born Killers" and is just as dynamic in her role as a rock star in this gem.
Add to that Angela Bassett, who is (to me) the best African-American female actress on the planet. You will agree when you see her this time.
Not to mention Tom Sizemore, who starred as the police investigator in "The Salton Sea".
Then there's Michael Wincott, who starred in one of my all-time classic films, "The Doors".
And how about Vincent D'Onofrio, who also starred in "The Salton Sea", "Men In Black" and "Full Metal Jacket"?
Needless to say, the film also cast Glenn Plummer as a rock hero. Glenn also starred in "The Salton Sea" as the dealer with the "crossbow"...remember?
Add to that the bizarre twists and turns that culminate with a shocking ending. This movie never ends. It takes you down a road map filled with lefts, rights, u-turns and rollovers.
And yes, for you guys (and gals), it is sexy. The thread that holds the movie together is the passion of a man yearning to keep his woman...a woman wanting his man to understand "love"...an underground populace searching for fantasy and surreal "clips".
This film will take you on a journey you've never experienced. The cover of the DVD box reads..."...anything is possible. Nothing is forbidden." Right on! If my review helps you decide, then don't try a rental. Go buy it! I guarantee you'll watch it more than once, twice, thrice.....
On a scale of 1-10 in this genre', "Strange Days" gets a 10. It was a 9 until I realized how hypnotic Juliette Lewis can be. She has a raw talent to be rough, sexy, real, passionate and spoiled...all in one breath. Her appeal should be a standard in Hollywood these days. She's totally believable and uncensorable. ENJOY!
Movie Review: Interesting take on "the next big drug", and not so far fetched.
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was a suprise arrival in late 1995 to theaters, a sci-fi movie that was overlooked by many. Based on New years eve 1999, this movie revolves around the dealings of former LAPD detective Lenny Nero, now a "dealer" of the next big drug, Mindjacks. These are recording of a persons real Life experiences, captured through a Hair-net like piece of equipment and recorded of Minidisc. These can be played back on a player for anybody to see using their own device. The best part is, you feel like you are really their in the event, just like living it as it happened, every gust of wind, every drop of rain etc. The part thats appealing is that it give people the chance to indulge in "the darker side of Life", whether it be risktaking like robbing a store or fighting, to pornography, and its just like being their without leaving your chair. Lenny Himself is addicted to the disc he had captured while with his former girlfriend Faith. In the days before the New year, Lenny finds himself wrapped up in a conspiricy involving "blackjack", Discs of Memories that are captured of true crimes, not just staged, It starts with an encounter with one of Faith's old aquantences, who is brutally murdered (again captured on disc for Lenny to view), and ends with one of which is of the execution of a prominent Rap artist Jerico one. Tranking the trail of this person Making "Blackjack" prove to be difficult and Dangerous for Lenny, having him cross paths many times with his old flame Faith and her corrupt new boyfriend, philo gant. Gant repeatedly has Lenny beat for his interactions with Faith. Gant is a controll freak, and a cronic user of "jack" himself. With the help of an old friend, "mace" Mason, Lenny bust apart a plot that takes him within inches of his life. Along the way will Lenny learn from mistakes of the past, or will he change with the new Mellinium? Find out, a great movie to watch. Again, one draw back it the fact it was set in 1999, and was a film that came out in 1995. Now that we have lived through Y2K, it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but I just kept in mind what the fears and issues of 1995 were (still fresh from Rodney King and O.J. Simpson, and Fearful of Y2K computer glitches), and realize that they were very appropriate for the time. At least it is not just another "big brother is watching" movie. Give it a try, I think it will suprise you.Movie Review: A unique film that combines James Cameron and Kathryn Bigalow
Summary: 5 Stars
Kathryn Bigalow is fun to watch - I'm glad she defined her own voice more distinctly in The Hurt Locker, but Strange Days is a great example of what James Cameron's style looks like when it's combined with someone else. It's got Cameron written all over it: a strong female lead, inventive action sequences, the threat of technology, the redemptive power of love - everything except his increasingly first-draft dialog, actually.
The story is set in the future (2000) where memories are recorded and shared illegally - people are hooked on experiencing each other's lives, with some of the less kosher experiences being traded like drugs. The film opens with a 5-6 minute point-of-view sequence (cleverly designed to look like one shot) of a robbery than ends in the death of the person recording the experience, so it provides the thrill of the hold-up with an element of snuff. It's a highly effective way to introduce the topic. The story revolves around a rape/murder that is captured as a clip, and trying to identify the killer amidst an environment of corrupt cop, a Los Angeles torn apart by riots and racism, and our hero (Ralph Fiennes) trying to move on with his life and quit his addiction to clips.
I lived in the UK when I saw this in 1995 and what prevented the movie from being a blockbuster hit was the rape sequence. It's actually essential to the telling of the story but wow did audiences run away in droves. By today's standards, where we have Robocop airing on cable at 9am, it's not *that* shocking which is more of a reflection of our desensitization than anything else. But nevertheless it derailed the movie back then and I remember people walking out of the theater at the time.
In the history of film, it will stand as a great example - maybe the only example - of James Cameron collaborating fully with someone else. It's clearly a production of two people and is much stronger than if either had created it individually. The subplots are more complicated than some of Cameron's other films and the cinematography and action are better than many of Bigelow's movies. There are some great performances from Angela Bassett and Ralph Fiennes - and Tom Sizemore, Vincent d'Onofrio and Michael Wincott are good value as ever.
Movie Review: 'SQID This'
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie on opening night back in '95 and from then on I became hooked.
If you haven't seen this movie or just curious on what the `future' (2000) may hold. Then I strongly suggest viewing this movie.
We are first introduced to a first person robbery gone, wrong, and I mean splat!
Leo played by Ralph Fiennes was at first disappointed that the `playback' ended so badly, almost ruining his day, but hey, this is Leo, peddle a person tragic, romantic, sexual `playback' is another person fantasy.
They really didn't get into much detail on his past but he was a cop gone bad now he's a hustler selling other people realities.
So what is a 'sqid'?, don't worry Leo will tell all what it is. well Leo has some problems, he is really into 'playback' especially 'playbacks' with him and Faith. Yes, Leo is still in love with Faith, (Juliette Lewis) a girl he pulled off from the street, who in turned stabbed him in the back to pursuer a music career with Leo former buyer.
Mace (Angela Bassett) is the best friend who only wants the best for Leo and can't understand why he can't let Faith go.Mace saves the day throughout the movie and she is always saving Leo rear end from a lot of sticky situations. There are some great moment when Leo realize that there is a reason for Mace preaching and once realize this act upon it.
Max P.I. (Tom Sizemore) plays Leo friend with a few secrets of his own.
Look out for Vincent D'Onofrio (Law and Order:CI) and William Fichtner (Invasion) who played police officers who gets a little trigger unhappy with the way Jericho One always had an opinion on society.
It has everything in this movie, science fiction, honor among thieves (in a weird way), trust, happiness, and yes,you have to have love. Trust me it is a really good movie!!
Movie Review: A Turn of the Century Thriller That Has Aged Far Better Than Those Y2K Readiness Manuals.
Summary: 5 Stars
Released in 1995 this film imagines a distant future of 1999 where gas is over $2.oo a gallon(imagine that)and people want to experience the reality of other people's lives without leaving their own homes.The SQUID technology that allows characters to record what they see and sell it to others(demonstrated in the terrific P.O.V. opening)is used by a killer to record his brutal murders.The responsability to find the killer falls into the lap of washed up cop now tech pimp Ralph Fiennes.Hopelessly obsessed with his ex-girlfriend and his recorded memories of her it's up to a tough limo driver Angela Bassett to help him pull it together.Predating our obsession with reality T.V. by years Strange Days is amazing on many different levels.It was a failure on it's initial release due to the lack of big box office stars.Fortunately what director Kathryn Bigelow did was get people who were right for the part.Instead of being a macho hero Fiennes is emotionally wounded yet charismatic.Instead of being just another pretty face to kick butt Angela Bassett is also the film's emotional anchor.At the time this one of the biggest movies ever to be directed by a woman and it's clearly a labor of love.From the diverse music selection from Deep Forest to versions of PJ Harvey songs to the fact that it's more character based than full of mindless action and has some very clever camerawork you tell she put a lot of thought into creating this film.The New Year's Eve climax is guaranteed to get your blood boiling and is one of the most dramatic endings ever staged.Filmed almost entirely at night in a neon lit world of clubs it's as visually impressive today as it was 10 years ago.If you've never seen this movie you need to check it out...it's one of the best forgotten movies of the 90's.