Strange Days (1995)

October 13, 1995 (US) • Crime, Science Fiction, Thriller • 145m

Overview

In the last days of 1999, ex-cop turned street hustler Lenny Nero receives a disc which contains the memories of the murder of a prostitute. With the help of bodyguard Mace, he starts to investigate and is pulled deeper and deeper in a whirl of murder, blackmail and intrigue.

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers

Jay Cocks, James Cameron, James Cameron

Top Billed

Ralph Fiennes

Keywords

new year's eve future pornography prostitute police brutality dreams rape police virtual reality paranoia ex-girlfriend bodyguard rapper dystopia minidisc ex-cop murder cyberpunk los angeles, california criminal private detective revolt tech noir woman director

Where to watch

Free / Included

Disney Plus

Hulu

Top Billed Cast

Ralph Fiennes

Lenny Nero

Angela Bassett

Lornette 'Mace' Mason

Juliette Lewis

Faith Justin

Tom Sizemore

Max Peltier

Michael Wincott

Philo Gant

Vincent D'Onofrio

Burton Steckler

Glenn Plummer

Jeriko One

Brigitte Bako

Iris

Richard Edson

Tick

William Fichtner

Dwayne Engelman

Josef Sommer

Palmer Strickland

Joe Urla

Keith

Nicky Katt

Joey Corto

Michael Jace

Wade Beemer

Louise LeCavalier

Cindy 'Vita' Minh

David Carrera

Duncan

Jim Ishida

Mr. Fumitsu

Todd Graff

Tex Arcana

Malcolm Norrington

Replay

Anais Munoz

Diamanda

Ted Haler

Tow Truck Driver

Rio Hackford

Bobby the Bartender

Brook Susan Parker

Cecile

Brandon Hammond

Zander

Donald 'Donnie' Young

Young Zander

B.J. Crockett

Young Zander

Dex Elliott Sanders

Curtis

Ronnie Willis

Homeboy

David Packer

Lane

Paulo Tocha

Spaz Diaz

J. Michael Muro

Nervous POV

Ron Young

Nervous POV (voice)

Art Chudabala

Thai Restaurant Owner

Erica Kelly

Restaurant Hostess

Marlana Young

Waitress

Ray Chang

Thai Restaurant Cook

Raul Reformina

Busboy

Chris Douridas

Talk Radio Host (voice)

Billie Worley

Dan from Silverlake (voice)

Amon Bourne

Dewayne (voice)

Lisa Picotte

Lori from Encino (voice)

Kylie Ireland

Stoned Looking Girl

Dru Berrymore

Stoned Girl's Lover

Stefan Arngrim

Skinner

Agustin Rodriguez

Eduardo

Kelly Hu

Anchor Woman

Nynno Anderson

Angry Jeriko Fan

Liat Goodson

Retinal Fetish Bouncer

Honey Labrador

Beach Beauty

Delane Vaughn

Mace's Husband

Mark Arneson

Police Officer

James Acheson

Cop in Bathroom

John Francis

Death

Zoot

Mime

Royce L. Minor

Angry Black Kid

Milan Reynolds

National Guard Medic #1

Russell W. Smith

National Guard Medic #2

Sarah Abukutsa Marshall

African Dancer

Russell Hines

African Dancer

Michael Jaasi

African Dancer

Maurice Marshall

African Dancer

Carolyn Adunni McPherson

African Dancer

Jennifer Reeves

African Dancer

Charmain Renata Hubbard

African Dancer

Reginald T. Thornton

African Dancer

Chester A. Whitmore

African Dancer

Lori Simone Wilkerson

African Dancer

Justin Armao

Hostage (uncredited)

Ed Arneson

Metro Division Officer (uncredited)

Yan Birch

New Years Eve Party Dude (uncredited)

Andrew Calder

New Years Reveler (uncredited)

Jaime H. Campos

Riot/Traffic Cop (uncredited)

Louis Campos

Club Goer (uncredited)

Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter

Punker (uncredited)

John Daniels

Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)

Sebastian Feldman

Club Goer (uncredited)

Annette Goodman

Voyeur (uncredited)

T.J Jones

Party Guest (uncredited)

Johnny Kim

Club Dancer (uncredited)

Gianluca Lazzaroni

Club Goer (uncredited)

Joe Martinez

New Years Rocker (uncredited)

Raja Gemini

Club Goer (uncredited)

Tom Tom Typhoon

Crazy Dancer (uncredited)

Skin

Skin (uncredited)

Crew

Lilly Kilvert

Production Design

John Warnke

Art Direction

Jay Cocks

Screenplay

James Cameron

Producer

Graeme Revell

Original Music Composer

James Cameron

Screenplay

Ellen Mirojnick

Costume Design

Matthew F. Leonetti

Director of Photography

Kathryn Bigelow

Director

Steven-Charles Jaffe

Producer

Kara Lindstrom

Set Decoration

Richard Pagano

Casting

Linda Grimes

Makeup Department Head

Melissa M. Thomas

Casting

Debi Manwiller

Casting

Sharon Bialy

Casting

Eric Chambers

Stunts

Al Goto

Stunts

Keith Campbell

Stunts

Marian Green

Stunts

Christopher Warren

Visual Effects Camera

Henry Kingi Jr.

Stunts

Patricia M. Peters

Stunt Double

Patricia M. Peters

Stunts

Suzanne C. Geiger

Second Second Assistant Director

Paul E. Short

Stunt Double

Albert Cho

Second Assistant Director

Steven-Charles Jaffe

Second Unit Director

Ira Shuman

Unit Production Manager

Gary J. Wayton

Stunt Double

James Turner

Stunt Double

Steve Danton

First Assistant Director

Sam Hoffman

Second Second Assistant Director

Dick Hancock

Stunt Double

Peggy Schnitzer

Costumer

Cheryl Scarano

Costumer

Laura Connolly

Hairstylist

Anna Southall

Unit Publicist

Edward Poveda

Payroll Accountant

Jeff Evans

Stunt Double

Mike Gunther

Stunt Double

Mark Sayles

Assistant Accountant

Sonja Davis

Stunt Double

John Alden

Stunt Double

Pamela Alch

Script Supervisor

Deborah Hopper

Costume Supervisor

Denise Lynne Roberts

Stunts

Debbie Evans

Stunts

Eliza Coleman

Stunt Double

Georgina Williams

Hairstylist

Terilyn A. Shropshire

Assistant Editor

Danny Epper

Stunt Double

Chino Binamo

Stunt Double

Marietta Carter-Narcisse

Makeup Artist

Robert L. Stevenson

Hair Supervisor

Stevie Lazo

Production Accountant

Deborah La Mia Denaver

Makeup Artist

Ann Culotta

Costumer

Gilbert S. Hernandez

Costumer

Bill Babington

Assistant Editor

Jim Stephan

Stunts

Lynn Salvatori

Stunts

Ericka Bryce

Utility Stunts

Gary Guercio

Stunts

John Casino

Stunts

Paul M. Lane

Utility Stunts

Kim Kahana Jr.

Stunts

Will Leong

Stunts

Don Ruffin

Stunts

J. Mark Donaldson

Stunts

Kira Tashjian

Stunts

Jeff Mosley

Stunts

Jimmy Ortega

Utility Stunts

Hubie Kerns Jr.

Stunts

Eddie L. Watkins

Stunts

Christopher 'Critter' Antonucci

Stunts

Brian J. Williams

Stunts

Monty L. Simons

Stunts

Christian J. Fletcher

Stunts

Brett A. Jones

Stunts

Gene LeBell

Stunts

Jennifer Caputo

Stunts

Larry Holt

Stunts

Barbara Anne Klein

Stunts

Howard E. Smith

Editor

Ricardo F. Delgado

Storyboard Artist

Brian Ripley

Special Props

Christopher Amy

First Assistant Property Master

Gregor Joackim

Special Effects

Andra Bard

Visual Effects Production Assistant

Pablo Helman

Visual Effects Compositor

Todd Y. Murata

Assistant Director Trainee

Lloyd A. Buswell

Construction Foreman

Brian Williams

Sound Designer

Eric Allard

Special Props

Sean C. Cunningham

CG Supervisor

Jay Caputo

Stunts

Gary Holland

Production Sound Mixer

Shannon Leigh Olds

VFX Editor

Jim Hillin

VFX Artist

Eddie Matthews

Stunt Double

Monty Shook

Propmaker

Kelly Port

VFX Artist

Travis Dultz

Stunts

Jeffrey Eith

Stunts

Gary Clayton

Stunts

James Cameron

Additional Editing

George Fortmuller

Second Unit Director

Donald Frazee

Special Effects Manager

Eugene Collier

Stunts

Bob Marrocco

Stunts

Sean England

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Peter Baustaedter

VFX Artist

Andy Rosen

VFX Artist

Kenneth D. Collins

Second Unit First Assistant Director

Richard Dalton

Standby Property Master

Sydney Sharpe

Set Designer

Michael W. Moore

Prop Maker

Chris Dawson

Visual Effects Camera

Caleb J. Howard

VFX Artist

Gene Warren III

Visual Effects Production Assistant

Philip C. Pfeiffer

Second Unit Director

Scott Chandler

Foley Mixer

Jim Boulden

Special Effects

Renée Tymn

VFX Artist

Thomas Giordano

Sound Mix Technician

Gary Rizzo

Sound Assistant

Rebecca Strickland

Second Second Assistant Director

Mark Hansson

Second Second Assistant Director

Donald Myers

Special Effects Manager

Denise Lynne Roberts

Stunt Double

Héctor B. López

Assistant Property Master

Simon O'Connor

VFX Artist

Gary J. Wayton

Stunts

Joe Martinez

Stunts

Tom Myers

Foley Mixer

Milos Twilight

VFX Artist

Harrison Zanuck

Visual Effects Production Assistant

Ted Shred

Stunts

Allen Cappuccilli

VFX Editor

Floyd Casey

VFX Artist

Jeffrey Kalmus

Visual Effects Supervisor

Richard L. Blackwell

Stunts

Michael Possert Jr.

Special Props

Casey Cannon

Visual Effects Producer

Kieran Woo

Visual Effects Production Manager

Gary Jackemuk

VFX Artist

Steven J. Chambers

Video Assist Operator

Steve Hastings

Best Boy Electric

Duane 'DC' Manwiller

Additional Camera

Richard A. Anderson

Grip

M.B. Gordy

Musician

Eric Mouquet

Additional Music

Kevin Blauvelt

Electrician

Mark Moore

Camera Supervisor

Ron Newburn

Rigging Gaffer

Dan Wallin

Scoring Mixer

Michael W. Broomer

Driver

Ivan Martin del Campo

Set Production Assistant

Tory Herald

Casting Associate

Michael Kamen

Additional Music

Steve Cowie

Set Production Assistant

Gianluca Lazzaroni

Production Assistant

Chris Winn

Craft Service

Wolfgang Amadeus

Scoring Mixer

Craig Hill

Transportation Captain

Matthew F. Leonetti Jr.

Production Assistant

Randy Gerston

Music Supervisor

Allan K. Rosen

Music Editor

Jamie Kehoe

Craft Service

Shaun O'Banion

Production Assistant

Becky Brake

Assistant Location Manager

Miriam Mayer

Musician

Daniel Boccoli

Producer's Assistant

Anna Fuson

Unit Publicist

Mindy Elliott

Producer's Assistant

Roy Unger

Second Unit Director of Photography

Hedy Phil Balani

Generator Operator

David Penotti

Production Assistant

Jim Stephan

Rigging Grip

Edward Cass

Production Assistant

Timothy A. Wonsik

Costumer

Robbie Goldstein

Location Manager

J. Michael Muro

Camera Operator

John Burns

Craft Service

Michael Hendrickson

Production Executive

Amy B. Hughes

Production Assistant

Ellen Gessert

Assistant Location Manager

Sharyn Shimada-Huggins

Production Coordinator

Bryce Guy Williams

Transportation Coordinator

Robert G. Williams

Driver

Michele Short

Production Assistant

Michel Sanchez

Additional Music

Doug Coleman

Stunt Coordinator

Laura Albert

Stunts

Gary Rydstrom

Sound Designer

Lora Hirschberg

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Tom Johnson

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Gary Rydstrom

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

James Cameron

Story

Robert L. Stevenson

Hair Department Head

Andrea Mae Fenton

Assistant Set Decoration

Michael F. Blake

Makeup Artist

Christopher S. Nushawg

Assistant Art Director

Patrick Cassidy

Leadman

Michael Marcus

Art Designer

Tristan Paris Bourne

On Set Dresser

Michael Germain

Makeup Supervisor

Kathy W. Estocin

Hair Designer

Erik L. Nelson

Property Master

Marian Wilde

ADR Editor

Lindakay Brown

Assistant Sound Editor

Susan Popovic

Assistant Sound Editor

Scott Guitteau

Assistant Sound Editor

Sara Bolder

Dialogue Editor

Doug Sieck

Set Dresser

Andre Fenley

Assistant Sound Editor

Cary Weitz

Boom Operator

Claire Sanfilippo

Dialogue Editor

Mary Helen Leasman

Foley Editor

Tommy Samona

Set Dresser

Barbara McBane

Dialogue Editor

Clare C. Freeman

Dialogue Editor

Jerry Hall

Digital Compositor

Edson Williams

Digital Compositor

Marcie Romano

Assistant Sound Editor

Dennie Thorpe

Foley Artist

Eric Upshur

Props

Hugh Waddell

ADR Editor

Lora Hirschberg

Assistant Sound Designer

Sandina Bailo-Lape

Foley Editor

Kai Blomberg

Set Dresser

Frank E. Eulner

Sound Effects Editor

Karen E. Goulekas

Digital Effects Supervisor

Kenneth Sayers

Set Dresser

Len Morganti

Storyboard Artist

Kara Stephens

Visual Effects Coordinator

James Lima

Visual Effects Supervisor

Randy L. Childs

Propmaker

Gregory P. Alcus

Set Dresser

Tom Barwick

Foley Artist

Tony Eckert

Foley Recordist

Jeff Wexler

Sound

Gloria S. Borders

Supervising Sound Editor

Gene Warren Jr.

Special Effects Supervisor

Dan Engstrom

Assistant Sound Editor

Richard Beggs

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Leslie Huntley

Visual Effects Producer

David Franklin Bergad

Assistant Sound Editor

Don Coufal

Boom Operator

Bing Sokolsky

Additional Director of Photography

Paul Santoni

Camera Loader

Dan Reilly

Key Grip

David M. Ronne

Sound

John Busch

Camera Operator

Casey Jones

Dolly Grip

Chuck Weiss

Video Assist Operator

Tony Meagher

Visual Effects Coordinator

Pat Blymyer

Chief Lighting Technician

Bambi Sickafoose

First Assistant Editor

Tim Holland

Sound Effects Editor

Ethan Ormsby

Digital Compositor

Randy Feemster

Camera Operator

Christopher Moreman

First Assistant Camera

Mark Santoni

Second Assistant Camera

R. Derek Keener

Best Boy Electric

Mat Beck

Visual Effects Supervisor

Craig Caton

Special Effects Assistant

Eugene Crum

Special Effects Assistant

Al LaVerde

Grip

Yvette Ammon

Costumer

Mike Chambers

Visual Effects Producer

Glenn Brown

Assistant Camera

Tim Marshall

Best Boy Electric

Kenneth Chamitoff

Extras Casting

Joshua Winget

Music Editor

Patty von Arx

Music Editor

Terry D. Frazee

Special Effects Coordinator

Mike Cameron

Camera Operator

Phil Benson

Sound Effects Editor

Scott Lingard

Special Effects Technician

J. Michael Muro

Steadicam Operator

Scott C. Keys

Lighting Technician

Merie Weismiller Wallace

Still Photographer

Mike Weathers

Chief Lighting Technician

Michael D. Weldon

First Assistant Camera

David Schmalz

Video Assist Operator

Philip C. Pfeiffer

Second Unit Director of Photography

Jackie Hamilton

Electrician

Rick Harris

Grip

James Keys

Rigging Gaffer

Amy Jupiter

Digital Effects Producer

Patrick Shearn

Visual Effects Supervisor

Aldo Antonelli

Camera Operator

Nick Shuster

Second Assistant "A" Camera

James S. Trois

Special Effects

Wayne Marshall

Electrician

Rick Pratt

Grip

Anthony Bozanich

Assistant Editor

Rick Shuster

Pilot

Blake Martin Moulin

Music Editor

Randy Gerston

Music Producer

Susan Hegarty

Dialect Coach

Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter

Choreographer

Peter McKernan Jr.

Pilot

Bertram McCann

Marine Coordinator

Deborah Ricketts

Researcher

Kevin LaRosa

Pilot

Keith Woulard

Stunts

Rae Sanchini

Executive Producer

Lawrence Kasanoff

Executive Producer

David S. Grant

Associate Producer

Ira Shuman

Co-Producer

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto

⭐ 8/10

April 2, 2024

**A sci-fi dystopia with a good political conspiracy plot in a film that cinema preferred to forget.**

I think I've seen at least twenty films about the Millennium where times are shown with great pessimism. In this specific case, the end of the millennium is a time of social and political chaos, in which society moves without a clear direction, given over to fleeting pleasures and criminal acts. And in the midst of all the dissolution of morals and values, a mechanism emerges that allows the recording of the memories and sensations of the person who uses it, leading to a black market in illicit recordings of crimes, sex and controversial acts: thus, a man who never stole, killed or cheated on his wife can experience all of this without necessarily having to do so. But what happens when a recording keeps evidence of a murder?

The film has qualities, and presents a story that mixes sci-fi, political thriller and a little romance, in a mix that has aged very well, even though we are now firmly into the millennium. The project began around 1985, and is one of the few results of the partnership (professional and loving) between Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron. He had the ideas for the script, and she assures us of the elegant direction, the impactful and suitably dark cinematography, effective visual and special effects and a costume and set design strongly influenced by punk and metal aesthetics. The film was named after a song by the “Doors”, and was a huge critical and commercial failure. Therefore, everyone involved preferred to forget it.

I can't help but consider the oblivion as unfair: it's not a perfect film, the story is too complex, it seems too stilted, like a hot air balloon, and it's excessively long (less than thirty minutes of dead scenes would have made things more dynamic). However, it is an immersive film that addresses, in some depth, people's appreciation for superficial pleasures and ways to escape a cruel and oppressive reality. This is still a very topical issue, as is the whole plot surrounding excessive police violence. And finally, I need to highlight the quality of the “first person” footage, when the mechanism is used, and we see things through the character's eyes.

Ralph Fiennes gives us one of the most complex and interesting dramatic works of his career, making the most of his character's multiplicity of contradictory feelings and emotions. Angela Bassett also shone in this film, in an intense and action-packed role. Juliette Lewis does a pretty decent job, especially when she sings, but I can't help but consider that the actress's nudity is somewhat gratuitous and exaggerated, perhaps to sexualize the character. Michael Wincott is an effective villain.

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