Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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 |
In 1999, Los Angeles is racial war zone with the army and LSPD and SWAT officers fighting Afro-American people. The former cop Lenny Nero is a dealer of illegal recording in CDs that gives the memories and sensations of the recorder to the user. He buys the recordings from the supplier Tick; he misses his former mistress Faith, who was a hooker and now is a singer; his best friend is the private eye Max Peltier and the limousine driver Lornette 'Mace' Mason, who has unrequited love for him. Two days before the turn of the century, the black rapper Jeriko One is murdered. The hooker Iris seeks Lenny out but there is an incident and they do not talk to each other. However she drops a recording into Lenny's car while he unsuccessfully tries to meet Faith at a night-club. However her boyfriend Philo Gant does not let them talk. When Lenny learns that Iris was sadistically raped and killed, he gets involved in a sick scheme and discovers dirty hidden secrets. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
"Strange Days" is a unique science fiction and mystery film. Set in Los Angeles during the last two or so days prior to the new millennium, the cast is helmed by Ralph Fiennes as the charming, brave, but shady Lenny Nero. Lenny is a former LAPD officer who loses his job for mostly unknown reasons. He then becomes a black market hustler who sells people's recorded memories for profit. For the most part, these recorded memories are either violent or sexual in nature.
Angela Bassett does a great job complementing Fiennes' "Lenny" character in her role as Macy, Lenny's close friend who makes a more legitimate living as a limo driver and security specialist. Lenny and Macy soon become embroiled in a murder mystery involving corruption within both the LAPD and the music industry. This seemingly ever-deepening mystery also involves Lenny's other close friend, Tom Sizemore's character "Max". Max is a private eye who, despite seeming to be very well-intentioned, is just as shady as Lenny. Juliette Lewis rounds out the cast as "Faith", Lenny's troubled and devious rock singer ex-girlfriend.
Besides the awesome and well-acted performances, what made this movie stand out to me is just how on the nose some of the background references are in it. References to an economic collapse, increasing gas prices, and strained relations between the police and minorities make this a very odd foreshadowing of the actual real-life future.
In conclusion, great acting, a very deep and interesting storyline, and great cultural references make this a very highly recommended film.