Strange Days – Stranger Nights
Strange Days? The whole thing takes place at night!
Offering commentary on race, power, the police system, and how people consume media. This movie doesn’t let anyone off the hook, least of all its audience.
Strange Days is the story of grifter Lenny, who deals in the selling of memories that can be recorded and sent directly into the user’s brain (Like a 4-D movie directly to the brain). Throughout the film, he uncovers a conspiracy in the LAPD and must race against the clock to save the life of the woman he loves. It’s a pulse-pounding tale that never slows down.
The violence in this film is not glorified in the slightest, in fact, the opposite. The film puts you in the shoes of the typical audience – looking for a thrill through movies and media. As the film progresses it shows the dark side of that, and the consequences of the audience seeking out that violence.
The acting was great. I forgot that any of these characters were actors playing a role. They felt so real – which feeds into the point of the film and made it so much more poignant. It took place in 1999 – but felt like it could be happening today.
The cinematography was technically amazing, often utilizing POV shots to put you in the heads of the characters and the memories they are “watching”. You see what they see, making you the voyeur that the film is ultimately criticizing. It is a bizarre but essential audience experience.
Writing about this film is very difficult. I feel like no matter what I say, I will not capture the essence of it. This is a film you need to experience in order to understand. That said, this is not for the faint of heart. There are many haunting images in here that will stick with me for awhile. Proceed with caution.
Bigelow Rankings:
This was incredibly well made. I loved it.
- Point Break
- Stange Days
- Blue Steel
- Near Dark
- The Loveless
We’re already halfway through Kathryn Bigelow’s filmography! Next week, The Weight of Water.
