Review of Strange Days (1995) by Yancy P — 02 Jun 2011

Dec. 30, 1999, a caller to a radio talk show proclaims "The economy sucks, uh gas is over three bucks a gallon, fifth grade kids are shooting each other at recess, the whole thing sucks, right?" meanwhile the streets of LA are filled with riot squads, wafting clouds of smoke, ladies for hire, and racial inequality protesters.

Luckily to pass the time amidst the societal uneasiness, the military has developed a high-tech yarmulke to tap into the brain and record and watch POV pornography and snuff films. Strange Days has plenty of violence and even more Juliette Lewis on display.

Yet if that was not enough(yes there's more), it brings to light questions of the prurient desires of man, the ethics of voyeurism, technology and even the status of race relations. However regarding the plot, viewers with Scooby-Doo sleuthing skills can probably deduce who to finger as the mysterious murderer.

The most disturbing scene was the awkward kiss at the end of the film, the chemistry between Bassett and Fiennes makes mixing orange juice with tooth brushing look like a good idea. The interesting science fiction component coupled with some non-gratuitous T and A make up for the casting and predicitability, and kudos for making a futuristic film without having sliding doors.