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Strange Days

Strange Days

Crime · Science Fiction · Thriller · 1995

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.

Movie details

Strange Days

“You Know You Want It.”

1995 Crime · Science Fiction · Thriller 2h 25m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Strange Days?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Body Double

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8MM

8MM

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A small, seemingly innocuous plastic reel of film leads surveillance specialist Tom Welles down an increasingly dark and frightening path. With the help of the streetwise Max, he relentlessly follows a bizarre trail of evidence to determine the fate of a complete stranger. As his work turns into obsession, he drifts farther and farther away from his wife, family and simple life as a small-town PI.

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done

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Crimes of Passion

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Kathryn Bigelow

Written by

James Cameron · Jay Cocks

Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes

Lenny Nero

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett

Lornette 'Mace' Mason

Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis

Faith Justin

Tom Sizemore

Tom Sizemore

Max Peltier

Michael Wincott

Michael Wincott

Philo Gant

Vincent D'Onofrio

Vincent D'Onofrio

Burton Steckler

Glenn Plummer

Glenn Plummer

Jeriko One

Court is in session

Put Strange Days on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.