‘Strange Days’ Is an Awesome New Year’s Eve Movie (If You Can Find It)

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As a cinephile who has spent countless hours poring over films from every era and genre, I must say that “Strange Days” is one of those rare gems that deserves a second look. I remember vividly watching it at the local cinema back in 1995, feeling both fascinated and bewildered by its unique blend of science fiction, cyberpunk, and socio-political commentary. Kathryn Bigelow’s direction was nothing short of masterful, and the performances from Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Tom Sizemore, and the rest of the talented cast were nothing less than captivating.

The film’s exploration of themes such as racism, power dynamics, and abuse against women was not only timely but also surprisingly relevant even today. The fact that it was inspired by real-life incidents like the Los Angeles riots and the Lorena Bobbitt case makes it all the more compelling. Unfortunately, the film’s polarizing reviews upon release and its financial disappointment have kept it from reaching a wider audience.

I find it ironic that in an era where streaming platforms are flooded with content, “Strange Days” remains elusive to many. I can only hope that the recent buzz around Ralph Fiennes’ Oscar-worthy performance in “Conclave” will inspire someone to give this underappreciated masterpiece the streaming release it deserves.

As for a joke, let me leave you with this: They say that art imitates life, but sometimes life imitates “Strange Days”. Just ask anyone who’s tried to stream it lately!

The recent success of the trailer for “28 Years Later” has underscored a common issue: not all favorite movies are available on streaming services. After the trailer set new records, people found that they couldn’t stream the original 2002 film, “28 Days Later.” Social media buzzed with frustration when fans discovered it wasn’t available anywhere online. Eventually, the situation was resolved. Now, with Ralph Fiennes gaining significant Oscar attention for his work in “Conclave,” fans might want to demand that his 1995 sci-fi thriller “Strange Days” be made available on streaming platforms since it too is unavailable. Given that it’s New Year’s Eve, watching this film would have been a great way to ring in the new year as we welcome 2025.

Under the direction of Kathryn Bigelow, with a screenplay co-written by her former spouse James Cameron and Jay Cocks, the film titled “Strange Days” is set in the cyberpunk genre, taking place in Los Angeles during the final two days of 1999. The story revolves around Lenny Nero, portrayed by Fiennes, who deals in a clandestine device that enables users to relive the memories of others. As events unfold, Lenny and his associates become entangled in a criminal plot involving his former girlfriend (Juliette Lewis) and one of his friends (Brigette Bako). The movie also features performances by Angela Bassett, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott, and Vincent D’Onofrio.

The movie “Strange Days” went beyond the usual science fiction genre by delving into weighty issues like racism, power imbalances, and women’s abuse, along with an in-depth exploration of technology. Originally created by Cameron in 1986, Bigelow drew inspiration for this thought-provoking story from contemporary events such as the Los Angeles riots in ’92 and the sensational Lorena Bobbitt case, where Lorena infamously severed her husband’s penis after claiming years of abuse. In many aspects, “Strange Days” carried a heavy burden of themes and was slightly ahead of its era.

‘Strange Days’ Received Polarizing Reviews Upon Release

Despite the fact that Strange Days has a fresh rating of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, opinions about the movie were quite divided when it first came out. Critics such as Roger Ebert were highly impressed and awarded the film four out of four stars, whereas the San Francisco Chronicle found its violence problematic and felt that director Kathryn Bigelow failed to turn it into a meaningful commentary instead of just something excessive. Most reviews fell along these lines, with some praising it as an intelligent science-fiction accomplishment, while others criticized it for not effectively delivering the cautionary message it was aiming for.

The movie failed financially, earning just $17 million worldwide compared to its production cost of $42 million. Only $8 million of that revenue came from the U.S., leaving a significant gap. Critics point to the ineffective marketing strategy and the mixed reviews as reasons for this underperformance. Additionally, some argue that Kathryn Bigelow’s career took a hit due to the perceived flop of Strange Days, as she didn’t produce another film for five years until The Weight of Water.

Since its debut, the film “Strange Days” has developed a devoted fanbase and garnered acclaim as an overlooked masterpiece in retrospective reviews. Some liken it to Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner,” which faced initial financial struggles and mixed criticism but eventually became a sci-fi legend. To preserve its status, it appears that making “Strange Days” available for streaming could be beneficial, as this platform seems well-suited to showcase the film’s potential.

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2024-12-31 22:02