4. Strange Days (1995)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Strange Days is a sharp sci-fi noir, part tragedy, part actioner, part thrlller and part conspiracy. It has a wonderful cast, led by Ralph Fiennes as the sleazy Lenny, a great story and a killer concept. And yet it absolutely tanked whilst G W Bush got elected twice. Its a strange, strange world. Filmed in 1995 and set in a grimy, grungy 1999, Strange Days introduces us to a device called a SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) which was designed by the FBI to replace the body wire. The SQUID captures everything that person experiences
direct from the cerebral cortex, from sights and sounds, to touch and emotion. These clips can then be played back and experienced by anyone. As Lenny says,
"This is not like 'TV-only-better'... this is life. And this is how we meet Lenny Nero, street hustler, ex-cop, panhandler of clips - memories and experiences. Hung up on his ex, Faith, who treats him like dirt, playing clips of happier times with her rather than moving on with his life, Lenny is a tragic loser but hes also extremely sympathetic. When someone anonymously slips him a clip of the brutal murder of Iris, a friend of Faith, Lenny cant help but become involved. As the killer leaves more and more clips, he fears that his one obsession, Faith, is going to be murdered next. Along with the only two people he can trust - Mace, a female personal security agent who secretly pines for his affections, and Max, a cynical ex-cop turned private detective - Lenny must navigate a sordid landscape of intrigue, betrayal and murder. But thats not all. He also uncovers a clip of police corruption and the racially motivated killing of a major black rapper. His ex wont listen to him, the police dont want to know, and the killer is still on the loose. Strange Days truly is a gem. Whereas other films on this list are simple what you see is what you get fun, Strange Days has depth. The world is in chaos, the city is literally burning itself to the ground - and hes called Nero, geddit? His ex is called Faith, but thats the one thing she lacks. Beyond these simple details, is a film about watching and being watched; stimulating thought about voyeurism and when does acceptable drift over the line; and in a time when Virtual Reality was taking off and the internet was starting out, it raised the implication of immersing ourselves into the fake, we are not living our lives but reliving the past of others. If youve ever pined for an ex girlfriend, Strange Days will - painfully - show you how embarrassing your hang-up was and just how creepy and pathetic you appeared to your ex. And just like the discussion of voyeurism, it also raises the question of when does unwavering love slide into stalking and obsession as well as when does trying to maintain stability in a fractious society turn into an abuse of police authority. If you like your noir, fully fleshed and off beat characters, steampunk, Blade Runner-esque leanings, intelligent films with plenty to say, from feminism to racial tension, then this is the film for you. Strange Days is (thankfully) available on DVD and BluRay.