Strange Days (1995): The Future and Racial Tensions (Opinion Piece)

Strange Days (1995) remains an anomaly. A story from the mind of James Cameron, it is Kathryn Bigelow’s first film since Point Break and it starred a post-Schindler’s List Ralph Fiennes. But it went all wrong. It was a box office bomb and is most likely the reason that Bigelow’s career was halted for a period of about five years. What seems like a perfect storm ends up as a bust. Though critically, it wasn’t seen entirely as a bomb. Roger Ebert among other critics were more positive of the film. His review is great but it focuses on what technology the film showcases, VR. One topic it doesn’t really mention is the police brutality and racial tensions that are shown in the film. And, unfortunately, it is the one thing in the movie, in my opinion that has remained the most relevant. 

James Cameron’s original script was entirely focused on the romantic plot of the film between Lenny Nero played by Ralph Fiennes and Mace played expertly by Angela Bassett. But I imagine that he included some of the sci-fi elements as well. Instead Bigelow expanded on the script and added the racial tensions that the film handles so well. She was inspired by Rodney King beating and subsequent riots that consumed L.A. And ironically, before major rappers like Tupac, the Notorious B.I.G. and Big L were being gunned down, in the film an influential rapper is killed in the same manner. But like Tupac, the film shows the rap star, Jeriko One, as an activist. Yes, he releases music but he is shown to be much more than a musician. In the brief clips we see of him in remembrance of him, he is calling for changes in the police and how black people are treated. One of the burbs that is shown is a clip from one of his songs. “You love that red, white, and blue, but you hate that black, black, black.” This line is still very impactful today, reminding me of the Colin Kapernick controversy, the ridiculous idea that a flag is more important than the people that live under it. 

For the first 28 minutes, we follow Lenny Nero but then we are introduced to Mace played by Angela Bassett who is the real standout. Bassett had acted in a few movies before this one, most notably in Malcolm X. I haven’t seen that movie but I can probably say that this is her breakout starring role. She is the hero of this film and Lenny Nero is the damsel in distress. Lenny is always trying to weasel his way out of fights and confrontations and offering his “Rolex” instead. He often needs saving by Mace.

Mace represents the disgruntled African-American in the film’s universe, angry about living in a police state. In a place where skin color still divided people though not as obviously as the era of Jim Crow. When the only hope for change for Black Americans is gunned down and she sees evidence that it was done by the police, Mace feels that the evidence needs to come out no matter the cost. Whether it be rioting, looting and/or loss of life. It is as if the person who filmed the Rodney King beating had trepidations about releasing it to the media. Lenny is against the idea at first but realizes that it is not his place to deny Mace and other Black Americans the truth. She ends up giving the disc to the Police Commissioner. The movie ends before we know for sure if the general public will see what happened but we can only hope that the right thing occurred. 

Unlike other films of this time period, I don’t see this film as anti-police. While there are bad cops in the film, there are good cops too. Lenny is an ex-cop who was fired for being corrupt, though I would still consider him a good cop as he has changed somewhat morally speaking. A film like La Haine (1995) is definitely more anti-cop than Strange Days ever will be. In La Haine no cop or authority character is shown to be good and the cops violently assault the main characters with perverse pleasure. Whereas, here, there are good cops – they are just few and far between. 

Like a lot of films set in the future, the filmmakers take what they believe is wrong with society and expand on it. Robocop (1987) shows a future where Reaganomics has turned Detroit into a corporate run hellhole. In Strange Days, Bigelow draws our attention back to the L.A. riots, highlighting the issues of race and the moral corruption of the police. Had the film just been James Cameron’s original idea and script, I think that I would have found the movie very boring, and its legacy wouldn’t have endured so long. It sounds a lot like ideas that had already been done. Bigelow works her magic and makes a film that is timely then and also now, 27 years later. Unfortunately the film remains timely because not enough has done to prevent police brutality. When While the Earth Sleeps by by Peter Gabriel begins to play as the credits appear you feel a wave of relief wash over you. The movie is over, the tension of the film goes away. But the problems presented in the film stay with you – because, while it was a film about the future, Strange Days reminds us how ugly our society can be. And that even in the future, equality is still quite far away.

Welcome to the team, Ben – Strange Days