7.0
Summary
Former policeman Lenny Nero has moved into a more lucrative trade: the illegal sale of virtual reality-like recordings that allow users to experience the emotions and past experiences of others. While they typically contain tawdry incidents, Nero is shocked when he receives one showing a murder.
Cast
Ralph Fiennes
Lenny Nero
Angela Bassett
Lornette 'Mace' Mason
Juliette Lewis
Faith Justin
Tom Sizemore
Max Peltier
Michael Wincott
Philo Gant
Vincent D'Onofrio
Burton Steckler
Glenn Plummer
Jeriko One
Brigitte Bako
Iris
Richard Edson
Tick
William Fichtner
Dwayne Engelman
Josef Sommer
Palmer Strickland
Joe Urla
Keith
Nicky Katt
Joey Corto
Michael Jace
Wade Beemer
Louise LeCavalier
Cindy 'Vita' Minh
David Carrera
Duncan
Jim Ishida
Mr. Fumitsu
Todd Graff
Tex Arcana
Malcolm Norrington
Replay
Anais Munoz
Diamanda
Ted Haler
Tow Truck Driver
Rio Hackford
Bobby the Bartender
Brook Susan Parker
Cecile
Brandon Hammond
Zander
Donald 'Donnie' Young
Young Zander
B.J. Crockett
Young Zander
Dex Elliott Sanders
Curtis
Ronnie Willis
Homeboy
David Packer
Lane
Paulo Tocha
Spaz Diaz
J. Michael Muro
Nervous POV
Ron Young
Nervous POV (voice)
Art Chudabala
Thai Restaurant Owner
Erica Kelly
Restaurant Hostess
Marlana Young
Waitress
Ray Chang
Thai Restaurant Cook
Raul Reformina
Busboy
Chris Douridas
Talk Radio Host (voice)
Billie Worley
Dan from Silverlake (voice)
Amon Bourne
Dewayne (voice)
Lisa Picotte
Lori from Encino (voice)
Kylie Ireland
Stoned Looking Girl
Dru Berrymore
Stoned Girl's Lover
Stefan Arngrim
Skinner
Agustin Rodriguez
Eduardo
Kelly Hu
Anchor Woman
Nynno Anderson
Angry Jeriko Fan
Liat Goodson
Retinal Fetish Bouncer
Honey Labrador
Beach Beauty
Delane Vaughn
Mace's Husband
Mark Arneson
Police Officer
James Acheson
Cop in Bathroom
John Francis
Death
Zoot
Mime
Royce L. Minor
Angry Black Kid
Milan Reynolds
National Guard Medic #1
Russell W. Smith
National Guard Medic #2
Sarah Abukutsa Marshall
African Dancer
Russell Hines
African Dancer
Michael Jaasi
African Dancer
Maurice Marshall
African Dancer
Carolyn Adunni McPherson
African Dancer
Jennifer Reeves
African Dancer
Charmain Renata Hubbard
African Dancer
Reginald T. Thornton
African Dancer
Chester A. Whitmore
African Dancer
Lori Simone Wilkerson
African Dancer
Justin Armao
Hostage (uncredited)
Ed Arneson
Metro Division Officer (uncredited)
Yan Birch
New Years Eve Party Dude (uncredited)
Andrew Calder
New Years Reveler (uncredited)
Carlos Campos
Club Goer (uncredited)
Jaime H. Campos
Riot/Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Louis Campos
Club Goer (uncredited)
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter
Punker (uncredited)
Dian Childs
Dayplayer (uncredited)
John Daniels
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Gregory Diamond
New Years Eve Kisser (uncredited)
Sebastian Feldman
Club Goer (uncredited)
Masaaki Fujimori
Sexy Dancer (uncredited)
Kim Giancaterino
Club Goer (uncredited)
Annette Goodman
Voyeur (uncredited)
T.J Jones
Party Guest (uncredited)
Johnny Kim
Club Dancer (uncredited)
Gianluca Lazzaroni
Club Goer (uncredited)
Joe Martinez
New Years Rocker (uncredited)
Me Phi Me
Jeriko One Guard (uncredited)
Raja Gemini
Club Goer (uncredited)
Tom Tom Typhoon
Crazy Dancer (uncredited)
Peter Wick
Bystander (uncredited)
Colin O'Herlihy
Cyberpunk Thug (uncredited)
Michael Satterfield
Resident (uncredited)
Skin
Skin (uncredited)
Paul Malinowski
Band - Season to Risk (uncredited)
Duane Trower
Band - Season to Risk (uncredited)
Steve Tulipana
Band - Season to Risk (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Kathryn Bigelow
Screenplay
Jay Cocks
Screenplay, Story
James Cameron
Reviews
FilipeManuelNeto
April 2, 2024
8
**A sci-fi dystopia with a good political conspiracy plot in a film that cinema preferred to forget.**
I think I've seen at least twenty films about the Millennium where times are shown with great pessimism. In this specific case, the end of the millennium is a time of social and political chaos, in which society moves without a clear direction, given over to fleeting pleasures and criminal acts. And in the midst of all the dissolution of morals and values, a mechanism emerges that allows the recording of the memories and sensations of the person who uses it, leading to a black market in illicit recordings of crimes, sex and controversial acts: thus, a man who never stole, killed or cheated on his wife can experience all of this without necessarily having to do so. But what happens when a recording keeps evidence of a murder?
The film has qualities, and presents a story that mixes sci-fi, political thriller and a little romance, in a mix that has aged very well, even though we are now firmly into the millennium. The project began around 1985, and is one of the few results of the partnership (professional and loving) between Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron. He had the ideas for the script, and she assures us of the elegant direction, the impactful and suitably dark cinematography, effective visual and special effects and a costume and set design strongly influenced by punk and metal aesthetics. The film was named after a song by the “Doors”, and was a huge critical and commercial failure. Therefore, everyone involved preferred to forget it.
I can't help but consider the oblivion as unfair: it's not a perfect film, the story is too complex, it seems too stilted, like a hot air balloon, and it's excessively long (less than thirty minutes of dead scenes would have made things more dynamic). However, it is an immersive film that addresses, in some depth, people's appreciation for superficial pleasures and ways to escape a cruel and oppressive reality. This is still a very topical issue, as is the whole plot surrounding excessive police violence. And finally, I need to highlight the quality of the “first person” footage, when the mechanism is used, and we see things through the character's eyes.
Ralph Fiennes gives us one of the most complex and interesting dramatic works of his career, making the most of his character's multiplicity of contradictory feelings and emotions. Angela Bassett also shone in this film, in an intense and action-packed role. Juliette Lewis does a pretty decent job, especially when she sings, but I can't help but consider that the actress's nudity is somewhat gratuitous and exaggerated, perhaps to sexualize the character. Michael Wincott is an effective villain.
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$42,000,000.00
Revenue:
$7,959,291.00
