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Strays

  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Strays (1997)
CrimeDrama

Rick is a small time drug dealer and bouncer in NYC, who's tired of the long string of one night stands and wants a lasting relationship. His 3 buddies are not looking for change.Rick is a small time drug dealer and bouncer in NYC, who's tired of the long string of one night stands and wants a lasting relationship. His 3 buddies are not looking for change.Rick is a small time drug dealer and bouncer in NYC, who's tired of the long string of one night stands and wants a lasting relationship. His 3 buddies are not looking for change.

  • Director
    • Vin Diesel
  • Writer
    • Vin Diesel
  • Stars
    • Vin Diesel
    • Joey Dedio
    • T.K. Kirkland
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Vin Diesel
    • Writer
      • Vin Diesel
    • Stars
      • Vin Diesel
      • Joey Dedio
      • T.K. Kirkland
    • 14User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos3

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    Top cast41

    Edit
    Vin Diesel
    Vin Diesel
    • Rick
    Joey Dedio
    Joey Dedio
    • Fred
    T.K. Kirkland
    • Rodney
    Mike Epps
    Mike Epps
    • Mike
    F. Valentino Morales
    F. Valentino Morales
    • Tony
    Suzanne Lanza
    Suzanne Lanza
    • Heather
    Darnell Williams
    • Keith
    Mihaela Kolich
    Mihaela Kolich
    • Danielle
    • (as Mihaela Tudorof)
    Eugene Osborne Smith
    • Willie
    Temple Brooks
    • Amy
    Loni Sabrina Stuart
    • Nicole
    DeAngela Parrish
    • Suzanne
    Marko Kalfa
    • Chris
    Joey Iovino
    • Kenny
    Louis Albert Von Steidl
    • Jerry Saperstein
    Sean M. Silverstein
    • Timothy
    • (voice)
    Helen M. Mitchell
    • Bookstore Clerk
    Freddie Pendavis
    Freddie Pendavis
    • Arthur
    • Director
      • Vin Diesel
    • Writer
      • Vin Diesel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    5.51.8K
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    Featured reviews

    10chirality-1

    Excellent Film

    Strays is brutally honest and... beautifully executed. It uses harsh words and harsher actions to portray a lifestyle that is real and not sugar coated for the audience. It does not apologize for this but instead asks us to understand the truth being portrayed. A war without blood would not be accurate. These lives without the brutal language would be false and would strip the movie of its commitment to honesty.

    The acting, directing, and writing in this movie was done with absolute attention to detail. I deeply enjoyed this movie. It was fresh and new and at times so real and raw I felt like a voyeur. Rick's life unfolds before us and we are taken along on a journey through his emotional awakening. Gracefully it allows us to experience the lives of its characters without judgment.

    This in turn gives us the freedom to feel and grow along with them. It evokes emotion and dialogue and is in my opinion a great work of art.
    8tuskituski

    Good Movie

    Sometimes the combination of good writing, good direction and good casting collides into a great movie. Writer/Director Vin Diesel stars as Rick, the emotional center to a very strong ensemble of acquired family. The older brother who is finally facing the future, Rick tries to develop a new life while still taking care of his circle of strays. He rebels from his sex-filled nights against Salvatore, a womanizing freeloader and his drug-providing past with Fred, his not so bright cousin. Their unending loyalty keeps the "family" strong, even when he falls in love with a midwestern outsider, Heather. Perceptive and extremely witty writing keeps the pace throughout the film, and his chemistry with tony, played beautifully by f valentino morales, is worth the price of the ticket alone.

    good film. Vin Diesel's script is tight and authentic, while his directing is effective: repeatedly coaxing impressive performances out of his relatively inexperienced cast. tony & fred Good Performers Vin's own performance here is a revelation the likes of which he sought to recapture in the unexciting Sidney Lumet courtroom drama Find Me Guilty. Though he's gone on to capture stardom as a stoic action hero, Vin Diesel's roots as an actor are boldly showcased in this revealing film.
    6kevin_robbins

    Worth a watch

    Strays (1997) is a movie that I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows three friends that share an apartment in Manhattan. They each live their own lives making ends meet, selling drugs and womanizing. When one of the friends wants to change his lifestyle, not be known as just a drug dealer and have an actual relationship, the other friends push back and call him crazy.

    This movie is written by, directed by and stars Vin Diesel (xXx) and also stars Mike Epps (Friday After Next), Suzanne Lanza (Dexter), Joey Dedio (Captain Planet) and F. Valentino Morales (The Fast and Furious).

    The storyline for this had some potential with unique storyline, characters and circumstances. The cast delivers solid performances and Mike Epps was hilarious, though painfully underutilized. Vin Diesel delivers a relatable performance and easy character to root for. There were some scenes that were odd, whether it was Diesel turning down ladies begging to have sex with him or showing up to a party with nothing but a wife beater on.

    Overall, this movie has some potential and worthwhile writing that is worth a watch. I would score this a 6/10 and strongly recommend it.
    oscarfbi

    Sometimes strays find what is missing in other strays

    Sometimes the combination of good writing, good direction and good casting collides into a great movie. Writer/Director Vin Diesel stars as Rick, the emotional center to a very strong ensemble of acquired family. The older brother who is finally facing the future, Rick tries to develop a new life while still taking care of his circle of strays. He rebels from his sex-filled nights against Salvatore, a womanizing freeloader and his drug-providing past with Fred, his not so bright cousin. Their unending loyalty keeps the "family" strong, even when he falls in love with a midwestern outsider, Heather. Perceptive and extremely witty writing keeps the pace throughout the film, and his chemistry with Fred, played beautifully by Joey Dedio, is worth the price of the ticket alone.
    6leereed2009

    Strays....Good Title

    Alright, this movie....is for lack of a better word: interesting. It has it's strengths and weaknesses. Strength 1: Vin Diesel looking, a walk through ten miles of broken glass just to drink his bathwater, HOT! I mean, this whole review could be about this fine specimen of man, but I digress. Strength 2: The acting was good. It seemed almost unscripted. The banter between the gang was perfect and very true to life. Weakness 1: THE ENDING!!! What the hell was that? I mean, let them be together! Bad choice Mr. Diesel, but because of those obviously frequent trips to the gym, I am willing to forgive. Weakness 2: Skipping over when they made love. I know it's petty and girlie and even slightly perverse, but I don't care! I wanted to see some skin. So, there's my review. Thanks.

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The role of Caparzo in Saving Private Ryan (1998) was written just for Vin Diesel after director Steven Spielberg saw Diesel's independent film Strays (1997), which was also his directorial, writing, producing and lead acting debut.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Heather: Are you alright?

      Rick: Are your parents still together?

      Heather: Yeah, why?

      Rick: My mother used to see this guy, Frank. He's was an illustrator, not that he had done anything. But he used to bring me these books, children's books, as gifts. He eventually uh, left my mom - most of them did. Anyway, he bought me this, this one book, and it was the only book that I begged my mom to read to me. It was called Ferdinand, Ferdinand the Bull. And he wrote on the inside, To a very special kid. And then, Life's a matador. And then signed, Frank. It's my favorite book.

    • Crazy credits
      On the DVD release, the end credits feature an MMVII (2007) copyright date, which reflects the date the DVD was published.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Vin Diesel Moments (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Come To You
      Written by Shani Rigsbee

      Performed by Shani Rigsbee

      Publishing by Cherokee Charm Music (ASCAP)

      Courtesy of Cherokee Music Group

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Strays?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 18, 1997 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Бродяги
    • Production company
      • One Race Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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