Summer of Sam (1999)

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

This film is quality. I've loved it for nearly 20 years. It's got to be one of the most underrated films of all time.

This film was engulfed with some of the most unlikable characters in movie history.. Everyone was either a moronic thug wannabe or a self absorbed drugged out sex freak. I rooted for no one. The Son of Sam killer was not the focus of the film, it was only a backdrop for us to view the lives of a bunch of losers. Most of the acting was either sub par or over the top with maybe the exception of Mira Sorvino. I gave it a 3 just for the music and Mira, otherwise it was a zero. There has never been a good film about the events of Son of Sam, only documentaries.

In my opinion, Spike Lee missed out on a great opportunity. The so-called "Son of Sam" was the most feared serial killer in New York in the 1970's, similar to the Zodiac killer of the west coast of a few years earlier. When I heard Spike Lee had made a film about the killer, which I had little knowledge of since I'm a west-coaster, I was excited that this might be a very compelling offering from Lee. Instead, the film is not really about the serial killer "Son of Sam" per se, but rather the film focuses on a community of middle-to-lower middle class Bronx guys and gals during the height of New York paranoia about Son of Sam in the summer of 1977.The story is really about these fictional characters who sometimes hear and/or speak about the Son of Sam killer. For most of my viewing of the film, I kept waiting for the film to develop more about the Son of Sam murders and the investigation. Instead the film centers on these fictional characters: Vinny, a hair dresser married to Dionna, a waitress, Ritchie, a punk-rock aficionado and part-time dancer at a gay bar, and Ruby, Vinny's half-sister who has a crush on Ritchie. At one point a New York police investigator, Detective Petrocelli, asks an urban mob boss, Luigi, to find the killer. Again, this detective is most likely fictional and had nothing to do with the real investigation of the crimes. Late in the film, one of the characters accuses another of being the Son of Sam killer.The poster for this film is very misleading as it shows newspaper headlines about the serial killer Son of Sam. But in truth, Lee's film uses Son of Sam only as a developing crime story in the background while the story is more about these fictional characters. I guess Lee's intent was to present the atmosphere of this strange moment in time in New York, not long before the infamous New York blackout caused perhaps the worst looting of an urban center in United States history. However, the film doesn't focus much on the serial killer and the real investigation. Unfortunately, there has yet to be a good film about the Son of Sam killer which ranks with "Zodiac" made not long after about the Zodiac killer of the San Francisco Bay Area. "Zodiac" focused all of its attention on the killer, his victims and the on-going investigation. "Summer of Son" does not tell the story behind "Son of Sam".

For the love of God. If I ever happen to meet Spike Lee I will thank him for making the worst movie in cinematic history. Then I will punt him like a used football. He should have his SAG card revoked and should never be allowed to make another movie and forced to move to North Korea. The Italian stereotypes were pasted on so hard that I didn't know if I was watching Summer of Sam or Living Colour with the Wayans brothers. Yes, I guess all Italians speak like 3rd graders and use the F bomb for every adjective in their vocabulary. Next was the mindless use of these Italian wonderkinds as sexual animals who fornicate every minute of the day. Adrian Brody and John Leguizamo's performances were horrid. I have seen better acting in my wife's 4 year old pre-school class. If the movie studio wanted to throw away 22 million they should have just given it away to some charity .... Not make the worst movie is history and have the mindless birdshits post a review like it was actually worth watching. I would rather have a burning hot piece of iron thrust into my urethra by Randy Johnson then to ever watch this smoking hot mound of horse manure........ I would comment on the plot if there was any semblance of one. If you really dislike someone please tell them to watch this ..... Spike Lee you should rot in hell for this ....... Thank You !!!