Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Summer of Sam
1999
***½
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvino, Adrien Brody, Jennifer Espositom Michael Rispoli, Saverio Guerra, Brian Tarantina, Al Palagonia, Ken Garito, Bebe Neuwirth, Patti LuPone, Mike Starr, Anthony LaPaglia

While a serial killer known as Son of Sam terrorises New York City during the scorching summer of 1977, emotions run high in an Italian-American neighborhood of the Bronx. Spike Lee's rich and colourful slice of fictionalised history concentrates on two childhood friends who are drifting apart. The film is well crafted and wonderfully acted, but also excessively long and foulmouthed, and therefore exhausting.