Summer of Sam: Review By Solar XI

Summer of Sam depicts a young group of people in the Summer of 1977, The Bronx, who find themselves terrified of the .44 Killer also known as the Son of Sam. John Leguizamo and Adrien Brody lead the cast as Vinny and Richie, two very close friends. Vinny is an unfaithful, married, hair stylist. Richie is a new-found 'punk' who lives a secret life in dancing, selling himself for gay sex and eventually porn with his girlfriend Ruby (Jennifer Esposito).

The Italian-American neighborhood, in which the film is set, are close due to the murders. Local mob boss decides to take the law into their own hands and find the killer for themselves. Vinny, as well as others, begin to question the state of mind that Richie is in. They begin to suspect that Richie is the Son of Sam.

Spike Lee delivers an amazingly gripping story. Lee gives us his classic noir feel as he did with his films Clockers, Malcolm X and Inside Man. Michael Imperioli who wrote and produced the film with Lee, makes an appearance in the film as the character Midnight. When watching the film, to me, it's a sensation because you almost start to feel what the characters feel. The fear and anger that is presented within the story are very real.

The fact that people lived throughout this terrifying Summers gives a lot more thrill. Lee and Imperioli don't fail to deliver to the audience. Whether or not it's the characters personal lives or who maybe a victim of the killings leaves you pondering, what the f*ck?

Not that the film is confusing, it just contains a lot of depth which is great for a story, like this, to have. Director James Cameron created the similar effect with his take on 1997's Titanic. The creation of characters within a story based on real events is hard to process due to the substantial critique by those who lived throughout those events. Very common within the film industry.

Michael Badalucco portrays David Berkowitz/Son of Sam but isn't exactly seen much. One or two scenes depict him talking to a demon, whom Berkowitz believes, is instructing him to kill. Another scene depicts Berkowitz arrest (not live footage). Actor and Spike Lee regular John Turturro (recently seen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) lends his voice talents as the Demon.

John Leguizamo, who is a phenomenal actor, delivers constantly. Whether or not he is in the lead or a supporting role, he knows how to really stand out, in reference to his films like Empire and Righteous Kill. As the viewer, you begin to realize he is very versatile within his acting career. Adrien Brody is outstanding. Brody knows how to stand out and he certainly exceeds. The mohawk, the punk attitude, the sexuality, the questioning of his lifestyle amongst other things; not many actors, in my opinion, could pull it off in such a righteous manner. Brody's performance in the film reminds me of Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries.

The plot of the film never fails to fall off track. It equally focuses on the personal lives ans well as the time period. Part of the reason I was drawn to seeing this film was because of the poster and it's title. I definitely recommend the film to anyone who have been fans of Spike Lee. it's enjoyable, inappropriate for children and very real.

Spike Lee appears in the film as news reporter John Jeffries.