Review of Summer of Sam (1999) by Greg B — 20 Apr 2012
Perhaps one of Spike Lee's best films, it's intense from beginning to end.Lee as always touches on themes about who we are as a society in regards to race,sexuality,gender roles, the group vs the individual and the role the media plays in how we react to situations.
Brody gives a great performance as does Leguizamo as Vinny a male slut who cheats on his wife and is into deviant sexual activity.Ben Gazzara in his small role brings a weight to what could've been the usual neighborhood mayor/godfather role.
The film also is amazing visually and shows Spike Lee's 2nd phase in his career as a visual director.Gone is the formalist camera work that his DP Ernest Dickerson made a hallmark in Lee's early films and with DP Ellen Kuras (and later with Matthew Libatique) a emphasis on hand held camera,change in camera speeds,desaturation and emphasis on certain color palette is seen for the first time in this film.
Along with a soundtrack of the era that shifts from disco and funk to arena rock.
This review of Summer of Sam (1999) was written by Greg B on 20 Apr 2012.
Summer of Sam has generally received mixed reviews.
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