Summer of Sam Reviews

Summer of Sam Review
by Dennis Schwartz
SUMMER OF SAM (director/writer: Spike Lee; screenwriters:Victor Colicchio /Michael Imperioli; cinematographer: Ellen Kuras; cast: John Leguizamo (Vinny), Adrien Brody (Ritchie), Mira Sorvino (Dionna), Jennifer Esposito (Ruby), Michael Rispoli (Joey T),...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Gary Jones
In the sweltering summer of 1977, New York was terrorised by the serial killer known as Son of Sam. Although the killer and his crimes feature in Summer of Sam, Spike Lee's film is more concerned with the squabbles of a group of young Italian lowlifes...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Rated on a 4-star scale; Screening venue - Odeon (Liverpool City Centre); Released in the UK by Buena Vista International on 14 January, 1999; certificate 18; 136 minutes; country of origin USA; aspect ratio 1.85:1 more

Summer of Sam Review
by Greg King
SUMMER OF SAM (R). (Touchstone/Buena Vista International) Director: Spike Lee Stars: John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Anthony LaPaglia, Saverio Guerra, Brian Tarantino, Al Pagalonia, Ken Garito, Bebe...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Steve Rhodes
In SUMMER OF SAM, Spike Lee uses the hunt for serial killer David Birkowitz, a.k.a., "the Son of Sam," as an unlikely backdrop to tell a slice-of-life story about one of New York's boroughs, the Bronx. Set in 1977, the story ponders issues from...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Akiva Gottlieb
rated R Touchstone Pictures 141 minutes starring John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Ben Gazzara, Bebe Neuwirth, Anthony LaPaglia, Mike Starr, John Savage written by Victor Colicchio, Michael Imperioli and Spike Lee directed by...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Chad Polenz
Summer Of Sam Chad'z rating: **1/2 (out of 4 = okay/average) 1999, R, 122 minutes [2 hours, 22 minutes] [drama/thriller] Starring: John Leguizamo (Vinny), Adrien Brody (Ritchie), Mira Sorvino (Dionna), Jennifer Esposito (Ruby); written by Victor...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Holly Baublitz
Personally, I am a horror-movie fan. However, being a true movie buff, I see just about every new release that comes out. When I heard about "Summer of Sam" I thought it would be a good "shock factor" movie. more

Summer of Sam Review
by Christian Pyle
New York City, 1977. Coming home from a disco, Vinny (John Leguizamo) sneaks into a crime scene and sees the bloody corpses of a couple shot by the ".44 Killer." The killer would soon by sending letters signed "Son of Sam" to newspaper columnist Jimmy...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Holly Baublitz
Personally, I am a horror-movie fan. However, being a true movie buff, I see just about every new release that comes out. When I heard about "Summer of Sam" I thought it would be a good "shock factor" movie. Then I had second thoughts.. I have never...more

Summer of Sam Review
by Michael Redman
Summer is a magical time. Young children run themselves until exhausted every day. School kids, free of the tyranny of schedules, discover what they really want to do. Even responsible adults traditionally take time off the workaday grind to kick back...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Jeremy Vay
The craft was, for the most part, there. It's just that the materials used in the crafting could have, perhaps, been better. This film seemed like a lesser Do the Right Thing, exploring many of the same themes, but with much less of an impact....more
Summer of Sam Review
by Jerry Saravia
Has he lost his mind? Has Spike Lee lost all sense of reason or purpose in making a film? After the greatness of a disturbing, provocative documentary like "Four Little Girls," Spike made a noisy, pretentious, overheated basketball drama called "He Got...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Berge Garabedian
Spike Lee decides to take a novel route through his latest joint, foregoing his usual emphasis on the lives of African-Americans, and instead, taking a deep plunge into the mishmash of activity in the late 70s of New York City. The "Son of Sam" serial...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Walter Frith
Spike Lee disregards many aspects of the Hollywood establishment and makes films his way and for good reason. Because he is such a socially aware film maker, his subject matter cannot fall victim to the studio system because it simply wouldn't come off...more
Summer of Sam Review
by David Sunga
Rating: 3.0 stars (out of 4.0) ******************************** Key to rating system: 2.0 stars - Debatable 2.5 stars - Some people may like it 3.0 stars - I liked it 3.5 stars - I am biased in favor of the movie 4.0 stars - I felt the movie's impact...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Mark R Leeper
Capsule: New York City, the summer 1977, the local Son of Sam killings hang over everybody's lives in the Italian-American community. But this story is really about popular hairdresser Vinny and...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Ross Anthony
Here's one of those films that propose an ethical dilemma for me as a reviewer. Nearly flawless as a production, but not the kind of movie I enjoy watching. Nonetheless, I had some intention of giving "SOS" an "A-", but the 2 hour and 16 minute...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Michael Dequina
"There are many stories to be told in the naked city; this is just one." This line, which is uttered during the conclusion of _Summer_of_Sam_, could not better sum up Spike Lee's terrific film. The film's title does refer to the serial killer Son of...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Eugene Novikov
Summer of Sam will be remembered as a waste of Spike Lee's abilities. Lee is a great filmmaker, often exhibiting kinetic visual flair on par with Brian DePalma and Martin Scorsese and a storytelling ability comparable to Steven Spielberg. But here, he...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Nathaniel R. Atcheson
Director: Spike Lee Cast: John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Saverio Guerra, Bebe Neuwirth, Anthony LaPaglia, Ben Gazzara Screenplay: Victor Colicchio, Michael Imperioli, Spike Lee Producers: Jon Kilik, Spike...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Jesse Kopelman
Spike Lee directs a movie set in the summer of 1977, the year in which the Son of Sam conducted his killing spree. If you are not a fan of Spike Lee, this movie will not change your mind. Its inherent faults are shared with many of his other movies,...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Dustin Putman
Directed by Spike Lee. Cast: John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Ben Gazzara, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Bebe Neuwirth, Anthony LaPaglia, Mike Starr, Patti LuPone, Ken Garito, Brian Tarantino, Roger Guenveur Smith, Michael Badalucco,...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Scott Renshaw
SUMMER OF SAM (Touchstone) Starring: John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Michael Badalucco. Screenplay: Victor Colicchio, Michael Imperioli and Spike Lee. Producers: Jon Kilik and Spike Lee. Director: Spike...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Jonathan Hauer
Directed by: Spike Lee Written by: Victor Colicchio and Michael Imperioli Cast: John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Badalucco more
Summer of Sam Review
by Susan Granger
Susan Granger's review of "SUMMER OF SAM" (Buena Vista/Touchstone) The perennial question facing film-makers has always been: Should movies try to influence their audience - using morality stories, fables, fantasies, etc. - or should movies...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Edward Johnson-ott
Summer of Sam (1999) John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Anthony LaPaglia, Bebe Neuwirth, Patti LuPone, Ben Gazarra, Joe Lisi, Michael Badalucco, Michael Rispoli, John Savage, Roger Guenveur Smith, Saverio Guerra, Brian...more
Summer of Sam Review
by Marty Mapes
***1/2 (out of 4) NOTE: SUMMER OF SAM IS RATED R FOR LOTS OF SEX AND A LITTLE GORE, SOME OF WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THIS REVIEW. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. more
Summer of Sam Review
by Bob Bloom
In Summer of Sam, filmmaker Spike Lee has tried to create a mosaic of what is was like in New York City during the summer of 1977, a time when a deranged individual, later known as the Son of Sam, held the city in a grip of terror. more
Summer of Sam Review
by Mac VerStandig
Summer of Sam 4 stars (Out of 4) Reviewed by Mac VerStandig [email protected] http://www.moviereviews.org June 28, 1999 ***USA Release Date - July 2, 1999*** more
Summer of Sam Review
by Jon Popick
Summer of Sam Review
by Harvey S. Karten
Summer of Sam Review
by Davis Monroe
Summer of Sam Review
by Christopher Null