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Summer of Sam

Summer of Sam

Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1999

Spike Lee's take on the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City during the summer of 1977 centering on the residents of an Italian-American Northeast Bronx neighborhood who live in fear and distrust of one another.

Movie details

Summer of Sam

“No one is safe from Son of Sam.”

1999 Crime · Drama · Thriller 2h 22m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

Spike Lee's take on the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City during the summer of 1977 centering on the residents of an Italian-American Northeast Bronx neighborhood who live in fear and distrust of one another.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Summer of Sam?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Spike Lee

Written by

Victor Colicchio · Spike Lee · Michael Imperioli

John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo

Vinny

Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody

Ritchie

Mira Sorvino

Mira Sorvino

Dionna

Jennifer Esposito

Jennifer Esposito

Ruby

Michael Rispoli

Michael Rispoli

Joey T

S

Saverio Guerra

Woodstock

Brian Tarantina

Brian Tarantina

Bobby Del Fiore

Court is in session

Put Summer of Sam on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.