Summer of Sam (1999)

June 28, 1999 (US) • Crime, Drama, Thriller • 142m

Overview

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.

Director

Spike Lee

Writers

Michael Imperioli, Victor Colicchio, Spike Lee

Top Billed

John Leguizamo

Keywords

distrust italian american 1970s paranoia intolerance punk rock serial killer summer bigotry bronx, new york city son of sam desperate

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

John Leguizamo

Vinny

Adrien Brody

Ritchie

Mira Sorvino

Dionna

Jennifer Esposito

Ruby

Michael Rispoli

Joey T

Saverio Guerra

Woodstock

Brian Tarantina

Bobby Del Fiore

Al Palagonia

Anthony

Ken Garito

Brian

Bebe Neuwirth

Gloria

Patti LuPone

Helen

Mike Starr

Eddie

Anthony LaPaglia

Detective Lou Petrocelli

Roger Guenveur Smith

Detective Curt Atwater

Ben Gazzara

Luigi

Joe Lisi

Tony Olives

James Reno

Crony

Arthur J. Nascarella

Mario

John Savage

Simon

Jimmy Breslin

Michael Badalucco

Son of Sam

Spike Lee

John Jeffries

Lucia Grillo

Chiara

Nelson Vasquez

Officer Cruz

Darielle Gilad

Debbie Cadabra

Michael Harper

Raygun

Jessica Galbreath

Fire

Evan Cohen

Bite

George Tabb

Spider

Michael Imperioli

Midnite

Victor Colicchio

Chickie

Peter Maloney

Detective Timothy Dowd

Christopher Wynkoop

Sam Carr

John Turturro

Harvey the Black Dog (voice)

Ernie Anastos

Anchorman

Jim Jensen

Anchorman

Melba Tolliver

Anchorwoman

Phil Rizzuto

Yankee Broadcaster (voice)

Reggie Jackson

Danielle Burgio

Girl in Parked Car

Lisa France

Girl in Parked Car

Peter Epstein

Chuckie

Jill Stokesberry

Rose

Joseph Lyle Taylor

Ron

Kim Director

Dee

Bill Raymond

Father Cadilli

Mildred Clinton

Italian Woman at Murder Site

Emelise Aleandri

Italian Woman at Murder Site

Michael Sorvino

Bowler at Diner

Phil Campanella

2nd Bowler at Diner

William H. Burns

Officer

Ernest Mingione

Officer

Frank Fortunato

Doorman

Danny Zappin

Simon's Male Friend

Murielle Arden

Simon's Female Friend

Christina Klobe

Simon's Female Friend

Charlotte Colavin

Neighbor

Clayton J. Barber

Punk

Joie Lee

Bed Stuy Woman Interviewed

Rome Neal

Bed Stuy Man Interviewed

Mark Breland

Bed Stuy Man Interviewed

Susan Batson

Bed Stuy Woman Interviewed

Evander Holyfield

Man in Riot

Toneda Laiwan

Dot (Atwater's Girlfriend)

Janet Paparazzo

Young Woman Shot by Son Of Sam

Jodi Michelle Pynn

Young Woman Shot by Son Of Sam

Jennifer Badger

Woman Victim

Jeff DeRocker

Man in Car

Nick Oddo

Husband

Damian Achilles

Wounded Man

Joanne Lamstein

Woman in Car

Gabriel Barre

Johnny Nasso

Tara McNamee

Woman Victim

John Michael Brown

"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Singer

Damian Branica

"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Bassist

Lorne Behrman

"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Guitarist

Curtis Gove

"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Guitarist

James Baggs

"L.E.S. Stitches" Drummer

Rozie Bacchi

Brian's Girlfriend

Grace DeSena

Joe T's Girlfriend

Zoe Bournelis

Anthony's Girlfriend

Ashleigh Closs

Princess

Frank Cadillac

Patty a.k.a. Man with Weird Eyes

Daniel J. Courtenay

Guitar Store Owner

Michael Prozzo

Rocco

Kathryn Hud

Rocco's Girlfriend

Antonio Torres

Man Pulled from Car

Pamela Wehner

Lady at Block Party

Dionna Colicchio

Girl at Block Party

Victoria Galasso

Girl at Block Party

Danielle Tutelian

Girl at Block Party

John Martucci

Haircutter

Mario Macaluso

Italian Chef

Andrew Lasky

Officer Cruz Partner

Richard Paul

Detective with Decoy Dummy

Ray Carlson

Crime Scene Cop

Alexander J. Vega

Bouncer

Steven Croft

Limo Driver

Mary Jo Todaro

Lady in Window

Jacqueline Margolis

Lady in Window

Iris Braydon

Lady in Car Window

Valerie Mazzonelli

Lady with Dog

Hal Sherman

Arresting Detective

Nicholas Brown

Young Petrocelli

Crew

Spike Lee

Director

Michael Imperioli

Writer

Michael Alvarez

Extras Casting Assistant

Allyson C. Johnson

Associate Editor

Victor Colicchio

Writer

Will Ralston

Foley Editor

Jennifer Edwards

Extras Casting Assistant

Tuffy Questell

Extras Casting Assistant

Maisie Weissman

Music Editor

Theron Smith

Extras Casting Assistant

Spike Lee

Writer

Andrea Falco

Extras Casting Assistant

Ali Merhi

Extras Casting Assistant

Aisha Coley

Casting

Thérèse DePrez

Production Design

Nicholas Lundy

Art Direction

Terence Blanchard

Original Music Composer

Barry Alexander Brown

Editor

Ruth E. Carter

Costume Design

Jeri Carroll-Colicchio

Executive Producer

Jon Kilik

Producer

Andrea Greer

Script Supervisor

Spike Lee

Producer

Michael Imperioli

Executive Producer

Diane Lederman

Set Decoration

Ellen Kuras

Director of Photography

Alex Steyermark

Music Supervisor

R. Vincent Smith

Assistant Property Master

Richard Eliano

Additional Camera

Paul Cheponis

Assistant Set Decoration

Myron Odegaard

Shop Electric

Peter Fernberger

Additional Camera

Terrence Laron Burke

Grip

Kelly Neese

Cableman

Colin Cumberbatch

Assistant Production Coordinator

Carlos O. Guerra

First Assistant "A" Camera

Marta Font

Costumer

Mark Paul Selemon

Set Dresser

Rafael Osorio

Key Set Production Assistant

John Panuccio

Key Rigging Grip

Arne Olsen

Key Construction Grip

Carmen Rodriguez

Assistant Accountant

Steve Drellich

Additional Camera

Andrea Dorman

Steadicam Operator

Tara McNamee

Stunts

Patrick Capone

Additional Camera

Matt Miller

Key Rigging Grip

Mel Cannon

Grip

Yvette Stapleton

Costumer

Jeremy Frey

Stunts

Jeremy Knaster

Generator Operator

Kevin Flynn

Dolly Grip

Rodney "Bear" Jackson

Key Set Production Assistant

Yvens DeThelismond

Assistant Costume Designer

Christina Tonkin Noble

Assistant Set Decoration

Peter I. Sabat

Production Secretary

Francis Panuccio

Rigging Grip

Matt Chubet

Grip

Jean Kalanzi

First Assistant Accountant

Roger Lee

Second Second Assistant Director

David Lee

Still Photographer

Joanna Hartell

Set Dresser

Michael A. Pinckney

Additional Second Assistant Director

William Moore

Gaffer

Charles Casillo

Grip

Pamela Roy-Stasney

Assistant Set Decoration

Ben McCrea

Location Scout

Ralph Fratianni

Construction Grip

Manny Siverio

Stunts

Jon Ringbom

Charge Scenic Artist

John B. Finn

Post Production Accountant

Jennifer Martinez

Editorial Services

Chad Merriam

Visual Effects Producer

Noëlle Penraat

Negative Cutter

Yolanda Carter

Costumer

Julie Sloan

Scenic Artist

William Gaskins

Transportation Captain

Terence Blanchard

Conductor

Geoff Foster

Scoring Mixer

Margot Boccia

Makeup Artist

Richard Bryan Douglas

Carpenter

Jerome Tarter

Shop Electric

Romy Charles

Editorial Services

Betsy Asher Hall

CG Supervisor

Linda Cohen

Music Coordinator

David Boulton

ADR Engineer

Todd Shifflett

Visual Effects Supervisor

Betsy Paterson

Compositing Supervisor

Debora Lilavois

ADR Editor

Pashelle Clayton-Robinson

Costumer

Anna DiNuovo Slaughter

Editorial Production Assistant

Kevin Lee

Supervising Sound Editor

Henry Kaplan

Set Dresser

Arne Olsen Jr.

Construction Grip

June DeCamp

Scenic Artist

Joyce Leipertz

Scenic Artist

Monica Kitchen

Wardrobe Coordinator

Harvey Goldberg

Set Dresser

Douglas Fecht

Set Dresser

Dana Neuwirth

Set Dresser

Benjamin Cheah

Foley Supervisor

Clarissa Shanahan

Scenic Artist

Joanna Rodriguez

Extras Casting Coordinator

Mike Easter

Transportation Co-Captain

Don Ciana

Color Timer

Joanne Lamstein

Stunts

Tom Fleischman

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Anita Gibson

Key Makeup Artist

Michelle Johnson

Key Hair Stylist

Jon Kilik

Production Manager

Mike Ellis

First Assistant Director

Michael Curry Sr.

Construction Foreman

Jay Cannold

Production Supervisor

Miles Ferguson

Post Production Supervisor

Joseph A. Campayno

Makeup Artist

Leonard Drake

Key Hair Stylist

Anthony Gueli

Hairstylist

Tracey Hinds

Second Assistant Director

Kevin Ladson

Property Master

Martin Bernstein

Construction Coordinator

Norman Douglass

Stunt Driver

Darlene Jackson

Wardrobe Supervisor

Richard Owings

Assistant Costume Designer

Roy Farfel

Stunts

Braden Belmonte

Camera Loader

Jordanna Fineberg

Key Costumer

David S. Lomax

Stunts

Keith Siglinger

Stunts

Blake Leyh

Sound Designer

Glenfield Payne

Sound Effects Editor

Harry Peck Bolles

Dialogue Editor

Elliot Santiago

Stunts

George Harrington

Rigging Gaffer

Leigh Rathner

Second Assistant "A" Camera

Hal Levinsohn

Dialogue Editor

Raffaello Ferucci

Rigging Gaffer

Derrick Kardos

Art Department Coordinator

Kenton Jakub

Supervising ADR Editor

Steve Kirshoff

Special Effects Coordinator

Michael Hunold

Best Boy Electric

Paul A. Simmons Jr.

Key Costumer

Timothy Metzger

Leadman

Tim O'Shea

Foley Editor

Lamont Crawford

Dolly Grip

Zsolt Kadar

Second Assistant "B" Camera

Gina Alfano

ADR Editor

Jay Carrado

Stunts

Victor Littlejohn

Assistant Property Master

Chuck Jeffreys

Stunts

Jeffery J. Tufano

Camera Operator

Marko Costanzo

Foley Artist

Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson

Dialogue Editor

Jac Rubenstein

Dialogue Editor

Larry McConkey

Steadicam Operator

Andy Kris

Foley Editor

Rolf Pardula

Sound Mixer

Paul Candrilli

Best Boy Grip

Karen Gilman

Casting Associate

James R. Belletier

First Assistant "B" Camera

Winsome Sinclair

Extras Casting

Charles E. McCarry

Assistant Art Director

Donald Robinson

Graphic Designer

Dave Flynch

Assistant Sound Editor

Kristen M. Johnson

Assistant Sound Editor

Reinhart Peschke

Chief Lighting Technician

Chris Skutch

Key Grip

Azan Kung

Assistant Costume Designer

Stuart Deutsch

Boom Operator

Jeff Ward

Stunt Coordinator

Robert M. Andres

Key Grip

Betty Chin

Production Coordinator

Woody Richman

Assistant Editor

Jackie Bazan

Unit Publicist

Michael Alan Stein

Assistant Costume Designer

Geeta Gandbhir

Assistant Editor

Deb Dyer

Production Accountant

Kathleen Fellegara

Set Medic

Lori Slomka

Music Editor

Otis Sallid

Choreographer

Michael Tavares

Wardrobe Supervisor

Reviews

John Chard

⭐ 8/10

March 28, 2020

There's a homicidal maniac wandering around the neighbourhood. You don't want to do anything about it?

Summer of Sam is directed by Spike Lee and Lee co-writes the screenplay with Victor Colicchio and Michael Imperioli. It stars John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Saverio Guerra, Brian Tarantina, Al Palagonia, Ken Garito, Bebe Neuwirth and Michael Badalucco. Music is by Terence Blanchard and cinematography by Ellen Duras.

It was met with some indifference upon release, for many film fans went into it expecting another "Se7en" type serial killer thriller. What we get is Spike Lee doing a clinical character piece of how the residents in a South Bronx neighbourhood react to having a serial killer in their midst. It's 1977 and it's the time of the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City, mistrust and vile character traits start to come to the fore...

Lets face it, Spike Lee is often about as subtle as a sledgehammer over the head, but when it comes to characterisations - particularly when it comes to New York - he's one of the best around. He positively revels in dropping a group of unsound characters into a pressure cooker atmosphere and let them play out their respective human fallibilities. Who else could run a concurrent strand of a serial killer with a serial adulterer and produce such edgy and sly rewards?.

The musical backdrop to the plotting gives us the move from disco into the punk explosion, with the juxtaposition between good friends - Leguizamo's disco dancing philanderer and Brody's (excellent) punk rocker turning gay tricks to pay for his musical aspirations - proving to be more pivotal than "Son of Sam" (Badalucco off the chain) himself. All while the "hood" lowlifes gather themselves as an army to seek out the serial killer themselves, which unfortunately means anyone remotely not in their circle of friends is a suspect!.

It's no Lee masterpiece, for it's a touch too long and could have been trimmed by 15 minutes of pointless sexual exposition, while it sometimes feels like Lee is stuck between blaxploitation verve and mainstream appeasing ticket selling. Yet it's a bold piece of film making, with some genuinely jaw dropping sequences within. Prepare for a film that's big on characters during the reign of a serial killer and you might just appreciate Summer of Sam much more. 8/10

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