Spike Lee's 'Summer of Sam' painful to watch

"Summer of Sam"

Directed by: Spike Lee

Starring: John Leguizamo, Adrien

Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer

Exposito

Rated: R

Love him or hate him, as a moviegoer you just can't ignore Spike Lee. He makes personal films of sweeping magnitude and never tries to cloud his opinions, some of which have been regarded as xenophobic or even racist.

His latest effort, "Summer of Sam," recalls the overall tone of his best work, "Do the Right Thing," but also has a feel, sometimes a very uncomfortable feel, all its own. While using the Son of Sam/.44 Caliber Killer murders as a backdrop, Lee takes us into the worlds of disco, punk rock, the pre-AIDS sexually "liberated" club scene and the film examines sometimes painfully in-depth, the mores of a New York City subculture.

While usually examining African-American stereotypes, on this go-round Lee's focus is on the Italian-American community of a Bronx neighborhood. Gangsters, both big- and small-time, dope dealers, waitresses, hookers and street thugs all inhabit the world of "Summer of Sam."

He also focuses on sex.

While there isn't an abundance of nude scenes or explicit sexual encounters here, nearly every scene is, in one way or another, concerned with sex. The main story is not that of David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz, but of Vinny and his beautiful wife Dionna, and Vinny's stereotypical Madonna/whore complex.

Vinny has an insatiable sexual appetite, and while Dionna is more than willing to do anything to please him, Vinny says there are some things you just don't do with your wife.

This leads him to an endless string of affairs with other women, including his wife's cousin, whom he drives home from a disco one evening. They stop off for a little extracurricular activity, and as Vinny heads back to pick up Dionna, he sees the very block he was parked on cordoned off by the cops.

The .44 Caliber Killer, who guns down amorous couples in their cars, has struck again.

He thinks God is trying to tell him something and vows to be faithful to Dionna. He finds that old habits die hard.

Vinny's best pal is Ritchie, one of the neighborhood gang who has just discovered the liberating aspects of punk. Ritchie is looking for love, too, and hooks up with Ruby, the neighborhood "good time girl."

Vinny doesn't understand how Ritchie can actually love this woman, considering her past, but Ritchie says he's in love. This leads Vinny, and the rest of the fellas in the 'hood to become suspect of Ritchie and question his motives for everything.

As the killings continue, the mafia powers that be in the neighborhood realize that the cops are bungling the investigation and, for the good of their home turf, decide to take matters into their own hands.

It's here, in the sweltering heat of the summer, that the mood becomes much like the mob mentality Lee showed us in "Do the Right Thing." The gangsters begin compiling lists of "suspects" that range from Ritchie the punk to the local priest.

Mira Sorvino, as Dionna, puts in the strongest performance of the film and proves once again to be one of the best young actresses working today. She captures the perfect blend of vulnerability, toughness and sexuality.

I can't say you will "enjoy" "Summer of Sam," but if you're a fan of Spike Lee's in-your-face, no-apologies style, this is something you really need to see.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)

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