(Spike Lee, US 1999, 142 min., 35mm)
Spike Lee tackles a formative time in his life — the summer of 1977 — the height of disco, punk, and the “.44 caliber killer,” later named the Son of Sam. Vinny (John Leguizamo) is a hairdresser juggling his job, his wife, and his lifestyle, which mostly consists of sleeping around. One night, while driving his wife’s cousin home for a tryst, he has a close call with the serial killer. Suddenly, Vinny lives in a bubble of paranoia, concerned that the murderer saw his face and will hunt him down. And the entire city seems to go along with him, with both law enforcement and street thugs actively hunting him down. The eyes of the neighborhood fall on Vinny’s best friend Richie (Adrien Brody), who has returned with new ideas and a new look, but Vinny has his doubts.