Summer of Sam

["O'Neal, Kevin W." <Kevin.ONeal@vtmednet.org>]

	Saw Summer of Sam this weekend.  All I can say is hold on to your
hat.  This movie will be very disturbing to most people.  It's really just a
snap shot in time, no real plot.
	What is impressive is how deeply Spike Lee understands the movement
of The Who, and where Who fans come from!  It's not just about punk, or
violence.  To me, and apparently to Spike, The Who represented social
dissatisfaction and rebellion for those that had the intellectual capacity
to realize that being a redneck or New York Bronx Street Thug (in this case)
wasn't going to get you anywhere.    
	The Who's influence on this movie is anything but subtle.  There are
Who posters everywhere.
	Richi (punk character who I think most Who fans will identify with
easily) wears Keith's red white and blue "Target" T-shirt, or a union jack
T-shirt.  There is direct mention of Who's Next and of Pete Townshend as
"the godfather of punk".  The two main Who songs in this movie (BO'R, WGFA)
are the only two times that the movie actually stops and takes on a video
type of feel.  The movie actually starts to feel like you're at a Who
concert watching the screen behind the band! 
	Very powerful stuff!!
	The only thing that bugs me is the hint of Bi-sexuality surrounding
the character Richi.
	Is it just me, or does the public at large think of Bi-sexuality
when they think of Pete?!
	I mean, ever since Empty Glass.....
	** Have you all seen the recent mini interview with Pete on VH1
where Pete (holding a brandy, sitting among friends) says "The moment I laid
eyes on Mick Jagger was the moment that I knew I wanted to FU - K a man
(very serious look, then breaks into laughter)".
	He's doing this for shock value, but......it seems to be an issue
that keeps raising it's head.
	Another example...
	The review (found on Chris's Who Links) of the Boston show (last
August; day before Woodstock show) talks about this Bi-sexual thing as well.
The writer goes on to say that Pete said (referring to himself and the
Harmonica Player) "There are two Queens on this stage".
	At The Woodstock show (I went to), Pete said (referring to the
Harmonica Player) "there is really only one queen on this stage" (yes, the
harmonica player was pretty obvious).
	My point here is.....who cares (next album title?)!!  Why would a
show critic choose that quote to write about.  FURTHERMORE, given what Pete
said at Woodstock the next day, WAS THIS CRITIC CORRECT (any one go to the
Boston show) or did he misunderstand?
	Why is Pete's sexuality still such a pre-occupation with the general
public?  Or am I just sensitive to it?
	I will admit, being a heterosexual married guy that suffered from
the same insecurities and difficulties in dealing with women that Pete did
early on, I have always seen Pete as a role model (well), a person I could
identify with.  Maybe it's just a fear of losing another heterosexual role
model (non macho/jock) to "the other team (Sinefeld)".
	Any thoughts?

	Stay in Tune...
	Kevin