Wesley Snipes is a black family man who has an affair with his Italian secretary (Annabella Sciorra) in Spike Lee’s (writer-director) provocative look at interracial relationships. Doomed by their hostile environment, the couple is overwhelmed by the rampant, deep-rooted racism surrounding them.
Jagged edges and loose ends aside, “Fever,” which includes a poignant drug-abuse subplot (featuring Samuel L. Jackson), is funny, tragic and indispensable. Great original songs from Stevie Wonder add to the flavor. Lee also gets in front of the camera as do Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Lonette McKee, John Turturro, Anthony Quinn and Halle Berry. Rated R.
GRADE: B+
