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I Am Sam Reviews

2001

70
from 8068 members

Actor Sean Penn displays another facet of his versatility as the title character of this inspirational tearjerker--a mentally handicapped father fighting for custody of his young daughter (Dakota Fanning). The child welfare board of his native Santa Monica has taken her from him, worried that at eight years old she has already .. Read more

Starring	Michelle Pfeiffer, Sean Penn, Laura Dern, Dianne Wiest
Director	Jessie Nelson
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of I Am Sam
View all critics' reviews (6)
- "...Mr. Penn, with his usual discipline, burrows deep into Sam....You need only look into the actor's eyes to see how deeply he is committed to perceiving the world the way Sam does..."
- 10798
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of I Am Sam
View all members' reviews (128)
- - 19
  - 3
  A Fifty Hankie Weepie
  
  This was the saddest film I have ever seen, but very very enjoyable! The acting was superb - Sean Penn was every inch a man with learning difficulties. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 296310
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Clare156
  - York
  - 09 Dec 2003 at 22:04
Most recent members' reviews of I Am Sam
View all members' reviews (128)
- - 0
  - 0
  A gem of a film
  
  I don't know how I missed this film the first time round but I'm really glad I spotted it. I guess that the subject matter meant it didn't get a lot... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1084724
- - CageyS
  - 18 reviews
  - Lyme Regis
  - 23 Jan 2012 at 09:51
- - 0
  - 3
  Sam and Ham
  
  No doubting the efforts here by all to produce a heart renching story on a par with Kramer v Kramer as mentioned in the film. Just doesn't quite make it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1050225
- - buffyrules
  - 164 reviews
  - southend on sea
  - 11 Oct 2011 at 13:57
- - 1
  - 1
  Fantastic Film
  
  What a great film ,but do get a box not a packet of tissues ,I loved it from start to finish rent this you wont be disappointed .Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1024966
- - Deeleeds
  - 38 reviews
  - Leeds
  - 03 Aug 2011 at 19:55
- - 1
  - 1
  You have gotta see this film.
  
  Rented this film because my daughter had done a project on it at school and said I'd enjoy it and I did indeed.
  
  Normally I don't like Sean ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1014169
- - cheesekake
  - 166 reviews
  - uk
  - 07 Jul 2011 at 12:24
- - 1
  - 0
  Fantastic!!
  
  I thought this film was superb and Sean Penn was just unbelievably amazing in his character. There were a lot of tears whilst watching this film. In fact I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 994638
- - Lauren Edwards
  - Middlesex, England
  - 19 May 2011 at 12:26
- - 0
  - 0
  I Am Sam (2001)
  
  A lovely film is all I can say. Dakota Fanning is definitely one to watch for the future. She's fantastic! It was nice to see Sean Penn playing a different ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 988148
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 02 May 2011 at 12:13
- - 1
  - 0
  Oldie But Goodie
  
  This movie is a favorite of mine. It is so sweet! It touches you everytime you watch it. Its defeinately and oldie but golden movie classic.
  
  Report this review
- 944700
- - a customer
  - Bristol
  - 05 Dec 2010 at 03:25
- - 1
  - 0
  Lovely, lovely film
  
  Really enjoyed this film, was absolutely brilliant and really touching to watch.
  
  Excellent casting, love Dakota Fanning and Sean Penn, and the film ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 915742
- - YasminBrighton
  - 20 reviews
  - Brighton
  - 18 Aug 2010 at 11:48
- - 1
  - 0
  Tears And More Tears
  
  This was an amazing film. I dont normally get tearful watching films but this one made me weep all the way through. Was such a hard hitting tearjerker for me. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 903337
- - OptixAz
  - 168 reviews
  - Oxford
  - 05 Jul 2010 at 12:20
- - 0
  - 1
  I am Sam
  
  You cannot help but be unmoved. Penn, in my opinion a very underated actor (like Gary Oldman). To see him finally recognised in Milk was brilliant. The only ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 889543
- - Gunnersmum
  - 6 reviews
  - Birmingham
  - 07 May 2010 at 09:34
View all members' reviews (128)

- - 19
  - 3
  A Fifty Hankie Weepie
  
  This was the saddest film I have ever seen, but very very enjoyable! The acting was superb - Sean Penn was every inch a man with learning difficulties. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 296310
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Clare156
  - York
  - 09 Dec 2003 at 22:04
- - 10
  - 0
  Wonderful !
  
  I enjoyed this film so much, it made me laugh and cry. The little girl was wonderful - not at all wooden, and Sean Penn was a joy to watch. Everybody needs to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 294232
- - titch392000
  - North East Lincolnshire
  - 27 Oct 2003 at 18:12
- - 10
  - 0
  brilliant
  
  Wasn't sure about this one when I chose it but it was brilliant. Extremely well acted especially on the part of Sean Penn. It had all the things a good ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 294921
- - Leelovesbec
  - Surrey
  - 11 Nov 2003 at 09:26
- - 11
  - 6
  Absolutely Appalling
  
  I could write a whole host of reasons about how bad this film is but the Radio Times review summarises this much better than I could do. It's an example of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 451366
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - McClennan
  - 424 reviews
  - St Helens
  - 20 Jun 2007 at 02:22
- - 8
  - 0
  just a review
  
  I never thought Sean Penn could portrait such a complex character, the movie is gripping, funny, intensely sad at times and shows how someone with what's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 324
- - Dennis van Leeuwenkamp
  - Reading, England.
  - 06 Nov 2003 at 19:09
- - 6
  - 2
  Great film, interesting plot and good acting, what more could you want
  
  Heart touching tale of a father who's intellectual age is only 7 years with autistic tendencies. The delimea is what should happen when his daughter turns ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 58776
- - a customer
  - Essex, England
  - 12 Dec 2004 at 21:03
- - 5
  - 1
  Entertaining & thought provoking family film
  
  My daughter and I loved this film. 'Mentally challenged' Sam and his diamond-bright daughter Lucy both shine from the screen, as does Rita the razor ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 293242
- - kayess
  - Hampshire
  - 14 Oct 2003 at 21:56
- - 4
  - 1
  I am Sam
  
  What an incredible film! I wasn't expecting much - I have not been a Sean Penn fan until now, but he, Michelle Pfeifer and the film are incredible. The last... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 293754
- - NickJ
  - Suffolk
  - 20 Oct 2003 at 14:15
- - 3
  - 0
  Oscar worthy ...
  
  Oscar worthy performance from Sean Penn. This is one of the most touching films I have seen in a long time. Dakota Fanning's portrayal of Penn's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 33419
- - Lynne#7
  - RIDDRIE
  - 18 Apr 2004 at 16:30
- - 3
  - 0
  This is a heart ...
  
  This is a heart warming film which will pull at your heart strings and leave you reaching for the tissues. Great film, thoroughly recommended.
  
  Report this review
- 45861
- - a customer
  - CARSHALTON
  - 03 Sep 2004 at 13:11

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Critics' reviews
- "...Mr. Penn, with his usual discipline, burrows deep into Sam....You need only look into the actor's eyes to see how deeply he is committed to perceiving the world the way Sam does..."
- 10798
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "..[Fanning is] cute without being cutesy, smart without being smart-arsed, she's the bright eyed emotional heart of the film..."
- 10800
- - Total Film
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Another contrived look at modern family matters from the director of Corrina, Corrina, this immediately set off alarm... read more on Time Out
- 45223
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...Emotionally effective....Fanning, in her first feature role, is charmingly earnest and positively luminous..."
- 10797
- - Box Office
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...[Penn] gives a bold, heartfelt performance....[It's] a portrayal of stirring emotion and blunt truth..."
- 10799
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Sickly, manipulative drama, with a distressingly bad performance from Penn as the saintly Sam.
- 31950
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- I Am Sam
  
  Actor Sean Penn displays another facet of his versatility as the title character of this inspirational tearjerker--a mentally handicapped father fighting for custody of his young daughter (Dakota Fanning). The child welfare board of his native Santa Monica has taken her from him, worried that at ...