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I Am Sam on DVD (2001)

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Average rating: 77%
1112271020516
3.5
from 1,129 members
 
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer | Sean Penn | Laura Dern | Dianne Wiest | Doug Hutchinson | Scott Paulin | Loretta Devine | Richard Schiff | Dakota Fanning | Wendy Phillips | Will Wallace
Director: Jessie Nelson
Studio: ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time: 127 mins
Certificate: 12
User collections: Movies to make you cry | Best Of the Best | Definatley Worth A Watch | Great Films | my personel faves
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Released: 28/10/2002

Brief synopsis of 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 eight years old she has already begun to pass him in intellectual development. Sam's argument is that it's not brains but love that counts, and his case is taken by a stressed-out hot shot lawyer named Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer) who has her own problems dealing with her rebellious son. Anchored by his infectious love of the Beatles, the ceaselessly enthusiastic Sam becomes a positive influence on Rita as he raises a lot of questions about what's most important as a parent. Though it's Penn's show, Pfeiffer is so good she practically steals the film from him, and the startlingly precocious Fanning is not far behind. A warm soundtrack of Beatles covers and clever, fast-cut editing help the message of love and forgiveness shine through.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 1 stars out of 5 Radio Times

The emotionally manipulative story of a single parent (Sean Penn) with a mental age of seven, I Am Sam falls uncomfortably between Forrest Gump and Kramer vs Kramer (what a pitch that must have made), centring as it does on a custody battle for his daughter, whose seventh birthday conveniently makes Sam an untenable parent. Quite apart from being an offensive, inaccurate and unhelpful portrait of mental illness (Sam's Rain Man-influenced autism comes and goes to suit the mawkish script), I Am Sam is a blatant vanity project for Penn and a naive piece of schmaltz. Michelle Pfeiffer's cartoonish “high-powered lawyer” of course learns important lessons from Sam's innocent world view (and his endless Beatles references, underlined by a soundtrack of Fab Four covers). It seems to be saying: as the world becomes ever more complex, we would all be better off if we regressed to a childlike state. Penn should know better.

New York Times

"...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..."

Total Film

"..[Fanning is] cute without being cutesy, smart without being smart-arsed, she's the bright eyed emotional heart of the film..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsA Fifty Hankie Weepie

Clare156 from York , 09/12/2003

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 actors playing his friends were a mixture of actors with special needs and those without, all acting superbly.

"I Am Sam" had very funny moments, extremely touching moments and lots of tearful moments. It is a film that shows that love and perseverance conquers all.

  11 out of 13 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsWonderful !

titch392000 from North East Lincolnshire , 27/10/2003

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 see this film; it is a wonderful story, wonderfully told.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsbrilliant

Leelovesbec from Surrey , 11/11/2003

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 movie should have. Lots of changes of emotion, happy, sad, funny and serious, all in the right quantities.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 0 starsAbsolutely Appalling

McClennan from St Helens , 20/06/2007

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 the typical Hollywood manipulative tear-jerker. Instead of having decent characterisation and writing to allow you to get into the characters it throws you an immediately sympathetic character so you don't have to examine the characters feelings and tries to exploit them for maximum emotional effect.

As for Sean Penn, I'm sure he's a bit embarrassed about this film. One moment his character is unable to remember simple things, the next he's understanding complex adult emotions and even interpreting them for his hot shot lawyer. It's a long time since I've seen a film this poor get so many good reviews.

If you want to watch a filim about a character that has a mental disability then there are far better films out there that look at the issue and don't put it in such an exploitative and manipulative context.

  10 out of 15 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 4 starsI am Sam

A Hobbit from The Shire , 06/07/2004

This film is simply brilliant. The story is heartfelt and you really feel for these characters. Sean Penn is simply amazing as Sam, portraying this mentally disabled man. The story is sweet and will have you in tears if you aren't careful.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsA superb film

tearful nutter from heartland of England , 12/04/2005

Having only seen Sean Penn play a hard man, his acting skills were superb in his role as a disabled parent! Having grown up with a disabled brother and having gone through a divorce & having to fight for access to my kids - this film really tugged at the heart strings and brought tears into my eyes - A superbly acted film - Definitely one to watch ...

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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