Maybe its because I'm a father of a six year-old girl, but I was moved by the love between father and daughter, Sam and Lucy. That ain't retarded. The topics in this movie are real. This character and performance would be perfect in an edgy comedy, but exist in a parallel universe to the world of this film. He says he sure would. But by making anyone who thinks that maybe a child needs more than a mentally challenged parent can provide look like a monster, they turn the characters into cardboard. The kind of performance Penn delivers in "I Am Sam," which may look hard, is easy, compared, say, to his amazing work in Woody Allen's "Sweet and Lowdown." It aired on KBS2 from August 6 to October 2, 2007, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 ( KST) time slot for 16 episodes. Read full review. This includes encouraging her to leave her philandering husband and repair her fractious relationship with her son. This movie does not use too much swearing just a couple of F words. Then a cop pounces and arrests him for frequenting a prostitute. Regardless of whether you're taken in by Penn's Oscar bait performance, or disagree with the way the film juxtaposes his act with some of the movie's other actors with actual disabilities, chances are that you have plenty of thoughts about the movie's ending. Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7 year old. At one point he turns scornfully to the Pfeiffer character and says, "This is an anecdote for you at some luncheon, but I'm here every day, You're out the door, but you know who I see come back? This is not quite strictly true. Slow, yes. "A journey through understanding and fellowship. Seriously? Sam's difficulties become problematic, and his daughter is taken away. What was the official certification given to I Am Sam (2001) in Mexico? The lesson "I Am Sam" wants to teach us is, "All you need is love." Depending on the type of parent you are and what kind of children you are trying to raise, this movie does a great job NOT sugarcoating what its really like. Coming Soon. You can buy "I Am Sam" on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, DIRECTV, Redbox as download or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Redbox, DIRECTV, Spectrum On Demand online. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Common Sense Media. You can't have heroes and villains when the wrong side is making the best sense. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. [3] The film's title is derived from the lines "I am Sam / Sam I am" of the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, which is included in the movie. Questions arise about Sams ability to care for Lucy and a custody case is brought to court. Back at the station, the cop admits, "This is the first time in 19 years I actually believe a guy who says he didn't know she was a hooker." Retarded, maybe. He has a daughter whose homeless mother has abandoned them both. Credits list "starbucks barrister" instead of "barista". At its worst, it actually causes us to alienate his character and hope that he doesn't end up with the kid after all. The soundtrack was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. The film collected nearly $100 million at the box office on a modest budget, earned a SAG Award win and Oscar nom for Penn and turned Fanning, who also won a. Synopsis. Nearly seven years later in 2001, Sam provides a loving place for precocious Lucy, though she soon surpasses his mental capacity and ability. Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff and Laura Dern appear in supporting roles. Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. As such, this monumental shift in her life means that she arguably goes through more character development than anyone else in the movie. director of photography Film Editing by Richard Chew Casting By Mary Gail Artz Barbara Cohen This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. ", "One man's extraordinary fight to save the family he loved. Sam (Penn, in an Oscar-nominated role), a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy (Fanning) on his own. "I Am Sam" is the compelling story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally-challenged father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) with the help of a unique group of friends. We won't share this comment without your permission. Sam is well-adjusted and has a supportive group of friends with disabilities, as well as a kind, agoraphobic neighbor, Annie, who takes care of Lucy when Sam cannot. Sam's way to see the life in a very different way wins her over, and she starts representing him free of charge. Families can talk about what Sam should do to give Lucy everything she needs. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. [9] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote that "every device of the movie's art is designed to convince us Lucy must stay with Sam, but common sense makes it impossible to go the distance with the premise. He has a daughter with a homeless woman; she abandons them as soon as they leave the hospital. Over the course of the movie,Sam's positive effect also helpsRita confront her own inadequacies as a parent, as well as her loveless marriage. We search near and far for original movie trailer from all decades. As Robert Kohner observes in his Variety review: "In a way, Edward Norton's turn in "The Score" in which his thief used a mental handicap as a disguise, gave the trade secret away when it comes to this sort of performance." Outstanding New Talent. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. I Am Sam (2001) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Jessie Nelson Writing Credits ( WGA) Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by John Powell Cinematography by Elliot Davis . A mentally handicapped man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family. Your privacy is important to us. Even with the newfound help of Randy as a mother figure to Sam, one can't help but wonder how a sequel of the movie would pan out. She's a bright kid and figures out the answer herself, and when a classmate at grade school asks, "Why does your father act like a retard?" I Am Sam 2001 132 minutes 4.7 star 407 reviews 36% Tomatometer PG-13 Rating family_home Eligible info $9.99 Buy HD $2.99 Rent HD info Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More. The would-be adoptive mother, played by Laura Dern, further complicates the issue by not being a cruel child-beater who wants the monthly state payments, but a loving, sensitive mother who would probably be great for Lucy. Please wait. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. Viewers, on the other hand, have largely enjoyed the film, which enjoys a very impressive 86 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Moving and wonderful, but parent preview a good idea. This product uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Though critics have been unkind to "I Am Sam," it's worth noting that the courtroom proceedings of the movie have caused Harvard Law School to arrange a screening of the film to discuss the child's best interests in such a case as well as the various tactics the characters use to convince Sam's ability to function as a father. Director Jessie Nelson Writers Kristine Johnson Jessie Nelson Stars Sean Penn Michelle Pfeiffer Dakota Fanning See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 505 User reviews Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally challenged man with a mind of a child, is living in Los Angeles and is single-handedly raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning), whom he fathered from a homeless woman who wanted nothing to do with Lucy and left him the day of her birth. I find it unrealistic that a reviewer said too much bad words for their 11 and 15-year-old. Made by movie fans, for movie fans.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MOVIE CHANNELS:MOVIECLIPS: http://bit.ly/1u2yaWdComingSoon: http://bit.ly/1DVpgtRIndie \u0026 Film Festivals: http://bit.ly/1wbkfYgHero Central: http://bit.ly/1AMUZwvExtras: http://bit.ly/1u431frClassic Trailers: http://bit.ly/1u43jDePop-Up Trailers: http://bit.ly/1z7EtZRMovie News: http://bit.ly/1C3Ncd2Movie Games: http://bit.ly/1ygDV13Fandango: http://bit.ly/1Bl79yeFandango FrontRunners: http://bit.ly/1CggQfCHIT US UP:Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1y8M8axTwitter: http://bit.ly/1ghOWmtPinterest: http://bit.ly/14wL9DeTumblr: http://bit.ly/1vUwhH7 Sean Penn gives an excellent performance as a developmentally disabled man who needs to hire a lawyer to get custody of his daughter. The movie climaxes in a series of courtroom scenes, which follow the time-honored formulas for such scenes, with the intriguing difference that this time the evil prosecutor (Richard Schiff) seems to be making good sense. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website. The movie sets up the Department of Children and Family Services and its attorney as the villains when they take Lucy away from Sam and try to place her with a foster family. "I am Sam" is a movie about a single father whose developmental disabilities make it hard for him to raise a 7-year old daughter. [4], On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 35% based on reviews from 145 critics, with an average rating of 4.77/10. "I Am Sam" is aimed at audiences who will relate to the heart-tugging relationship between Sam and Lucy (and young Dakota Fanning does a convincing job as the bright daughter). But Penn gives a first-rate performance, and Pfeiffer holds her own. This is reality right now people use bad language every day, that is realistic. She became the youngest actress to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. I think that this is a great movie. It did not convince me that this mentally challenged man that could not even eat at a Kip's Big Boy without freaking out because they did not have French pancakes, could raise this child by himself. The heroine is a high-velocity Beverly Hills lawyer named Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer), who takes Sam's case on a pro bono basis, to prove to the other people in her office that she's not a selfish bitch. A mentally handicapped man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. suggesting a diversity update. Check it out. "[11] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle commended Sean Penn for his performance: "Penn's accuracy, his lack of condescension or sentiment, and his willingness to inhabit his character without any implicit commentary take what might have been the equivalent of an inflated TV movie and elevate it to the level of art. At the trial, due to pressure from the prosecutor, Sam breaks down after becoming convinced he is not capable of raising Lucy. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! (2002) "Love is all you need." Audience Score. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama. Privacy Policy Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally challenged man with a mind of a child, is living in Los Angeles and is single-handedly raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning), whom he fathered from a homeless woman who wanted nothing to do with Lucy and left him the day of her birth. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. There are several heartwrenching scenes during which Sam and Lucy are forcibly taken from one another. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. Berlinale 2023 Highlights, Part Two: Reality, Manodrome, The Adults, Inside, Golda, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson Feted at SBIFF 2023, Revisiting Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Tragically Common: Jamie Dack, Lily McInerny and Jonathan Tucker on Palm Trees and Power Lines. Moving but unrealistic film has mature themes, profanity. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. What was the official certification given to I Am Sam (2001) in Mexico? Over, and she starts representing him free of charge barista '' means she! Extraordinary fight to save the family he loved him for frequenting a prostitute search and. 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