I Am Sam (2001)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jessie Nelson

Writers (WGA):

Kristine Johnson (written by) &
Jessie Nelson (written by)

Release Date:

25 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

love is all you need

Plot:

A mentally retarded 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.

Plot Keywords:

The Beatles | Lawyer | Custody | Mother Son Relationship | Social Service

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Rita Harrison Williams
Dakota Fanning	...	Lucy Diamond Dawson
Dianne Wiest	...	Annie Cassell
Loretta Devine	...	Margaret Calgrove
Richard Schiff	...	Mr. Turner
Laura Dern	...	Randy Carpenter
Brad Silverman	...	Brad (as Brad Allan Silverman)
Joseph Rosenberg	...	Joe
Stanley DeSantis	...	Robert
Doug Hutchison	...	Ifty
Rosalind Chao	...	Lily
Ken Jenkins	...	Judge Philip McNeily
Wendy Phillips	...	Miss Wright
Mason Lucero	...	Conner Rhodes

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38443) | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The scene where Sam, Lucy, and Sam's friends are walking across the street with the balloons is a tribute to famous photograph of The Beatles crossing the street from the cover of "Abbey Road".

Goofs:

Factual errors: Credits list "starbucks barrister" instead of "barista".

Quotes:

[making fun of Lucy's dad]
Conner Rhodes: Sorry, Mr. Egg.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Charmed: Sam I Am (#5.9)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

In a Swingin' Mood

Mentally challenged single dad fights to care for daughter

Sean Penn as a devoted father (Sam) who despite mental challenges, fights for the right to raise his child is convincing in a complete departure from his usual "bad guy" characters. Michelle Pfeiffer plays his reluctant "pro bono" elite lawyer, who eventually puts 110% into this case.

The love between Sam and his 7 year old daughter is evident in many sweet scenes (got Kleenex?), best described by a reclusive neighbor (wonderfully played by Dianne Wiest), who overcomes her hermit-like condition long enough to testify in Sam's behalf. Even the social workers who insisted on doing everything to "help the child" appear to be fighting emotions over this unusual case. The "support system", which includes several equally challenged "buddies", a very supportive employer, and many other people in the community gives evidence of our changing society, fostering inclusion and tolerance. Eventually even the prospective adoptive parents of Sam's daughter can't go on fighting against this exemplary father.

The girl playing Sam's daughter appears to be "gifted", at age 7 reading middle school material. Perhaps the "difference" between father & daughter's intelligence did not have to be in such an obvious extreme. The implication of a romantic involvement between Sam and his lawyer could have been avoided as well. The former is stretching it, but the latter is going too far. One can suspend her/his disbelief only so much! Since there are no "perfect" movies, I still consider this one pretty darn close! Highly recommended.