Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. PG-13. Apart from the main plot that deals with Sam's struggle to be a father to Lucy, "I AmSam"also prominently focuses on Michelle Pfeiffer's hard-boiled Rita, who enters the scene as a cold, work-oriented person who's clearly estranged from her family, as well as the majority of life's good things. Your privacy is important to us. Sam finds a lawyer who handles the case pro bono. Cinemark In danger of losing child custody, Sam gets advice from his friends and also hires a lawyer, Rita Harrison, whose absorption in her work and neglect of her son reveals her to also struggle with her role as a parent. Fancy watching 'I Am Sam' in the comfort of your own home? Sam's daughter, Lucy, is seven and her teachers fear that . "I Am Sam" stars Sean Penn as Lucy's dad, Sam, who has the IQ of a 7-year-old but is trying to raise the daughter he fathered with a homeless woman. I Am Sam (stylized i am sam) is a 2001 American drama film written and directed by Jessie Nelson, and starring Sean Penn as a father with a developmental disability, Dakota Fanning as his inquisitive daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer. "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). In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. 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. 76. I Am Sam. You're almost there! Sam loves his daughter more than anyone else, and she loves him, but it will take more than love for him to see her through grade school and adolescence and out into the world. [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. ", "Col. Frank Slade has a very special plan for the weekend! He has a daughter whose homeless mother has abandoned them both. director of photography Film Editing by Richard Chew Casting By Mary Gail Artz Barbara Cohen There are several heartwrenching scenes during which Sam and Lucy are forcibly taken from one another. See our. In I AM SAM, Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally challenged man who wipes the tables at Starbucks, decides to fight for custody of his daughter, Lucy (Dakota Fanning). Dont worry, it wont take long. 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. Outstanding New Talent. Critics haven't been especially kind to "I Am Sam," and they've accused the movie of taking a complicated issue and simplifying it into an easily chewable Hollywood drama (via Rotten Tomatoes). 7.6 2 h 12 min 2002 PG-13. Coming Soon. What was the official certification given to I Am Sam (2001) in Mexico? 2023 JustWatch - All external content remains the property of the rightful owner. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. He has a daughter with a. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita (Pfeiffer) to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family. Dakota Fanning. "[5] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 28 of 100 based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". At its worst, it actually causes us to alienate his character and hope that he doesn't end up with the kid after all. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. What did Rita learn from Sam, and why was it only Sam who could teach it to her? and the This analytical process may be difficult for those that would like to be identified with our handicapped caregiver, but find the self-absorbed lawyer closer to the truth. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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." 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? PG-13 2 hr 12 min Jan 25th, 2002 Drama. Discovering a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the Jessie Nelson-directed movie via subscription can be a . In smaller parts, Wiest, Richard Schiff, Mary Steenburgen, and Laura Dern all are very fine as well, and the soundtrack of Beatles songs recorded by some of today's best artists is a genuine treat. He had his daughter, Lucy with a homeless woman and she left Sam just after she had her. The parents' guide to what's in this movie. 'I Am Sam'- Assessment Sam is the main character in 'I Am Sam'. "[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. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. The film won the inaugural Stanley Kramer Award from the Producers Guild of America, and was nominated for the Humanitas Prize and the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film. Starbucks is prominently featured as Sam's workplace, and many other products and retailers are identified. Drama Movies That Tug at the Heartstrings. Autistic, sho'. 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. 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. 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 Am Sam. (2002) "Love is all you need." Audience Score. Eventually Lucy decides to stop learning so she won't get ahead of her dad. [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. Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff, and Laura Dern appear in supporting roles. Sam moves so he is near Lucy, so she continually leaves in the middle of the night to go to his apartment, though he immediately returns her. The real miracle of the movie, though, is young Fanning, who gives a performance of such sincerity, subtlety, and delicacy that she almost carries the entire movie herself. When producers were unable to obtain the rights to the original tracks, they commissioned artists such as the Black Crowes, Nick Cave, Stereophonics, Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright, the Wallflowers, Ben Harper, the Vines, and Ben Folds to record the versions released. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. Sean Penn gives an excellent performance as a developmentally disabled man who needs to hire a lawyer to get custody of his daughter. Not retarded. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. She comes over and asks him if he would like to have a good time. Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff and Laura Dern appear in supporting roles. 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. In 1993, Samuel Dawson, a Starbucks barista with an intellectual disability, becomes the single father of Lucy Diamond Dawson, named after The Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", following their abandonment by her mother, a homeless woman with whom Sam had a sexual encounter. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. As they work to secure Sam's rights, Sam helps Rita see her own life anew. I Am Sam Drama 2001 2 hr 12 min English audio PG-13 CC Buy or rent Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old and works at a Starbucks. "[10], Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times reviewed it positively as a "most inviting and accessible film that turns upon a mental condition that most people would prefer not to think about. I just watched it again but with my 12-year-old for the first time. Moving and wonderful, but parent preview a good idea. In the process, Sam teaches her a great deal about love and whether it's really all needed. The site's consensus reads: "Not only does the manipulative I Am Sam oversimplify a complex issue, it drowns it in treacle. "[10] Ebert also criticized the morality tale character of the movie, saying that "you can't have heroes and villains when the wrong side is making the best sense. The film received polarized reviews from critics and audiences. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. See production, box office & company info. The movie, I Am Sam is about a single father who has a developmental disability and who has an IQ of a seven-year-old who wants and tries to take care of his baby daughter. The topics in this movie are real. That ain't retarded. A mentally challenged man seeks custody of his daughter when the state tries to place her in a foster home. 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. But its sentimentality is so relentless and its narrative so predictable that the life is very nearly squeezed out of it. Sam also gets some help from an entourage of friends, and all goes along pretty well until Lucy, at age 7, begins to surpass Sam intellectually. Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7 year old. Check it out. Drama about autistic savant has profanity, mature themes. Can Sam adequately care for Lucy? As the film ends, the issue is in doubt. Braces on his legs. As Lucy turns seven and begins to intellectually surpass her father, their close bond is threatened when their unconventional living arrangement comes to the attention of a social worker who wants Lucy placed in foster care. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. She became the youngest actress to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. A number of the people in the movie struggle with parenting issues -- there has never been a court proceeding in history that permitted such discussion of the family lives of all the participants and witnesses. After a mentally challenged father is separated from his young daughter, he enlists a brilliant attorney to help him win back custody. 2 hr 12 min. We search near and far for original movie trailer from all decades. Terms and Policies 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. "Daddy, did God mean for you to be like this, or was it an accident? Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer, 10 Black Women Filmmakers Who Have Shaped the Cinema Landscape of the 21st Century, 10 LGBTQIA+ Women Who Became Trailblazers in Entertainment. But the strong sentimentalism, don't save the film. In turn, she gets Sam through his worst moments after Lucy is taken away from him. [1][2] For his role as Sam, Penn was highly acclaimed and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. Coming Soon, Regal Slow, yes. Talking about it or warning your children that there are others who are different does not exactly prepare them. Retarded, maybe. Read full review. Common Sense Media. It has become apparent that Lucy surpassed her father in intelligence, and she is struggling to cope with classmates and friends making fun of Sam. Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Penn do such a good job with their acting, that the audience will completely forget how unrealistic and far fetched the premise is. 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. "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. 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. I think that this is a great movie. "I Am Sam" tells the story of Sam Dawson ( Sean Penn ), a man with unspecified developmental disabilities who unexpectedly becomes the father of a baby girl, Lucy Diamond (Dakota Fanning). 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. Special Achievement Award. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. Where trailers from the past, from recent to long ago, from a time before YouTube, can be enjoyed by all. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. 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. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and At the trial, due to pressure from the prosecutor, Sam breaks down after becoming convinced he is not capable of raising Lucy. Loading. This is reality right now people use bad language every day, that is realistic. Randy assures him that she will tell the judge he is the best parent for Lucy. The foster parents, though, decide not to adopt her as they had planned, and return her to Sam. "[8] Variety wrote: "Undone by its best intentions, I Am Sam is an especially insipid example of the Hollywood message movie". I Am Sam 2:17 Watch Now 2:17 I Am Sam Awards 2002 - Critics'. Nominee. Watch on YouTube I Am Sam Drama 2001 2 hr 12 min English audio PG-13 CC Buy or rent Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old and works at a Starbucks. This character and performance would be perfect in an edgy comedy, but exist in a parallel universe to the world of this film. ", "The funniest, sexiest midlife crisis in movie history. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. [6] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "A" on scale of A to F.[7], A. O. Scott of the New York Times wrote that "I Am Sam is not a bad movie, and its intentions are unimpeachable. Jessie Nelson and Kristine Johnson, who co-wrote the . By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama. Coming Soon. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. I Am Sam Album Information Release Date January 8, 2002 Duration 55:03 Genre Stage & Screen Pop/Rock Styles Contemporary Pop/Rock Alternative Pop/Rock Alternative/Indie Rock Soundtracks Tribute Albums Recording Location Groovemasters, Los Angeles, CA Home, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles, CA Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? 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?" The glowing last scene, with Sam performing in a role that's clearly beyond what he has been shown to be capable of, is just phony. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. The whole time I was watching, the answer was, no. In turn, Sam asks Randy if she will help him raise Lucy because he feels she needs a mother figure. 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." Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter Sam's difficulties become problematic, and his daughter is taken away. In the stands, Sam's friend group as well as Rita and her child cheer on. Throughout the movie, a major counterpoint of the authorities' argument that Sam can't take care of a child is that he's not alone at it. Sean Penn does as well as can be expected with Sam, but it is painful to see an actor of his fire and range locked into a narrow range of emotional and intellectual responses. Then a cop pounces and arrests him for frequenting a prostitute. Soon, the authorities become interested of their family unit, and deem Sam unfit to be a father which Sam fights in court, aided by lawyer Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer). You can't have heroes and villains when the wrong side is making the best sense. "I don't want to read if you can't," she tells him. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in . Starring Sean Penn Michell Pfeiffer Dianne West Dakota Fanning Richard Schiff Doug Hutchison Loretta Devine Laura Dern Stanley DeSantis Brad Silverman. 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. And, sure enough, she learns from Sam to take time to smell the roses and play with her own son. ", "When someone does you a big favor, don't pay it back Pay It Forward", "History is made by those who break the rules.". 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This movie does a great job in portraying what its like for a person who is developmentally delayed and I think it would be a great injustice to want to shield children away from this. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. When Family Protective Services try to take Lucy away, Sam gets intense lawyer Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer) to help him. Read critic reviews. I Am Sam (stylized i am sam) is a 2001 American drama film co-written and directed by Jessie Nelson, and starring Sean Penn as a father with an intellectual disability, Dakota Fanning as his bright and inquisitive daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer. Against the odds, I Am Sam was a hit. "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). We won't share this comment without your permission. The final scene depicts a soccer game, in which Sam referees and Lucy participates as a player. 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.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.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. This movie does not use too much swearing just a couple of F words. 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. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. Questions arise about Sams ability to care for Lucy and a custody case is brought to court. With help from his group of friends and acquaintances, Sam does his best to be a father for Lucy, but she eventually starts surpassing his mental abilities, which she tries to hide in fear of outgrowing her father. He is a short, unidentified Dr. Seuss creature. He has a daughter with a homeless woman; she. Although Sam provides a loving and caring environment for the 7-year-old Lucy, she soon surpasses her father's mental capacity. 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. suggesting a diversity update. He smiles back. Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR. Something to warm the hearts of audiences but ultimately this feels contrived. 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. 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 Other children bully her for having an intellectually disabled father, and she becomes too embarrassed to accept that she is more advanced than he is.
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