Rating: 
Summary: all i need is love
Review: "I Am Sam" is one of the best and underrated films of 2001. Sam Dawson (Sean Penn) has the intelligence of a seven-year-old. He has a seven-year-old daughter Lucy (the very delightful Dakota Fanning). Child's Services take Lucy away from Sam and Sam hires (probono) lawyer Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfieffer) to defend him and get his daughter back. The movie has a great script, real characters and although the film was filmed with handheld cameras, I thought the cinematography was extremely unique. I even liked the computer keyboard and high heel noises Sam heard while he was at Rita's law firm office. The DVD extras were fantanstic, they showed how Sean Penn prepared for his role as Sam. He imitated mentally-handicapped people in a respectful and dignified way, I really thought he deserved an Academy Award his role. Michelle Pfieffer gives one of the best performances of her career and Dakota Fanning shines in one of her first movie roles. "I Am Sam" will leave you feeling good inside, this is honestly one of the only movies I have seen where I left the theatre feeling good and seeing the world in a different way. The music, all of which is by the Beatles, is unique and I liked Dianne Wiest as Sam's neighbor Annie. To rekindle the human spirit, "I Am Sam" is the film for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Sean Penn Shines
Review: When I first began to watch this movie, I squirmed a lot mentally. However, I think that squirming had more to do with not being comfortable with mentally challenged people than the quality of the movie. This movie once again reminded me how much I admire people who work with the handicapped. Sean Penn does an outstanding job of portraying mentally challenged Sam Dawson. Sam has the intelligence of a 7-year-old, which means his 7-year-old daughter, the incredibly adorable Dakota Fanning playing Lucy Diamond Dawson, is rapidly passing him in intellectual capacity. As with many movies of this type, events happen that cause "The Authorities" to take Lucy away from Sam. Sam obtains a lawyer, Rita Harrison, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, to win his daughter back. Diane Wiest plays Annie, a concerned and intelligent neighbor with some bizarre mental problems of her own. Laura Dern plays Randy, a foster parent interested in adopting the adorable Lucy because clearly she and her husband can give Lucy a better home and life than Sam. Before I give you the critical comments, I want you to understand that I liked this movie. I thought it was uplifting and positive. Sean Penn did an outstanding job comparable to that of Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". Though I didn't care for all of the interpretations of The Beatles music, any movie which features Beatles music must have some merit. Okay, my less than positive comments: I thought Michelle Pfeiffer did a wonderful job. However, in places she was a little over the top. I thought one of her best moments was when she broke down with Sam, admitting that while Sam thought she was "perfect", she was anything but. I think that the director had a great actress and should have let her do her job, and not directed her the way he did, which led to places where she is unbelievable. Laura Dern was a serious disappointment. Laura has a lot of ability (see "Mask" as an example), but here the majority of her acting is providing these "looks" of disapproval or approval or whatever. Very annoying. Again, I credit the director with making less than maximum use of a very good actress. One last negative comment. When Sam got all dressed up for court with a suit provided to him by Rita, and then had him going to work at Starbucks, I knew immediately that he was going to get something all over the suit. Everybody watching the movie knew it too. The actors in the movie should have known it as well. If I had a court date and worked at Starbucks, I guarantee you the suit would have not been on until shortly before my court appearance. And somehow all of the "intelligent" people around Sam couldn't foresee and prevent this from happening. Makes me wonder who the mentally challenged person in the movie was. Some more positive comments: Dakota Fanning is a name we will be hearing more about in the future. An absolutely adorable little girl who was perfectly believable throughout the movie. The other mentally challenged characters in the movie were also believable. The Beatles music was well matched to the various scenes of the movie. The Beatles trivia was really interesting, and factual. I'm not sure what to say about the bobbling camera. There were places where it was used to try and give you a "real life" kind of feel. In a few places it was a little distracting. Eventually I got used to it as I became involved with the characters and the story. Conclusion: I would definitely watch the movie again, though not for a while. Not a "must buy" for me, though if you are into character stories, this movie could be a good one for your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: i am sam is truly a wonderful movie. Sean Penn and Michelle Phiffer work excellently together onscreen. The storyline involes the father going to court to try to get back his daughter. At first, Michelle's character doesn't care one bit about Sam or his case. Then her coworkers make a joke that she never does "probono" cases and that's when she decides to accept Sam's trial. Little did she think how much Sam would effect her perspective on life. This movie is groundbreakingly excellent. I am proud of the people who created this, because it really is much more than a movie. You know what to expect from it, and if you see it, you'll probably appreciate it and all it has to offer. i am sam deserves all five stars. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Shakey Camera could make you WOOZEY! Good film, so-so.
Review: Overall, this is a good film. A little Hokey, but sentimental.
The entire film was done with HAND HELD CAMERAS, so you might notice you're getting DIZZY. Once you notice this and try to watch the film a second time, you become annoyed by the camera work. Just my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: If Tom Hanks can get away with it, why can't he?
Review: Delightful film about mentally handicapped father (Penn) with an IQ of a seven year old child who tries to handle a court-case to keep his much smarter daughter while also holding a job at a Starbucks coffee shop. More realistic and believable than most other films of the same nature; this sentimental tale of determination and goodwill will definitely not appeal to everyone, but both Penn and Pfiefer are just so good in their lead roles that others will be able to ignore the story flaws and accept Penn's character and go with the flow. If Tom Hanks can get away with it, why can't he?
Rating:
Summary: You'll Find Yourself Rooting For Sam!
Review: I Am Sam is about a mentally handicapped man's struggle to retain custody of his daughter. Sam Dawson was diagnosed severely retarded as a child. We meet Sam as an adult, working in a Starbuck's coffee shop, rushing to the hospital to witness the birth of his daughter. Fond of The Beatles, Sam names the baby Lucy Diamond Dawson. Lucy's mother wants nothing to do with Sam or their daughter. She takes off as soon as they leave the hospital. With the help of his mentally challenged friends and the eccentric recluse Annie, Sam raises Lucy in his tiny apartment. She grows up to become a well-rounded, highly intelligent little girl. Lucy's feelings about her father alternate between contentment and embarrassment. When Sam is arrested for solicitation, his family situation comes under scrutiny. Believing that a man with the mind of a 7-year-old can not effectively raise a child, Lucy is taken from Sam. Sam enlists the aid of hyperactive, cold-hearted lawyer, Rita Harrison. Keep your Kleenex handy! You'll alternate between hysterical laughter and boughts of tears. Sam's fight to get custody of Lucy changes the lives of those around him. You begin to realize that Sam has almost everything a father can offer a child, and begin to root for him and his struggle. Even his lawyer has something to learn from Sam.
Sean Penn's performance in this movie is incredible. He really did his homework on this one! Very believable! Dakota Fanning plays the intelligent, insightful Lucy. This child's career is one to watch - a bright shining new star. You'll find yourself alternating between hating and loving Michelle Pfeiffer's character, Rita Harrison. All of the actors in this movie do a terrific job. I loved this movie! Can't wait to watch it again!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst movies I've ever seen
Review: This movie exploits common stereotypes about mentally challenged people rendering a stick figure world filled with simplifications, distortions and outright falsehoods about the reality of living with mental disabilities. The acting is horrid and the plot is downright stupid. The movie is also filled with cheesy gimmicks to engineer a compassionate, emotion-filled response from the audience that would have been avant garde for the 1950's. The ending, with a nauseating dance number with flowery music was simply worthy of a missile attack on the director/writers. This movie is ultimately empty of validity. This movie is a fraud. Rent it first before you buy it. I guarantee you will end up not buying it, or asking for your rental fee back. ...
Rating:
Summary: A Rollercoaster Ride Of Emotions!!!
Review: I Am Sam is one of the best films I've seen in a long, long time. Sean Penn has certainly come a long way in his acting career from surfer dude Jeff Spicolli in (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) to the incredibly powerful performance he gives as a mentally challenged father who fights for the custody of his daughter Lucy. I Am Sam will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you realize that the best thing you can do for any child as a parent is show them love and affection. Michelle Pfieffer's character, as Penn's lawyer, goes through a transformation in the film. She begins as a cold hearted, money hungry woman who seems to care about nothing but her job and herself. However after meeting sam she is transformed into a caring, loving human being. If you want a great movie, with a great story, a lot of emotion and Academy Award worth acting then you MUST SEE I Am Sam. If your the emotional type may I suggest you get your box of tissues ready because you'll need them.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't like to cry - stay away from this film!
Review: Sean Penn is amazing in this film. While there are some similiarities to Dustin Hoffman's style in "Rainman," it doesn't take away from Mr. Penn's acting at all. The little girl in the film is breathtaking, convincing, and just down right adorable! I should warn you, if you don't like to cry or don't like schmaltzy type films...don't waste your time. But, if you are the sensitive, compassionate, emotional type who loves to just sit and watch two tissue box type flix! This is one to see. Michelle Pfieffer is completely disconnected in this film. Mark my words...that doesn't mean she didn't do a good job...rather, she did an excellent job because that was what was required of her character. Her character is cold, calculated, frazzled, and disenchanted. She's a terrible mother struggling to understand why her son hates her... well...she's a terrible mother! Her character is disconnected from life and Ms. Pfieffer does a supreme job getting this across. She is a pleasure to behold as she grows and gets a clue! Mr. Penn...what can I say. He made me experience his anguish right along with him. His characters need for routine is disrupted on many occasion and the resulting emotions were sometimes too much to bear. Kudos to him and his talent. Not for everybody - but if you like films (not movies) and your mind, spirit, and heart are open to new ideas, perspectives, and you like to see True Love conquer all (Did you like The Other Sister???) then this is a movie for you!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best I have ever seen
Review: I did not know much about this movie when I rented it. Within 5 minutes of watching it I was absolutely enthralled by it. As someone who has worked in the field of Developmental Disabilites and Mental Illness for 30 years I feel this is a masterpiece in portraying the mentally challenged as productive members of society. I highly recommend this to everyone as it gives a much better view of those who have historically been portrayed as a "burden". This is a movie I am going to buy from Amazon.com and I feel anyone who sees it should do the same. The use of several Beatle songs was the icing on the cake for this being a great movie. Hans Zimmer's music was also excellent. The camera work was amazing, especially the liberal use of hand held cameras. The scene with the Oragami with Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer is the best in the movie. It reminds me of the classic camera scenes Alfred Hitchcock would portray in so many of his movies. Please do not miss the opportunity to see this movie, you will not be sorry
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