Rating: 
Summary: touching and funny
Review: This movie isnt perfect.It seems a little scattered at times and the camera work is peculiar but Sean Penn`s acting is good.Sam`s retarded buddies are funny and the soundtrack featuring covers of beatles songs is cool.Dakota Fanning is cute but her acting and dialogue come across as being too mature to be realistic.Still,its a charming movie,so I give it three stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely a Must See!!
Review: I am Sam is such a great movie. It is so touching and moving, heartfelt and compassionate. Anyone who enjoys movies that has depth, emotion, "I am Sam" is the perfect choice. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie is RETARDED
Review: I saw this movie yesterday. I decided to check out the reviews to see how badly people blasted it due to the fact that it sucked soooo bad. I am shocked that a lot of people seem to think this movie is good. Sean Penn generally cannot act, and he's even worse at acting retarded. The only part I almost cried at was the closing credits, when I realized I would never get the previous 2 hours of my life back. Why is it that when actors play retarded people their performances are considered great? Any real retarded person could have outacted Penn in this terrible movie. As for the girl -- was she playing a 35 year old woman trapped in an 8 year old's body? Her intelligence and emotional capacity made the movie laughably unrealistic. I would give this movie zero stars if I could.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie Full Of Emotion
Review: This movie will make anyone whos ever cried or laughed at movie do just that. If you like sad movies, happy movies, funny movies, dramatic movies, any of them, you will have a part of this movie made just for you. It's about a metaly retarded father and his struggle to keep his daughter his, it cannot be described any more without giving away part of them movie. If you've liked any movie you'll like this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Get Your Tissues Ready!
Review: The storyline is predictable enough. It could have come out from any David E Kelley's productions such as The Practice. However, it gave this movie a pedestal for Sean Penn to display his acting talent. It's timely that he's been given an Oscar for his portrayal of a tormented father in "Mystic River". He's arguably one of the best but under-rated actors of all time. He's so versatile & when he's on-screen, I couldn't keep my eyes off him. In this instance, he portrayed an autistic & retarded father (IQ of a seven years old) to an extremely bright daughter. He sought help from an over-the-top lawyer (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) to win his daughter back from the system as Social Welfare believed that the daughter needs a balanced environment for her growth. Despite that Sean's character provided her with a lot of loving, her growth is stifled somewhat for her relucance to be "better" than her dad. Sean's mannerism, body language, speech is truly believable. The DVD came with many deleted scenes where we get to see more acting talents (particularly his improvisation) of Sean Penn. Moreover, we have an in-depth look at the research, casting, production, direction, et cetera. This movie is rather heart-warming. Some people reckoned this movie could be over the top or cheesy but truth to be told, it's a rather remarkable family movie. The supporting cast (some of them mentally challenged in real life), Laura Dern, Diane Wiest are great. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: This is a first!
Review: I've never been a huge Sean Penn fan, but his performance in this film really caught my attention. Maybe that's why I decided to buy it on dvd. To make a long story short, if you don't already own it, YOU SHOULD!
Rating:
Summary: BUY IT, SEE IT, CRY LIKE A BABY
Review: I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT "I AM SAM" IS A CHICK FLICK. BUT I'M A MAN, AND I LOVED IT. (SO DID MY GIRLFRIEND!) THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK IS SUPERB. I BOUGHT IT THE DAY AFTER SEEING THE FILM, AND I LISTEN TO IT FREQUENTLY. IT'S ENTIRELY ORIGINAL MUSIC, NO COVERS.I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE PLOT AWAY, BUT "I AM SAM" INVOLVES A VERY YOUNG GIRL WHOSE FATHER IS RETARDED, AND SHE BEGINS TO LOSE TOUCH WITH HIM AS SHE SURPASSES HIS INTELLIGENCE AT ABOUT AGE 8. THE PLOT PROGRESSES WITH THEIR LIVES APART AND TOGETHER, THEIR COURT BATTLE (VERY HEART-RENCHING) AND THE CHANGING BELIEFS OF SAM'S LAWYER, WHO BELIEVES, AT FIRST, THAT HE IS UNABLE TO FATHER THE GIRL; THEN SHE REALIZES THAT HE NEEDS TO BE A PART OF HER LIFE...EVEN IF A COMPROMISE IS NECESSARY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT A GOOD CRY.
Rating:
Summary: You will either go with your heart or your head on this film
Review: How you end up feeling about "I Am Sam" is going to come down to which wins out, your heart or your head, because those two parts are not going to agree. In this 2001 film from director Jessie Nelson a mentally retarded man, Sam Dawson (Sean Penn) has to fight for custody of his bright 7-year-old daughter, Lucy Diamond Dawson (Dakota Fanning), with help from a cold-hearted lawyer, Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer). The state of California, represented by Richard Schiff as Turner, is concerned because Lucy is now smarter than her father and needs smarter parents (this seems a dangerous precedent to me, but you know what California law is like). This film knows how to manipulate the heartstrings big time, starting when young Lucy asks her daddy why he is different from the other daddies and refuses to read any book that her father cannot read. Then we get to the point where the System, in its infinite wisdom, takes the little girl away from her father. When that happens we do not hear her screams, just the music turned up load, which reminded me of the extreme pathos of that same scene in Chaplin's "The Kid," where not hearing Jackie Coogan scream for his dad did not matter. Meanwhile, there is the whole bit as Sam wears down super lawyer Rita and gets her to remember that family might be as important as work. In the beginning Rita is basically shamed into taking on Sam's case, but in the end she is emotionally involved in the case and the life of her client. All that matters is reuniting father and daughter. But the brain keeps asking some key questions about what is happening here. First, why did the State wait until this point to question Sam's parenting? The concern here is never about Lucy's safety with her father, but her desire to keep learning now that she is smarter than Sam. Second, if Lucy had been of average intelligence and not a cute little blonde kid if the State would have found her a wonderful foster home with Randy (Laura Dern) and her husband? I am inclined to think probably not. Third, why are the Department of Children and Family Services lawyers portrayed as villains? Every thing Turner says is true and he repeatedly makes it clear that his intention is the welfare of the child. He is talking practical realities and not abstract ideals. Twice in "I Am Sam" the film echoes the famous child custody film "Kramer vs. Kramer." The first time the moment sneaks up on the audience, as well as most of the characters, and it signals a reversal in Sam's fortunes. In fact, the next time I am reminded of the other film it again signals a reversal in Sam's fortunes, and that was the point at which the head shoved the heart aside and rendered its final verdict on this film. I was not all that impressed with the rabbit coming out of the hat the first time around, and even less so the second time. As for Penn's performance, I can see why he was nominated for an Academy Award given the propensity to give the Oscar to actors portraying handicapped individuals (Cliff Robertson in "Charly," Hoffman in "Rain Man," Geoffrey Rush in "Shine"). But I have to admit that such mannered performances next strike me as being as finally nuanced as other great acting performance. Still, he is good, and the scenes between him and Fanning sparkle. Half the film is scored to covers of Beatles songs by Sarah McLachlan, Eddie Vedder and others, which makes for an interesting soundtrack album. Ultimately, I decided to split the difference between the ranks given by the head and the heart on this one because I did enjoy it, even as I complained bitterly about all the problems I saw in "I Am Sam." I embrace my contradictions, even in print and for public consumption. You are lucky; I was about to launch into "Heart Five, Head Three" inspired by "A Chorus Line."
Rating:
Summary: It's a wonderful choice
Review: Sean Penn puts on a masterly performance in this story of fatherhood and the devotedness, he has towards his daugther Lucy (Dakota Fanning) who is pleasantly charming in this film.
Sam (Sean Penn) is abandon by Lucy's mother after her birth .Sam raises Lucy by himself with some help from next store neighbor Annie Cassell(Dianne Wiest)and his close friends.Lucy is growing up fast and turning 7,Sam being mentally challenged and having the mind span of a 7 year old has Lucy taken away from him, saying that he's not efficent enough to take care of his own child.Lucy is in state's custody and Sam is left alone trying to get her back, Sam being the way he is not making much money as he works at Starbucks, needs a lawyer, that being Rita Harrison(Michelle Pfeiffer) a classy high profile lawyer, does a probonbo case for Sam to help her career which is find, but having troubles in her personal life with losing touch with her young son, by being too engaged with her work,So watch this splendid affectionate movie ,see Sam fight for custody of Lucy in the sky with diamonds.A great soundtrack.So Enjoy!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Films Of Its Type
Review: Some directorial problems in the beginning (i.e. music video style camerawork)do not prevent this film from being considered a classic in the genre of movies about the disabled or ill. Love Penn's performance. He is so good in everything he does. Michelle Pfeiffer really surprised me here...She gives one of her best performances. What also surprised me was how the film never had to force anything (i.e. humor, or the emotional stuff). The ending section of the film is very strong with some great supporting work by Diane Weist and Laura Dern. The music/soundtrack is also top notch with Beatles covers by everyone from Michael Pen and Aimee Mann, Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder.
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