Rating: 
Summary: Simply awesome
Review: I haven't seen such a good movie in recent years. This movie touches the chords of your heart and makes you feel like "You are Sam". Sean Penn was as awesome as ever. I think he should have won an academy for his performance but as usual they never give it to one who really deserves it.
Rating:
Summary: critics vs. the general public
Review: Why are the opinions of the critics and those of the general public so often diametrically opposite?Take I am Sam for example. The average critics' rating for this film on a major movie database is C-. There are also several Es and Fs. "Sentimental", "unrealistic", "suffocating", and "predictable" are some of the least derogatory adjectives used in the reviews. A particularly acute observer even labels it "hideously manipulative" (?). I mean, did we watch the same movie? Like other Amazon reviewers, I find I am Sam a wonderful movie. The story is enthralling and moving, and the acting is flawless. Ok, it is perhaps a bit senimental and has a happy ending yes, but where's the bad in that? To go back to my original question about the inconsistency in the evaluations by critics and viewers, the best answer I could come up with so far is a very pragmatic one: Whenever you read a critic has trashed a movie, run to the nearest videostore, you are in for what is most probably to become one of your all-time favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Soul moving
Review: Watching "I Am Sam" may make one cry. One cannot help but feel sorry for Sean Penn's character. The Beatles's tracks give it that extra emotion. This is one of the best movies made in 2001. It was written, directed, and produced with heavy heart and soul. Sean Penn's Oscar nominated performance as a mentally challenged father is his best of his career. He proves that he heavily researched his role before filming as do the crew. Michelle Pfeiffer performs at her best in years as a Penn's stressed lawyer. Seven-year-old Dakota Fanning makes a wonderful debut as Penn's daughter. One will not be disappointed after watching "I Am Sam". Some will leave influenced.
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD Surprise
Review: Well...I usually can't stand sappy, sentimental movies, but "I am Sam" came as a wonderful surprise. In all of its overflowing emotion, there is a true core feeling of truth and humanity that grabbed me as a viewer. At first I was skeptical of how convincingly Sean Penn would be able to portray his character (everyone compared it to "Forrest Gump," which I loathed), but Penn did an amazing job making Sam into a convincing and human character, very seldom over-the-top.
From all the other reviews you know the premise of the movie, so I won't regurgitate that. Sure, this film utilizes some stereotypes of high-power lawyer mom, the loveable "mentally-challenged" person, the tough-love social services people; not to even mention the dazzling array of less-than-subtle product placements...but it pulls the whole thing off with a certain sense of style. Dakota Fanning as the young daughter never falls victim to crappy-child-actor syndrome; she's sweet and believable in a totally un-cloying sort of way. Overall, the film is a grand story of a non-traditional family fighting to stay together on an endearingly small-scale. Come on, this movie actually made me cry, and harder than any other film before it...and if you can suck it up and allow yourself to enjoy that sort of thing, it can actually be a kind of powerful viewing-experience.
Ok, so I havn't really given too many specifics, but I highly recommend this film for a night when you are willing to let yourself get caught up in a sweet story with some outstanding acting and quirky little twists. Trust me, this movie is a joy to watch, and I don't say that about many movies...OW! I think this is the first crier-film I've ever REALLY loved.
Rating:
Summary: Sean Penn is amazing in this role
Review: I just watched the film for the 8th time and I never tire of Penn's performance. I've never really liked him so this is a major concession to say his is one of the greatest performances by any actor at any time. Why he didn't win the Oscar for this is beyond me. Having worked for Child Protective Services for 3 years myself I found their roles and attitudes very credible. The soundtrack irked me the 1st viewing but then I realized there may be some copyright laws disallowing the use of the original Beatle's recordings and perhaps having others perform the songs was actually better. Overall this is one of my favorite films and Penn as Sam is destined to be a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Story.
Review: I couldn't stop fighting back my tears while I was watching the movie. It depicts how great a parent's love can be despite their mental capabilities. It was a rather long movie but I enjoyed every bit of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Movie in a long time
Review: As being the son of a special education teacher I have come in contact with people such as this. The movie was specially made to make you cry, the plot is a mentally retarted man named sam tries to take care of a 7 year old daughter who eventually gets taken away by social services. Sam fights to get his daughter back in custody and I so wanted him to win. But I knew deep down that sam counld not take care of this child even thought thats what the movie makes you want.
Rating:
Summary: Truth
Review: It's amazing, this movie. It's about Sam (Sean Penn) who has the mentality of a 7 yr old, and he has a little girl called Lucy. On her 7th bday, the Child Family service thing comes and takes her away, believing that Sam isn't capable of taking care of his daughter. He (accidentally) finds himself a probono lawyer Rita (Michelle Pheifer), and together, they work the case out, and figure out the different problems and troubles both the normal, 'perfect' people and the a mentally challenged person. This can make you cry, I can gaurentee you. Penn does a wonderful job acting mental in the movie, but also shows his affection and care for his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning). Michelle Pheifer at first is a money-money-money lawyer, but when she lies to her colleagues that she will help Sam for free, she keeps her words, and helps him fight. Through the process, they encounter difficulties, just like everyone in this world does, and soon they learn how to cope with them. This movie shows how a normal person and a mentally-disabled person see the world and each other. Sam thinks Rita (Pheifer) is perfect, while she really wants to have that quality time he has to spend with her own son. They help each other, and soon get over the waves of life, just like how we have to overcome difficulties as well.
Rating: 
Summary: misguided and misleading
Review: As the mother of a child with Down Syndrome I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. We hired a babysitter and went to the theatre and I had to walk out about 15 minutes into it. The acting of Sean Penn was so convincing that all it did was fill me with panic about what my little one's life will eventually be like. When it came out on video I rented it and watched it at home alone (where noone can see you cry) I just couldn't get past the fact that while no one doubted that Sam loved Lucy completely he was NOT capable of taking care of her as she needed to be. The acting was phenomenal by everyone involved but the simple truth that this movie didn't make clear is that love is NOT all you need. Little girls need security, safety, guidance and discipline as much as they need love. I wish "I Am Sam" had gone a little further into exploring the alternatives available for Sam and Lucy. I wish it had been less black and white, simplistic and politically correct. It would have made it a better movie, one worthy of the acting I saw on the screen.
Rating:
Summary: Most amazing movie ever created
Review: I first saw this movie with my family thinking i was going to see a good movie. It was better than a good movie its now my favorite movie of all time. Sean Penn, Michelle Pheifer, and Dakota Fanning all do increddible acting in this film. I highly recomend it to anyone that likes good movies, except for people who aren't sensitive at all whatsoever, they shouln't watch it. This is also a really good one to rent if your gonna have your girlfriend over at your house or somthin'. This movie will also make you respect handiacaped people a lot more. It will definetly bring a tear to you eye at leat once. I believe that sean penn should have won best actor for this movie at the academys last year but he didn't. I would actually give this movie 6 stars out of 5 if it was possible.
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