I Am Sam Video

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starring: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer directed by: Jessie Nelson

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: Rating: - Great perfomance from Sean Penn A good movie... not a great movie. Sean Penn once again showed how devoted to a role he can be. He was wonderful and believeable as the mentally challenged Sam. Michelle Pfeiffer was average as the high priced lawyer, who ended up working for Sam pro bono... but her character grew tiresome on me. I didn't believe Pfeiffer in her role nearly as much as I did Penn. There were several things I liked about this movie... 1. All the Beatle cover tunes and references (only Ringo was not mentioned by name), 2. Sean Penn's performance (check out the deleted scenes too... there's one scene where a customer spills his coffee at the Starbuck's and he asks Sam for help and Sam explodes on him... a very emotional moment), 3. Dakota Fanning sparkled as Sam's daughter, 4. Diane Wiest plays yet another oddball eccentric supporting role, and 5. The unknown supporting cast of friends of Sam were very funny at times. What I didn't like about this film... 1. The constant (somewhat shaky) movement back and forth of the camera - it felt like much of the movie was filmed with a hand-held camera by a guy who had too much coffee - it gave me a headache, 2. Michelle Pfeiffer, 3. The depressing ending. A good DVD to rent, but I will not rush out and purchase. DVD features: Trailers, Documentary - "Becoming Sam", deleted scenes, widescreen format, 134 minutes. Rating: - A socially conscious tearjerker "I Am Sam," directed by Jessie Nelson, tells the story of Sam (played by Sean Penn), a mentally retarded coffee shop employee who is raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning). A single parent, Sam gets support from neighbor Annie (Dianne Wiest). When Sam is threatened with loss of custody, in steps high-strung lawyer Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer). Yes, folks, it's an "issue" film complete with courtroom drama. "Sam" is elevated by some compelling performances. Penn is excellent in the title role. He doesn't sugar-coat Sam, and is not afraid to make the audience uncomfortable with some of Sam's issues. Young Fanning gives a remarkably mature and moving performance as the 6-year old who is already progressing intellectually beyond her father. The only performance that seemed a bit off was Pfeiffer's; I found her Rita to be a bit too shrill and overdone. "Sam" has some really moving and funny scenes. But there is also material that falls flat, in particular some courtroom scenes that struck me as too soap opera-ish. Furthermore, I found the basic setup of the film hard to believe; it seemed like we were expected to believe that Sam and Lucy had slipped through the social services cracks for 6 years. I spoke to my sister, who works as a professional with special-needs children and their families, and she agreed that "Sam" sounded a bit fishy. And the excessive product placement in the film was obnoxious; at times it felt like an infomercial! Despite its flaws, however, "Sam" will, I believe, appeal to fans of "issue" dramas. Rating: - all i need is love "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.

I Am Sam Video

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