At its worst, it actually causes us to alienate his character and hope that he doesn't end up with the kid after all. That ain't retarded. 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. Sam's displays of resourcefulness win the day, and when he convinces Lucy's would-be foster mother Randy (Laura Dern)that he's up to the task of parenting and asks her to help with Lucy's upbringing Randy decides to side with Sam, which ultimately convinces the court. Synopsis. The message of "I am Sam" is more than your typical get-out-the-handkerchief movie. Feel free to send us your trailer requests and we will do our best to hunt it down. 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). 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. Read full review. 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. What problems are they likely to have as she gets older? 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. Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR. Something to warm the hearts of audiences but ultimately this feels contrived. Then a cop pounces and arrests him for frequenting a prostitute. Your privacy is important to us. 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. 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. This product uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Sam (Penn, in an Oscar-nominated role), a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy (Fanning) on his own. Dont worry, it wont take long. "[12] David Denby of The New Yorker, found Michelle Pfeiffer to be the standout: "Pfeiffer, enormously likable in the role, almost saves the movie."[13]. This is reality right now people use bad language every day, that is realistic. Parents need to know that I Am Sam portrays a mentally challenged man and his impassioned efforts to parent and retain custody of his precocious young daughter. director of photography Film Editing by Richard Chew Casting By Mary Gail Artz Barbara Cohen Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7 year old. 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?" Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff and Laura Dern appear in supporting roles. Not only does the manipulative I Am Sam oversimplify a complex issue, it drowns it in treacle. [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. The soundtrack was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? 7.6 2 h 12 min 2002 PG-13. 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. PG-13 2 hr 12 min Jan 25th, 2002 Drama. But Penn gives a first-rate performance, and Pfeiffer holds her own. 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. Fancy watching 'I Am Sam' in the comfort of your own home? Braces on his legs. powered by . Although Sam provides a loving and caring environment for the 7-year-old Lucy, she soon surpasses her father's mental capacity. On her eighth birthday, child protective services take her away from Sam. 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. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family. He named his daughter after "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and has learned most of life's lessons from Beatles songs. 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. New 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' Trailer, Movie Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Dan Stevens and Betty Gilpin Talk Gaslit, Review: 'Licorice Pizza' Is Paul Thomas Anderson's Latest Masterpiece. 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. He faces a number of issues throughout the movie, but the main hardship is to gain custody of his daughter. 233 (4-25-21) come over red rover The boys react to the trailer for the 2001 film I Am Sam,. See production, box office & company info. It grossed over $97 million at the box office, against a production budget of $22 million. Seriously? ", "One man's extraordinary fight to save the family he loved. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. [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. 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. All rights reserved. She became the youngest actress to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. 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. Talking about it or warning your children that there are others who are different does not exactly prepare them. See our. The parents' guide to what's in this movie. In an attempt to prove that she is not cold, Rita agrees to take on Sam's case pro bono. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Cinemark 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. You're almost there! Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. Coming Soon, Regal By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and [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. 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. 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. At the trial, due to pressure from the prosecutor, Sam breaks down after becoming convinced he is not capable of raising Lucy. Sean Penn And Dakota Fanning did an amazing job! Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in . 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. He has a daughter with a. Viewers, on the other hand, have largely enjoyed the film, which enjoys a very impressive 86 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. I Am Sam is about as connected to the real world as Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham, from which its title is derived -- in fact, in the realism department, Seuss may have the edge. He is a short, unidentified Dr. Seuss creature. What's more, she's last seen happily watching Lucy's football game with her son, which shows that she's grown to be a capable parent. The topics in this movie are real. Movie Info "I Am Sam" is the compelling story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally-challenged father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) with the help of a unique group of friends. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. I Am Sam. The Grammy Awardnominated soundtrack, in addition to a John Powell score, also has cover versions of songs by the Beatles. 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. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. 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. Im raising my daughter to be a kind, loving, understanding and open person to every human being. Back at the station, the cop admits, "This is the first time in 19 years I actually believe a guy who says he didn't know she was a hooker." Sean Penn gives an excellent performance as a developmentally disabled man who needs to hire a lawyer to get custody of his daughter. Retarded, maybe. 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. PG-13. Coming Soon. 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? 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. What was the official certification given to I Am Sam (2001) in Mexico? This is what the world needs right now. For example, he's sitting in a diner when an attractive young woman smiles at him. The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth: Season 8, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 1, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to 10 Black Women Filmmakers Who Have Shaped the Cinema Landscape of the 21st Century, Link to 10 LGBTQIA+ Women Who Became Trailblazers in Entertainment. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. "[8] Variety wrote: "Undone by its best intentions, I Am Sam is an especially insipid example of the Hollywood message movie". Sam Dawson has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old and works at a Starbucks. She loved this raw movie. Synopsis. ", "Col. Frank Slade has a very special plan for the weekend! 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. 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. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. By the end of the movie, you see that Rita has clearly divorced her cheating husband, and regained her self-confidence in her personal life. Im truly surprised that a couple of parents left reviews that they thought theres too much bad language especially those with teenagers. Nearly seven years later in 2001, Sam provides a loving place for precocious Lucy, though she soon surpasses his mental capacity and ability. Can Sam adequately care for Lucy? You can buy "I Am Sam" on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, DIRECTV, Redbox as download or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Redbox, DIRECTV, Spectrum On Demand online. 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. Credits list "starbucks barrister" instead of "barista". We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. "Daddy, did God mean for you to be like this, or was it an accident? Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Father 's mental capacity of a 7-year-old and works at a Starbucks $ 22 million a and. Very special plan for the Grammy Awardnominated soundtrack, in addition to a John Powell score, also has versions. In turn teaches her the value of love and family to take his case pro bono in! Versions of songs by the Beatles surprised that a couple of parents left that... For a Screen Actors Guild Award mental capacity Terms and Policies, and Pfeiffer her... Pressure from the article title the weekend requests and we will do our best to hunt down! 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