I am Sam New Line Platinum Series starring Sean Penn Michelle Pfeiffer Dakota Fanning Dianne Wiest Loretta Devine - Hard To Watch But Worth It

I am Sam (New Line Platinum Series)

starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer,

Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest,

Loretta Devine









Hard To Watch But Worth It





I Am Sam makes you laugh, cry, and recoil all at the same time. Perhaps

no other film of recent memory has epitomized the shameless

sentimentality of Hollywood as succinctly as director and screenwriter

Jessie Nelsons story of a mentally challenged man fighting to retain

custody of his 7-year-old daughter. Sam (Sean Penn), who has the mental

age of 7, wipes down tables at a Los Angeles Starbucks and takes good

care of his daughter Lucy, who was left with him shortly after birth by a

homeless woman. Sam has gotten by just fine with a little help from his

friends, including his eccentric neighbor (Diane Wiest) and a lovable group

of similarly challenged friends, but a series of misunderstandings leaves

Sam fighting to get Lucy back from the state. Sams lawyer, Rita Harrison

(Michelle Pfeiffer), is an overly ambitious woman whose life is soon

transformed by proximity to Sams brimming humanity. Sean Penn is, as

usual, wholeheartedly committed to his role and turns in an admirable, if

overtly affected performance. However, I Am Sam, with all its earnest

charm, reaches an emblematic low when Sam, a character apparently

devoid of any authentic sentiment, delivers a courtroom speech

memorized from Kramer vs. Kramer as the films finale. --Fionn Meade



All I wanted was a place to sleep, those were the last words Rebecca, a

homeless woman, said to Sam before leaving him with their newborn

daughter, directly after birth. I am Sam (2001) stars Sean Penn as Sam, a

mentally handicapped father with the mental capasity of a seven year old,

and Dakota Fanning, as Lucy, who has recently turned seven. She started

holding herself back to school to stop herself from becoming smarter than

her father. The question the movie asks is, can Sam raise his daughter

despite his disability?

And that is the question asked by the court after taking Lucy away

from Sam on her seventh birthday. Throughout the trial the state is trying

to prove that Sam is an unfit father, but the film shows how other families

are dysfunctional, especially Sams lawyer, Rita Harrison. She learned a

lot from Sam, the value of love and family.

This film was not only a real tear-jerker but also included comic relief

by Sams close knit group of friends. Dakota Fanning delivered an

amazing performance, especially for a seven year old. She shows so much

motion and it never feels fake or forced. Her character is smart, mature,

and deeply loves her father, and Fanning shows all of these qualities.

I am Sam is littered with Beatles references, from the soundtrack t o the

names of characters. The soundtrack consists almost completely of

Beatles remakes by various artists, which saves us from monotony. Lucy

and Rita both get their names from Beatles songs, Lucy in the Sky with

Diamonds and Lovely Rita, and Ritas last name, Harrison, refers to

Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Also, when Lucy was a newborn, Sam

pins her diaper with a Lennon pin, they walk across the street with

balloons, resembling the cover of Abbey Road and well as many others.

Sam is a Beatles fan but when overwhelmed, he refers to Beatles facts.

For example, when Sam was being questioned in court he becomes

frustrated and started speaking about why the Beatles broke up.

It was well filmed and well-written. The lighting set the tone for the

film. In scenes before Lucy was taken from Sam, it was bright, sunny and

colorful. Later, in the court room scenes, it was dark, gray and dismal.

The costumes also show this. When Sam and Lucy are still together Lucy

wears very bright clothing with patterns and even Sams wardrobe is more

colorful. In court, everyone wears dark, gray clothing that seems to have

harsher edges. Dutch angle and a shaky, out of focus camera show us

Sams frustration and confusion.

I highly recommend this film. The acting is amazing, the plot keeps one on

the edge of ones seat and is full of emotion. I am Sam leaves viewers

hanging with an ambiguous ending and a dilemma. We want Lucy and

Sam to stay together, but know that Sam is unable to provide for her by

himself.





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I am Sam (New Line Platinum Series) starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota

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