Sean Penn, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest

A mentally retarded 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.

Flixster Users

87% liked it

277,330 ratings

Critics

34% liked it

140 critics

PG-13, 134 min.

Directed by: Jessie Nelson

Release Date: January 1, 2002

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DVD Release Date: June 18, 2002

Stats: 16,194 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,194)


  • September 18, 2009
    A sweet film with good performances from Penn and Fanning.
  • May 28, 2009
    Not a bad movie, watched it in class.
  • October 28, 2008
    "love is all you need"

    Sean Penn stars in this drama as Sam Dawson, a developmentally disabled adult who has been working at a coffee shop and raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) for seven years. Sam receives help in his parenting duties from a circle of trusted ...( read more)confidantes, including his ADD-afflicted best friend Ifty (Doug Hutchison), the paranoid Robert (Stanley DeSantis), an agoraphobic neighbor (Dianne Wiest), and his other disabled pals, Brad and Joe (played by real-life developmentally challenged actors Brad Silverman and Joseph Rosenberg). Although he provides a structured and loving environment for Lucy that includes regular visits to IHOP, video nights, and karaoke, Sam's daughter is beginning to surpass him in mental acuity. When Lucy begins intentionally stunting her own growth so as not to hurt her beloved father, social worker Margaret (Loretta Devine) takes action, removing the girl from her home and placing her in the temporary care of a foster mother, Randy (Laura Dern). As the day of his hearing looms, Sam seeks out the aid of driven, obsessive lawyer Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), who takes the case only to prove to her colleagues that she is willing to accept pro bono work. Opposed by county lawyer Turner (Richard Schiff) in court, Rita gradually comes to care for her client and his daughter, even as they force her to consider the limitations of her own abilities as a parent. The soundtrack for I Am Sam (2001) gained considerable critical attention, consisting entirely of Beatles cover songs by such contemporary artists as The Black Crowes, Eddie Vedder, the Wallflowers, and Aimee Mann, among others.

    Review
    This movie was very emotionally involving and rife with the talent of all actors included. Sean Penn did a remarkable job portraying Sam and a very young Dakota Fanning also gave an outstanding performance as his daughter Lucy. Michelle Pfeiffer was also wonderful as Sam's lawyer Rita. The plot was very well thought out and certainly unique. I loved it. While there were certainly moments of sadness, the times of profound joy at other points in this movie certainly counteracted them, making it a fabulous film that I would highly recommend to other viewers. 5/5
  • August 21, 2008
    I Am Sam is one of those manipulative pieces of cinema that favours mallets over the head as opposed to intelligent subtlety. The film has no less than 5 break down into tears and give huge speeches moments. I would expect when people are really that upset and emotionally open it...( read more) would be harder to string together cohesive sentences and put forth strong convincing arguments but apparently not. Of course everybody learns a valuable lesson from Sam's exploits and in turn improve their own life. YAY! If you're the kind of person that needs explicit signs to inform you "This scene is sad", "This scene is happy" you may squeeze a lot of enjoyment out of this. Penns performance often balances on the hilarious and Pfeiffers hard ass with a heart of gold lawyer comes from a little town called cliche. It goes on too long, especially since I know how it is going to end from the outset. It never once questions that perhaps Sam may not have the capacity to be a father, and rather than deal with difficult issues such as maybe showing a scene where he does hit a child or does put his daughter in danger, this is far too lovely and simple.
  • August 16, 2008
    This movie is so heartwarming and sad. Sean Penn did an amazing job with his character, as did Dakota Fanning.
  • November 20, 2009
    A man with a beautiful courage & responsibility...
  • November 18, 2009
    a lovable film so touching, and so ... nice! the story is about a retarded man who found a homeless pregnant women , and he's taking care her child. the problem was when the child reached 8 years old, Sam will not longer able to teach the girl because of his disability and retard...( read more)ed mentality can only reach a seven years old child. Sam defend his child from being taking by other people. and finally it reached the agreement that the child will be raised by Sam and the other adopted person.
  • November 4, 2009
    pretty much. A-D-orable. great father..
  • October 29, 2009
    It was awesome. Wish I could watch it on here
  • October 28, 2009
    Somewhat of a huge commercial for Staburcks (super duper obvious product placement) but Sean Penn delivers a good performance and Dakota Fanning was sweet too.

Critic Reviews


June 17, 2002
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Liberal propoganda crap. full review

March 22, 2002
David Edelstein, Slate

On one level, I Am Sam is a crock, but on another, more vital one, it's very, very sweet. full review

January 25, 2002
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

So drenched in sweetness that it's devoid of reality, and so free of leavening flavors that, despite some good performances, it's ultimately sickening. full review

January 25, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Deserves to be remembered for Sean Penn's remarkable performance as a mentally challenged man. full review

January 25, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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. full review

January 8, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Contrived, manipulative and shamelessly sentimental, this film is notable for the courageous reach of Sean Penn. full review

December 27, 2001
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Its sentimentality is so relentless and its narrative so predictable that the life is very nearly squeezed out of it. full review

View more I Am Sam reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • balibeachgirl2000
    September 6, 2009
    Very touchy!! its make me cried!! greats!!
  • joselynu04
    April 24, 2009
    I LOVE THIS MOVIE EVERY TIME I SEE IT MAKES ME CRY!!!
  • oscarpietro
    February 13, 2009
    Un guion y la actuacion fantastica de Sean Penn, que sin duda tuvo a un extraordinario equipo de produccion junto a el.
    Conmovedora realizacion del cine que demuestra que si es posible la produccion cinematografica de alto contenido valorico en lo humano y que otorga una soberana paliza a las producciones que pretenden crearnos mitos y falsos heroes de guerra o condicionar las mentes para un consumismo inutil.
    Me encantaria como actor que tambien soy, estrechar la mano personalmente a Sean para felicitarlo por este y otros trabajos tan buenos como los de su padre Charlie.
    Un abrazo cordial en donde estes.
  • jungzx
    August 10, 2007
    I LOVE the soundtrack!!!
  • sExCgUrLnAt
    July 2, 2007
    ThIs Is ThE BeSt MoViE IvE EvA SeEn
    I CrIeD WhEn I WaTcHeD It
    ItS A ReLlI GuD MoViE To WaTcH
  • ayee28
    June 28, 2007
    this movie made me cry.. and i've watched it numerous times already. its a movie ill never forget.. seann penn was wonderful in this movie!Ü
  • roysterdsouza
    June 11, 2007
    Beautiful Movie, Good acting and a very very touching story... one of the best movies....
  • randomcrazydude
    May 18, 2007
    If anyone thinks this movie is bad-u obviouslty dont have a heart, cause this is one of the most moving and sad movies ive seen, its soo touching and makes u think. I was still thinking about it around 3 days later!!
  • lilvella101
    February 27, 2007
    this is an amazing movie. it made me cry and laugh, sean penn was GREAT!!!!
  • enelisf
    February 1, 2007
    wow...a wonderful film about the love...the love, the cares a father's protection with his daughter, overcomes all of the problems and it faces barriers,one movie with actors, picture, music everything perfect..:)

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I Am Sam Trivia


  • What movie is about a fully grown man with an IQ the same as his young daughter fighting to keep custody of her as she gets older?  Answer »
  • Who played the little girl in the movie"I Am Sam??  Answer »
  • Which actress do these films have in common? Frankie & Johnny Wolf I Am Sam Grease 2 Batman Returns  Answer »
  • The line "You're going a little faster than everybody else. I was wondering if you noticed that" is from which film?   Answer »

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