I Am Sam (2001)
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 143
Fresh: 49 | Rotten: 94
Not only does the manipulative I Am Sam oversimplify a complex issue, it drowns it in treacle.
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 26
Not only does the manipulative I Am Sam oversimplify a complex issue, it drowns it in treacle.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 299,419
Movie Info
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 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
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Sean Penn
Sam Dawson -
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rita Harrison -
Dakota Fanning
Lucy -
Dianne Wiest
Annie -
Loretta Devine
Margaret Calgrove -
Richard Schiff
Turner -
Laura Dern
Randy Carpenter -
Brad J. Silverman
Brad -
Joseph Rosenberg
Joe -
Stanley de Santis
Robert -
Doug Hutchison
Ifty -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (156) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (94) | DVD (25)
Penn repeatedly hits the ball out of the park, but the rest of the team never gets past first base.
Top CriticIt's a sensational performance, and [Penn] illumines a movie that sometimes seems in danger of descending into modish Hollywood political correctness.
On one level, I Am Sam is a crock, but on another, more vital one, it's very, very sweet.
Plays out in such a conventional manner that it feels like a TV movie of the week from the '70s.
For a movie that probes the sensitive issue of living with reduced mental capacity, are the creators of Bambi the obvious choice?
A well-intentioned but ludicrous tale.
Moving film with great acting seems too contrived.
Sean Penn gives the most professionally shameful, cruelly wrongheaded performance ever nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, while Jessie Nelson Kristine Johnson's script lives down to Penn's ugly ineptitude with idiotic catchphrases and product placement.
And I think I am sick.
Just watching Penn and Fanning interact...is worth wading through the occasionally ankle-deep syrup.
This movie plays like an after-school special or a public service announcement.
This movie is every bit as painful as it sounds.
A fairly formulaic (and terribly overlong) tearjerker.
The script lacks focus and consistency of approach, and the whole becomes a mixture of emotional manipulation and laughable caricature.
The movie asks for a leap of faith that it can't make itself.
A supremely well-acted TV movie. But, like a lot of microwaveable insta-films, it has a capacity to taste shamefully better than it looks.
Contradictory stew of anger, pain and crass commercialism.
...a manipulative tear-jerker, a divine wallow worthy of that master of the "women's picture," Douglas Sirk ...
I Am Sam is engaging as it stands, but it takes a side that the audience doesn't necessarily agree with.
Unspeakably dim-witted.
Liberal propoganda crap.
I Am Sam is a very special film. It is one of those extraordinarily moving films that not only sweeps you away emotionally, but somehow leave you feeling as though you are a better person.
Although 'Sam' doesn't always work ... when it connects, it does so with surprising force. A word to the wise: Do not leave your tissues at home.
A seu favor, Uma Lição de Amor tem apenas um fator: a atuação de Sean Penn.
Audience Reviews for I Am Sam
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Movies Like I Am Sam
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Critics Ratings | 9 months ago | 0 |
What's Hot On RT
New Desolation of Smaug trailer!
Naomi Watts is Princess Di
The Hangover 3, The Purge, and More
Trailer for a squirrely heist flick
See what's on TV tonight
Latest News on I Am Sam
October 25, 2007:
Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning Teaming Up for My Sister's KeeperThey aren't even in high school yet, but the Fanning sisters are already grizzled Hollywood veterans...
Fresh Links
Featured
Halloween Movies For Wimps
Scary movies too scary for you? Here are some alternatives for October 31st.
10 Best Superhero TV Shows
HitFix combs through TV history to compile a superpowered list.
Ridiculous Movie Mistakes
RollingStone proves even the best movies miss a details here and there.
Deadly Movie Kids
Moviefone lists 11 Movie Kids Who Could Kick Our Asses.
50 States, 50 Movies
For July 4th, TimeOut has compiled 50 state-specific movie choices.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
Featured on RT
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Hangover Part III, The Purge, and More 11
- Primetime Preview: Beauty and the Beast, Sleepy Hollow and More 0
- NYFF: Joaquin Phoenix and James Gray talk The Immigrant 2
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Gravity Stuns with Record $55M Launch 79
- Primetime Preview: Witches of East End, Once Upon a Time and More 3
- Weekly Ketchup: Disney Plans Live Action Cruella de Vil Movie 37
- Primetime Preview: Last Man Standing, The Neighbors and More 5
Top Headlines
-
Fox Animated Series, ABC Comedies Tumble in Sunday Ratings
0
-
Bong Joon-ho Reportedly "Furious" About Snowpiercer Cuts
0
-
Record-Setting Number of Films Competing in Foreign-Language Oscar Race
0
-
Woody Allen Cancels Blue Jasmine's India Premiere
1
-
Lionsgate Wants Gary Ross and Jennifer Lawrence's Burial Rites
1
-
ABC Plans Kevin Hart-Inspired Series
0
-
The Shining's Danny Torrance Is All Grown Up
1
Foreign Titles
- Ich bin Sam (DE)
- Sam je suis sam (FR)
Here's the thing: I'm not an ogre, and I do have a soul. I recognize that this film is sweet, well meaning, and very charming. It has nothing but good intentions. However, this film tries a bit too hard, and is too reliant on cliches and formula. The references to Kramer Vs. Kramer were a nice litle touch, though.
Yeah, this film is heartwarming, and inspiring, but it's overbearing, and it is a feel-good movie to the extent that none of it is really earned. I feel like the film went to a route that was expected and that it did so just because the filmmakers felt levity over reality would be better. Sometimes I'm okay with that, but in this case, I just couldn't get onboard.
I do like the performances though. The cast is likeable, and they all put a lot of effort into things, but, like the film overall, they try to hard, hence why Sean Penn got a nomination, but went home empty-handed. He took it too far. His performance isn't offensive, and it is sensitive, but he could have made an effort to dial it down because a little goes a long way.
I'm ripping on this movie, but I don't totally hate it. I liked the soundtrack, and the idea to use nothing but Beatles songs was very inspired. Using the originals would have been better, but these are some good covers, so it's okay.
You can go out and see this if you want, but don't expect it to be a completely satisfying experience, even though there are some good moments to be found.