1.5/4  HE IS SAM
Sean Penn has a very impressive filmography. Very prothean as he exhibits great talents in acting (OSCAR nominee for Best Actor in this film), directing, and film producing. Unfortunately though, for this particular one, pretty much li... (read full)

3.5/4  I Am Sam
I Am Sam is about Sam, who is mentally retarded. After 7 years of raising his daughter Lucy on his own, Lucy begins to question why Sam is not like any other fathers. She dumbs herself down so as not to outsmart her father, and this is rec... (read full)

2/4  I Am Sam
I wish this film could've been better paced because it did have potential to be focused and relentlessly engaging. Sean Penn did a great job in this film, as well as Dakota Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer. I guess my main problem with it is ... (read full)

5/5 Heartwarming
  by David A. Smith (Webberville, Mi, USA)
This has to be Sean Penn's Best Performance of his career. This movie is so good and Dakota Fanning is an outstanding Young actress. this movie will move you. I Recommend it for everyone

2/5 sometimes the sword really is mightier than the pen
  by J. Abercrombi
Normally I would not sit through a movie this lousy with such a pathetic script and story but since it has one of my very favorite movie actors in it, Sean Penn, I figured I owed it to at least watch it. "I am Sam" is just such a cliche of every single sappy, sad and otherwise melodramatically bad film that I've ever seen. It has the loving young girl in need of her father, the proverbial David and Goliath story that everyone has seen about a zillion times and that elusive man-child that believes that love conquers all. Who the hell writes these scripts and how they got Sean Penn (one of the greatest actors of my generation) to sign up for this overstuffed turkey will behoove the imagination. Sean does go out of his way to play the part to the hilt. He gives a good performance of Sam. But I don't think it's fair to blame him for the sub-par movie. Where were the writers and producers and the director? The story was so incredibly unrealistic that I sincerely doubt that even in a hundred years would the events in this movie ever take place anywhere in our universe. Because let's examine the story. Here's a man who does not have any basic skills to take care of himself and who has the capacity of a young child, yet he is now thrown into the realm of parenting his own child. And don't get me wrong, Sam was no worse and no better than any other parent. But does this happen in real life? As well all know, no, it doesn't. Where was Sam's family? Why didn't he have any support system to speak up? His daughter was born and the birth-mother literally ran away before they got home from the hospital. Then the scene picks up years later when Lucy was 7 or 8. How did Sam parent the child for the first several years of her life? It wasn't explained because it wasn't plausible. And what was up with that hideous music. John Lennon (may he rest in peace) would be turning in his grave to hear his classic music butchered like this. Michelle Pfeiffer was so annoying, not just because she was competely covered and caked in makeup that made her look like a walking Bamberger's cosmetics counter, but also because she was the typical movie cliche. Lawyers do not take cases "pro bono" as the movie called it unless they think they can get a piece of the action. And her character was just so sloppily written, one minute she's this hard-as-nails, takes no prisoner uptown lawyer and the next she's the vulnerable weirdo who has just as much emotional problems as Sam. It was just such a foolish movie that was somewhat insulting because the producers must have thought that there were people who would actually buy this cockamamie story. And I sincerely doubt that even Sam in all his esteem and intelligence would buy this self-serving, overindulgent ludicrous enactment.

5/5 All you need is love!
  by Book Lady (TN USA)
This is one of my favorite movies ever. If you haven't already seen it, you have to now! The acting that Sean Penn did is simply stunning. The camera work is great also. You won't be sorry that you bought it, believe me!!!!

5/5 All We Need Is Love
  by Eric S. Kim (Southern California)
So the movie sometimes tries hard to show us that this would be an ultimate tearjerker. The only thing is, it actually works. This film makes us care about Sam, a mentally-challenged man who takes care of his 7-year old daughter, Lucy. An abrupt separation might take place as social services try to persuade Sam that he cannot properly take care of his own daughter. That's the basic storyline. What follows are some truly believable performances from Sean Penn, Michelle Pheiffer, Dakota Fanning, and Richard Schiff. Penn seems to have the mental capacities of a 7-year old down perfectly; this has to be one of his finest performances. Pheiffer is also splendid as the lawyer who cooperates with Sam on the custody of Lucy. To tell you the truth, I didn't really mind Fanning as Lucy. She may be one of the most overrated child stars of all time, but here, she gives a wonderful performance as the young girl who never wants to hurt her dad's feelings. Schiff absolutely looks hateful in his role; you just want to punch him in the face for hours.

Again, this movie does look as if it desperately wants us to see how powerful this movie really is. But then again, it works. It's such a tender drama, that I can't help but love it.

5/5 A MASTERPIECE !!!
  by The Aeolian Kid (WAMESIT)
"I AM SAM" ... Indeed! ... Sean Penn is a great actor. He definitely became SAM in this movie. It is undeniable that his performance as a loving father and single parent of a little girl who loves him with all her heart is incredibly moving. That Sam is mentally challenged is beside the point. The point being that he loves his daughter, Lucy, with all his heart as well and wants to be with her to raise her and enjoy her company, enjoying watching her grow up as all loving parents want to do with their children.

I watched this movie on DVD fives times in a row. I fell in love with it. The cast is outstanding and so believable. Sam, truly, has the best friends in the world, and his attorney, "Lovely Rita" - Michelle Pfeiffer - does an excellent job of helping Sam to keep his daughter. If you want to see a door kicked in by Michelle Pfeiffer that is as emotionally powerful as it is sexy, then watch this movie! You will never see a door kicked in so gloriously again. It's worth it just to see her doing that. True passion!

The music to this movie is Beatle-inspired. If you are a Beatles fan - like Sam and Lucy are - you will love this movie. If you are a fan of George Harrison, you will appreciate the line in the film when Rita says that he was always her favorite Beatle. If you know people who are mentally handicapped in any way, and realize what a challenge it is every day for all of them to function in this complex society, you will appreciate the sentiments of this movie. It is a wonderful expose into the world of the "special people" who share this life with us. You will come to love them for their uniqueness.

"It matters to ME!" says SAM to his attorney, while standing before the counter to buy coffee. (By the way, notice that Sam figures out the exact amount of change in his head perfectly!) This is one of the most powerful lines in the movie. It is a great turning point in the way his attorney begins to relate to him - as a human being with deep wounds and real needs, and not just as another client or pro-bono trophy case!

The only question I have is, do Sam and Rita (his attorney) get together as romantic companions at the end of the film? I wonder.

Watch this great masterpiece of a movie and find yourself laughing and crying at the same time - and enjoy the music!

... YOWZA! - George Koumantzelis / The Aeolian Kid