I Am Sam

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I Am Sam

PG-13

2002

2h 12m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

35%

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144 Reviews

86%

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250,000+ Ratings

"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. 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.

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Critics Consensus

Not only does the manipulative I Am Sam oversimplify a complex issue, it drowns it in treacle.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/24/2010

3/5

Moving film with great acting seems too contrived.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

06/19/2003

3.5/4

Sean Penn may be the most gifted actor of his generation.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

11/06/2002

2.5/4

Penn repeatedly hits the ball out of the park, but the rest of the team never gets past first base.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

08/10/2022

4.5/5

Penn never goes over the top with his speech, ticks, hand gestures, and all-around physicality. He doesn’t act like a mentally challenged man, he behaves like one: there’s a big difference between the two.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/11/2020

3.5/4.0

Penn's performance deserved the Oscar nomination.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

09/25/2010

0/4

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.

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Ed B.

@EdLee Feb 21

I am Sam is a story about a mentally challenged father ( Sean Penn ) trying to retain custody of his daughter (Dakota Fanning). Michele Pfiefer is the attorney representing Penn character. Sean Penn performs his character exceptionally well, seems he may have drawn from Rain man and Forrest Gump. Although film has very sweet moments , and is filled with lots of Beatles references. The outcome in film seemed unrealistic. Acting is topnotch , and , Beatles fans will likely enjoy the tribute in way of soundtrack. However, Not a particular stand out movie otherwise.

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Cfunk D

@Cfunk2085 Feb 12

The acting is amazing but the story is a joke. Very unbelievable because many of these things would never happen

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Jan 1

Even though I Am Sam takes a really complicated issue and simplifies it to the point of drivel, Sean Penn's acting makes it a great watch.

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Rosemary P

@RT54669183 Oct 10

Sean Penn is brilliant in this film. I have the dvd and have watched it several times. It may over simplify a complicated situation but the feelings are real. Dakota Fanning And Michelle Pfeiffer are also very good.

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Jayant P

@jpatidar Aug 23

Its very good movie with making good point that higer intelligent people don't mean they are more capable of love and vice versa. I love it, everyone should watch it 😍 l, there are mean people who should not review anymore beacuse they doesn't understand empathy, creative thinking For them these is the cinema means to be

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Brett E

@RT77280318 Jul 19

All these critic reviews saying this movie was like a TV movie of the week should never review anything ever again. Its a good movie and Sean Penn would never be in a MOW.

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Jessie Nelson

Director

Sean Penn

Sam Dawson

Michelle Pfeiffer

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Dakota Fanning

Lucy

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Synopsis

"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. 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.

Director: Jessie Nelson
Producer: Jessie Nelson, Richard Solomon, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Kristine Johnson, Jessie Nelson
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Bedford Falls Productions, Avery Pix
Rating: PG-13 (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.3M
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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