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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Kristine Johnson (written by) &
Jessie Nelson (written by)
Release Date:
25 January 2002 (USA) more
Tagline:
love is all you need
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(48 articles)
Top 50 Hottest Young Actresses - Top 30
(From The Movie Fanatic. 4 July 2009, 12:06 AM, PDT)
Top 50 Hottest Young Actresses - Top 30
(From The Movie Fanatic. 4 July 2009, 12:06 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Great film, but hard to watch at times more (395 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Sean Penn | ... | Sam Dawson | |
| Michelle Pfeiffer | ... | Rita Harrison Williams | |
| Dakota Fanning | ... | Lucy Diamond Dawson | |
| Dianne Wiest | ... | Annie Cassell | |
| Loretta Devine | ... | Margaret Calgrove | |
| Richard Schiff | ... | Mr. Turner | |
| Laura Dern | ... | Randy Carpenter | |
| Brad Silverman | ... | Brad (as Brad Allan Silverman) | |
| Joseph Rosenberg | ... | Joe | |
| Stanley DeSantis | ... | Robert | |
| Doug Hutchison | ... | Ifty | |
| Rosalind Chao | ... | Lily | |
| Ken Jenkins | ... | Judge Philip McNeily | |
| Wendy Phillips | ... | Miss Wright | |
| Mason Lucero | ... | Conner Rhodes |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
132 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38443) | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The scene where Sam, Lucy, and Sam's friends are walking across the street with the balloons is a tribute to famous photograph of The Beatles crossing the street from the cover of "Abbey Road". more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the first courtroom scene, the judge asks to see Sam back in court on January 5th, supposedly a month after that day. However, the board of cases for the day says the date is August 20th. more
Quotes:
Lucy:
[being observed] I want no other daddy but you.
[turns to the glass]
Lucy:
[shouts] Did you hear that? I said I didn't want any other daddy but him. Why don't you write that down?
more
Movie Connections:
References "Lost in Space" (1965) more
Soundtrack:
I'm Looking through You more
FAQ
I am confused by the ending. Who wins custody of Lucy?more
more (395 total)
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I Am Sam is a great movie that deals with marginalized people in our society and how they're treated. It's a very realistic portrayal. I watched it with my 13 year old daughter and it alternately made us cry, got us angry and caused us to laugh uncontrollably.
Sam is loved and respected by those who know him (Starbuck's patrons, IHOP Waitress, friends), taunted by those who have no regard for anyone different (Lucy's arrogant classmate and his equally arrogant father) and generally misunderstood by everyone else.
I especially liked the irony of the lawyer, who is an emotional train wreck, yet because she's an adult intellecutally, no one questions her ability as a parent. Sam on the other hand loves his daughter and it shows.
This movie is not for anyone looking for a "fun weekend rent". If you rent this, be prepared to have your values and your emotions challenged.