I Am Sam

Name: I Am Sam
Director: Jessie Nelson
Genre: Drama
Released: 2001-12-28
Rating: 7.7

December 28, 2001· 2h 12m

Drama

Directed by

Jessie Nelson

Cast

Sean Penn Michelle Pfeiffer Dianne Wiest Dakota Fanning Richard Schiff Loretta Devine +34 more ↓

Cinemagraphs Score7.7

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.

Audience Sentiment

Overall7.7

1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece

Critics

8+ Great

6-8 Good

<6 Poor

2 reviews·Last updated 1d ago

Peak Moment

Sam's heartbreaking breakdown

8.9at 1h 32m

Lowest Moment

Enter the high-powered lawyer

6.2at 52m

Biggest Swing

The film recovers from criticism of Michelle Pfeiffer's introduction as Rita to reach its emotional peak during Sean Penn's devastating courtroom breakdown

I Am Sam generates strong emotional responses throughout, with Sean Penn's performance consistently praised despite some criticism of Hollywood's approach to disability. The film peaks during the intense courtroom scenes where Penn's acting is most powerful, though some reviewers found certain character portrayals artificial.

2 reviews analyzed|Sources: Guardian, Tmdb