I Am Sam Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)February 11th, 2002
I AM SAM (2001) / ** 1/2
Directed by Jessie Nelson. Screenplay by Kristine Johnson and Nelson. Starring Sean Penn, Dakota Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer. Running time: 124 minutes. Rated PG for mild language and mature theme by the MFCB. Reviewed on February 10th, 2002.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: Sam Dawson (Penn) is a mentally handicapped man and single father of Lucy (Fanning). Sam struggles but succeeds in raising his daughter, until Lucy turns seven -- meaning that she has exceeded her father's own relative intelligence. Social services decides that Lucy should be placed in foster care. In desperation, Sam turns to Rita Harrison (Pfeiffer), a hard-nosed attorney who is his last chance to reclaim Lucy.
Review: The strangest thing about "I Am Sam" is that it appears to be arguing a false premise. Should mentally handicapped parents be allowed a role in raising their children? Of course. Should they be the sole providers? Perhaps, depending on their level of disability. But in the case of Sam, whose young daughter's cognitive ability already outstrips his own, surely the answer is no. Indeed, one has the impression that the makers of "I Am Sam" realised this at some point: their efforts to demonise the forces acting against Sam become increasingly transparent and the movie ends oddly, seemingly just to avoid playing out the inevitable. For a film with so many strikes against it, though, "I Am Sam" is nonetheless surprisingly enjoyable, mostly due to stellar performances by Penn and Fanning. Penn continues to demonstrate his versatility, infusing Sam with much charisma while still appearing totally genuine as a man with the intelligence of a child. Fanning is the movie's real triumph: a young actor who can not only recite lines, but do so while evoking real feeling and emotion. Pfeiffer, on the other hand, struggles with a character that barely rises beyond caricature. Also very good is Dianne Wiest as Sam's next-door neighbour. But she drops in and out of the movie so often, one is left to wonder how much of her role ended up on the cutting room floor.
Copyright © 2002 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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