Directed by Jessie Nelson
Written by Kristine Johnson and Jessie Nelson
Cinematography by Elliot Davis

Sean Penn as Sam Dawson Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison Laura Dern as Randy Carpenter Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson Dianne Wiest as Annie Joseph Rosenberg as Joe Brad Silverman as Brad Richard Schiff as Turner Stanley DeSantis as Robert Loretta Devine as Margaret Calgrove Doug Hutchison as Ifty Rosalind Chao as Lily

Running Time: 132 min.
Release Date: Dec. '01

Overall Call:
After reading the story outline you probably have a clear idea where this one starts, heads, and finishes. If however you are in the mood for a couple of brilliant performances and a syrupy sweet glossy Hollywood story you might want to consider this film. Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning were both engaging and very believable in their roles. Most actors want to play at least one mentally challenged role in their career and here is Penn's attempt. The directing is decent and carries the film along without letting the story sag anywhere. An interesting point of note, the filmmakers were unable to get the rights to The Beatles music for the films score. They in turn gathered contemporary artists for covers of some familiar fab four tunes that turned out quite well. All in all I Am Sam is a film elevated just above a movie-of-the-week status by the performances and allow the film to go down easy.

Reasons For Recommendation:
+ Acting by Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning
+ Fun score