Review of I Am Sam (2014) by Michael S — 26 Oct 2011

Interesting movie which deals with a very difficult subject of mental disability and responsibility of mentally challenged individuals and their ability to care for others . Lots of critics didn't like this one but others thought it was worth Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Sean Penn. I liked his acting but at the moments it was a little bit over the top... for me the screenwriter and director Jessie Nelson did a job required but nothing spectacular - narrative is so predictable that the life is very nearly squeezed out of it...

If Sean Penn was a real father with a developmental disability, and Dakota Fanning his real inquisitive seven-year-old daughter, life would not be as kind to them as in the movie! Michelle Pfeiffer as their lawyer is one of the weakest links in this drama, especially when compared with the acting of two actors with disabilities, Brad Silverman and Joe Rosenberg.

Kristine Johnson helped Jessie Nelson in writing the screenplay and maybe they researched the issues facing adults with developmental disabilities (by visiting the non-profit organization) but at the end they simplified the issue too much. Still, I think is worth watching - just do not expect too much!