Recommended Viewing.........again.

I Am Sam

Year of release: 2001.
Writer/Director: Jessie Nelson.
Starring: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Weist, Loretta Devine, and Laura Dern.

On purchasing this movie, I noticed the subheading of this movie read 'Love Is All You Need'. Upon reading this, I sensed that there would be a strong Beatles theme in this film. And I was right, not that it's bad thing.

With I Am Sam, Jessie Nelson has constructed an absolute masterpiece, and a definite improvement on sappiness of Stepmom, one of her previous prominent efforts (another disappointing thing about that film is that it featured Julia Roberts).

Sam Dawson (Sean Penn) is a mentally disabled man who works as a cleaner/floor sweeper at a neighborhood Starbucks coffee shop. Sam has the mental capabilities of a seven year old, which is hard enough, but he is also raising a seven-year-old daughter, Lucy (Dakota Fanning). Sam names his daughter Lucy Diamond after the Beatles classic 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', and he has an obsessive knowledge of Beatles trivia.

Lucy was the consequence of a one-night stand, and is already smarter than her father. As a result of her growing intellectual capacity, she is intensely protective of Sam. Together they form a close-knit relationship that is threatened by the Department of Child Services, who believe that Sam cannot properly take care of Lucy. Consequently, Lucy is taken away from her father and placed into foster care.

Sam is in need of legal aid, so he enlists the help of his equally mentally challenged friends. As Sam and his friends have learned, the best attorneys have four names, so they raid the phone book and find Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer). Rita is a high-profile career woman who has a detached relationship with her son, and working with Sam on their impending case helps to give her some perspective. This is demonstrated in the communication skills and rapport shown between Sam and Lucy, and to a certain extent, Sam and Rita's son.

Together, Rita and Sam fight the legal system as underdogs. I Am Sam questions what defines the basis of a fit parent; is it the intellectual maturity displayed, or the level of love given?

Sean Penn leaves no doubt in my mind as to who is the best, most talented, and diverse actor around. His portrayal of Sam Dawson ranks very high (if not, at the top) among the greatest roles he has played. He spent a lot of time with L.A Goal, a Los Angeles non-profit organization that assist adults with developmental disabilities, in order to perfect his part. To his credit, Penn does not overact, but still displays a memorable performance that will be remembered as pure gold.

Dakota Fanning in her role as Lucy displays the cutesiness of a child, but also with the maturity of someone thrice her age. Michelle Pfeiffer, I believe, was born to play the part of Rita Harrison. She handles the role with relative effortlessness, and although she doesn't steal the show, she captures the essence of a typical career woman who is more focused on profession than family. It is a cinematic delight to watch her character change with the story.

In keeping with the spirit of the Beatles theme of I Am Sam, the soundtrack is full of Beatles classics. Unfortunately, due to song rights issues, the soundtrack features many accomplished artists covering the original recordings. Some of these are equally as brilliant as the originals. Among these are Eddie Vedder (from Pearl Jam) performing 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away', The Black Crowes mastering 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' and Ben Folds with 'Golden Slumbers'

In I Am Sam, I have a new favourite movie. As a male, it's not usually socially acceptable to admit to shedding a tear. But I'm going to break with tradition, and confess that I not only shed a tear during the movie, but I was openly weeping. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie to fans of Sean Penn, and to lovers of movies with artistic credibility and originality.

What are you waiting for?

My Rating: **** (out of 5)

- Fridge.