Movie review: I Am Sam

I Am Sam
Director: Jessica Nelson
Cast: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff, Laura Dern
Runtime: 120 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Released: December 28th 2001

This is that movie I ask myself "Why did it take me so long to see it?". What a excellent movie. To think I started watching it on TV at around midnight on a Sunday knowing I had to get up early for work next day. It didn't matter this movie I could not turn off. Sean Penn did a Spectacular job portraying his character that has development disabilities.  He is raising his 6 year old daughter on his own since the mother left them. He is doing a good job at it until his daughter Lucy starts to get made fun at for having a retarded dad. So she acts out and because of this he loose custody of Lucy for the time being. Sam then has to find a lawyer and thats where Rita comes in and at first doesn't pay attention to him but his constiencey of showing up finally gets her to agree to do a Pro Bono. So Sam and Rita start their fight to get Lucy back. Dakota Fanning portrays Lucy and she did a great job for such a young age. I truly recommend this movie to everyone especially families. This movie made me laugh and cry a perfect combination.

Plot: A mentally retarded man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter, and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family.