I Am Sam (2001)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jessie Nelson

Writers (WGA):

Kristine Johnson (written by) &
Jessie Nelson (written by)

Release Date:

25 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

love is all you need

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.

Plot Keywords:

The Beatles | Lawyer | Custody | Mother Son Relationship | Social Service

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Rita Harrison Williams
Dakota Fanning	...	Lucy Diamond Dawson
Dianne Wiest	...	Annie Cassell
Loretta Devine	...	Margaret Calgrove
Richard Schiff	...	Mr. Turner
Laura Dern	...	Randy Carpenter
Brad Silverman	...	Brad (as Brad Allan Silverman)
Joseph Rosenberg	...	Joe
Stanley DeSantis	...	Robert
Doug Hutchison	...	Ifty
Rosalind Chao	...	Lily
Ken Jenkins	...	Judge Philip McNeily
Wendy Phillips	...	Miss Wright
Mason Lucero	...	Conner Rhodes
Scott Paulin	...	Duncan Rhodes
Bobby Cooper	...	George
Kit McDonough	...	Ms. Davis
Kimberly Scott	...	Gertie
Michael B. Silver	...	Dr. Jaslow
Caroline Keenan	...	Rebecca
Eileen Ryan	...	Estelle Dawson
Mary Steenburgen	...	Dr. Blake
Marin Hinkle	...	Patricia
Chase MacKenzie Bebak	...	Willy Harrison
Rafer Weigel	...	Bruce
Emiko Parise	...	Nurse
Pamela Dunlap	...	Grace
Brent Spiner	...	Shoe Salesman
David Nathan Schwartz	...	Principal
Kathleen Robertson	...	Big Boy Waitress
Karen Bankhead	...	Rita's Colleague
Janet Adderley	...	Obnoxious Mom
Katie McGloin	...	Cristina
Steven Maines	...	Collin
Dennis Fanning	...	Vice Cop
David Poynter	...	Cafeteria Worker
R.D. Call	...	Cop at Park
John Paizis	...	Starbucks Father
Russ Fega	...	Starbucks Angry Man
Erinn Seaghda Rice Goletz	...	Starbucks Barista
Julie Claire	...	Starbucks Customer
Marnie Martin	...	Starbucks Woman
Tony Abatemarco	...	Court Clerk
Will Wallace	...	Bill Carpenter
Scott Weintraub	...	Scarecrow
Nicholas Mele	...	Booking Cop
Brian Bialick	...	Brian
Molly Gordon	...	Callie
Nora Kroopf	...	Sara
Allison Thormahlen	...	Lucy Infant
Jillian Thormahlen	...	Lucy Infant
Ryan Williams	...	Lucy 6 Months
Felicity Ann Forbes	...	Lucy 18 Months
Makindra Sherry Forbes	...	Lucy 18 Months
Elle Fanning	...	Lucy 2 Years
Amanda Lehaf	...	Lucy 4 Years
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roma Maffia	...	First Family Court Judge (uncredited)
Michael McElroy	...	(voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jessie Nelson

Writing credits (WGA)
Kristine Johnson		(written by) &
Jessie Nelson		(written by)

Produced by
Lisa Campbell	....	associate producer
Michael De Luca	....	executive producer
Barbara A. Hall	....	co-producer
Marshall Herskovitz	....	producer
Jessie Nelson	....	producer
Claire Rudnick Polstein	....	executive producer
David Rubin	....	executive producer
Richard Solomon	....	producer
Edward Zwick	....	producer

Original Music by
John Powell

Cinematography by
Elliot Davis

Film Editing by
Richard Chew

Casting by
Mary Gail Artz
Barbara Cohen

Production Design by
Aaron Osborne

Art Direction by
Erin Cochran

Set Decoration by
Jennifer M. Gentile
Garrett Lewis

Costume Design by
Susie DeSanto

Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist: Ms. Pfeiffer (as Alan Dangerio)
Denise Fischer	....	key makeup artist
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup department head
Erin Braus Guth	....	assistant makeup artist (as Erin M. Braus)
Annette Lorant	....	makeup artist
Bunny Parker	....	hair department head
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Ms. Pfeiffer (as Ronnie Spector)
Lynda Kyle Walker	....	hair assistant

Production Management
Barbara A. Hall	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa Campbell	....	first assistant director
Frederic Roth	....	second assistant director (as Fredric Roth)
Andrew Ward	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
George Amaroso	....	swing
Mychael Bates	....	property master
Robert Bernard	....	graphic designer
Harry Conrad Chitwood	....	construction coordinator
Lilly Frank	....	on-set stand-by painter
Stephanie J. Gordon	....	set designer
Peter N. Griffith	....	props
Robert Hale	....	head paint foreman
Hyunjin Jo	....	art department assistant (as Hyunjin)
Hyunjin Jo	....	origami artist
Sean Langdon	....	set dressing gangboss
Brynn McQuade	....	art department coordinator
Richard 'Rocky' Nichols	....	assistant property master
Michael O'Donnell	....	crew head
John 'Johnny O' Ornelas	....	assistant property master
Gregori Renta	....	lead man
Steve Rice	....	greens foreman
Glenn Rivers	....	set designer
Chad Vachter	....	props
Greg Wyszynski	....	on-set dresser/swing
Michael Caccamise	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Chela Fiorini	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Douglas Axtell	....	production sound mixer
James Bailey	....	foley artist
Michael Camello	....	sound assistant
Paul Timothy Carden	....	supervising sound editor
Eric Flickinger	....	sound recordist
Kevin Globerman	....	ProTools engineer
Scott Jacobs	....	boom operator
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Darren T. Knaus	....	assistant sound editor
Manny Leyva	....	sound utility
Cynthia Merrill	....	foley artist
Joe Milner	....	supervising sound editor: effects
Nick Neutra	....	foley mixer
Thomas O'Neil Younkman	....	first assistant sound editor
Sarah Payan	....	sound editor
Perry Robertson	....	sound editor
Gregg Silk	....	second engineer
David Stanke	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Marla Carter	....	title compositor
Robert Stromberg	....	matte painting
Patrick Zentis	....	matte artist

Stunts
Mimi Gilbert	....	stunt double: Lucy
Troy Gilbert	....	stunt coordinator
Andy Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Jack Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Joel Kramer	....	stunt coordinator
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts
David Loitz	....	precision driver
Patricia M. Peters	....	stunt double: Rita (as Tricia Peters)
Jimmy Romano	....	stunt coordinator
Erik Stabenau	....	stunt double: Sam

Camera and Electrical Department
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Ted Caloroso	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Bruce Chimerofsky	....	best boy grip
James F. Cornick	....	rigging gaffer
Andrae Crawford	....	film loader
Jim Duggan	....	company grip (as James Duggan)
Jenifer Galvez	....	set lighting technician
Lamarr Gray	....	rigging best boy
Ted Lewis	....	company grip
Chris Lombardi	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dayton Nietert	....	gaffer
Jeremy Antonio Oliver	....	electrician
Brendon Phillips	....	rigging electrician
David D. Scott	....	video assist operator
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Sean Shinneman	....	company grip
Cricket Sloat	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Christopher A. Zwirner	....	electrician
Val Sklar	....	loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sandra Kuker	....	extras casting
Leanna Sheldon	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lynda Foote	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer Morrison Holyfield	....	costumer: Ms. Pfeiffer (as Jennifer Holyfield)

Editorial Department
Colby Enders	....	apprentice editor
Adrian Kays	....	editor: end title montage
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Mark Yoshikawa	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Jackson Browne	....	musician: harmony vocal
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Terry Delsing	....	music editor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Malcolm Luker	....	scoring mixer
Alan Meyerson	....	music scoring mixer
Heitor Pereira	....	composer: additional music
Heitor Pereira	....	musician
Joel J. Richard	....	music assistant
Erin Scully	....	music executive
Curt Sobel	....	temp music editor: songs
Terry Wilson	....	music editor
Hans Zimmer	....	original music producer

Transportation Department
Julie E. Furnas	....	transportation production assistant
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Alan Kaminsky	....	transportation co-captain
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator (as Welch Lambeth)
Harold L. Woods	....	driver

Other crew
Nellie Adami	....	production coordinator
Diana Adams	....	production accountant (as Diana Olsen)
Derek Avila	....	assistant location manager
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances: post-production
Buffy Beyer	....	assistant: Mr. Rubin
Kayce Brown	....	set assistant: Ms. Pfeiffer
Scotty Brown	....	assistant location manager
Jan Cerwonka	....	studio teacher
Scott Cler	....	production assistant
Steve Erdody	....	cello soloist
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Dusten Gazzola	....	production assistant
Juliandra Gillen	....	stand-in: Rita
Lina Godouse	....	stand-in: Lucy (as Lina Godhouse)
Josh Gummersall	....	assistant: Marshall Herskovitz
Giselle Gurza	....	production assistant
Jason Gutierrez	....	production assistant
Trent Hara	....	assistant production coordinator
Debbie Hayn-Cass	....	production executive
Judy Heinzen	....	assistant location manager
Marc Jacobs	....	production resources
Caren Kaplow	....	assistant: Ms. Pfeiffer
Kristi Kasubaski	....	first assistant accountant
Katrina Kincaid	....	production assistant
Linda Klein	....	medical technical advisor
Graham Larson	....	assistant: Mr. Zwick
Christopher Lee	....	location scout
Steven Maines	....	stand-in: Sam
Sato Masuzawa	....	assistant: Mr. Penn
Sara Mayer	....	set production assistant
Michael McElroy	....	adr loop group
Brian McMillan	....	animal trainer
David Mendoza	....	production assistant
Kristi Mujica	....	first assistant accountant
Jason Novak	....	assistant: Rick Solomon
Elion Olson	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Pedevilla	....	payroll accountant
John M. Pisani	....	unit publicist
Wonder Fortune Serra	....	assistant: Mr. Nelson
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances: post-production
E. Michael Stankevich	....	production secretary
Scout Taylor-Compton	....	adr loop group
Tyrel Ventura	....	set assistant: Mr. Penn
Brenda K. Wachel	....	script supervisor
Art Wolff	....	dialogue coach: Dakota Fanning
Garson Yu	....	title designer
Robert Foulkes	....	co-location manager (uncredited)
Robert Hampton Frazier IV	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Yoko Ono	....	thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Avery Pix
• Bedford Falls Productions
• Red Fish Blue Fish Films

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2005) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Distribution Company (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Nexo (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2002) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2002) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• TriPictures (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Roadshow Film Distributors (2002) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• H.O.M. Vision (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Executive Assurance  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Pacific Title  titles
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• V2 Records  soundtrack published by
• yU+Co.  titles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38443) | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Many lines or actions by Sean Penn's character Sam are improvised, for example the end of the scene at the new restaurant where Sam shouts "Ask Big Bob!", or the dog-scene. The producers liked many of these improvised scenes much better than the original book.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the very beginning shot, when Sam is sorting sugar packets in the holders, he puts the brown "raw sugar" packets in front. When he is shown setting the holders on the tables, the brown packets are in the middle.

Quotes:

[in Rita's car]
Rita: On the Porsche the door handle is a little hidden by that thingamajig, so if you're having trouble finding it...
Annie: NO!
Sam: Ok, I think maybe Annie's not exactly ready to go yet.

Movie Connections:

References Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Soundtrack:

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

OVERALL A TOUCHING FILM WITH FLAWS

This movie has flaws, but this movie touched me. Maybe its because I'm a father of a six year-old girl, but I was moved by the love between father and daughter, Sam and Lucy. Sean Penn plays Sam, a mentally challenged man that instantly becomes a single parent, when the mother immediately abandons them when they leave the hospital. He some how raises her with help from a neighbor, played by Diane Wiest. On her eighth birthday, child protective services take her away from Sam. It has become apparent that Lucy surpassed her father in intelligence, and she is struggling to cope with classmates and friends making fun of Sam. Can Sam adequately care for Lucy? The whole time I was watching, the answer was, no. This is where the movie fails. It did not convince me that this mentally challenged man that could not even eat at a Kip's Big Boy without freaking out because they did not have French pancakes, could raise this child by himself.

I am sure that Sean Penn's will get some accolades for his performance. However, I felt that I had seen it before, and I had seen it done better. He was adequate in the role, but Leonardo DiCaprio did it better in `What's Eating Gilbert Grape', and I even think that Mickey Rooney did it better in `Bill'. Penn's downfall could have been the character's lack of dept. Maybe if we had seen his childhood, his relationship with his mother, or the relationship with Lucy's mother, it would have created a more believable role. He does do well to show his love for Lucy. The chemistry between Lucy and Sam is touching. You had better take some tissue.

The newcomer, Dakota Fanning, as Lucy, was wonderful. Lucy is cute and loveable. She is the only thing right in Sam's life. She is hope. She is beautiful. She is everything to Sam. When she is taken away, your heart will break.

Michelle Pfeiffer, as Rita the lawyer, was a pleasant surprise. Rita is so vain that she takes Sam's case just to save face in front of her colleagues. She is too busy, even for her own family. All she cares about is winning. She is heartless. However, she blossoms during the movie. Sam opens her eyes. She is like the butterfly that Lucy does a report on in school. She is the true hero of the movie.

The music in the movie was great. If you are a fan of the Beatles, which most everyone is (even if you may not realize it), you will appreciate this movie. The Beatles' songs convey a feeling of safety and comfort. The songs are familiar and soothing. In Sam's chaotic world, the Beatles come through with a calming effect. One of my all time favorite songs, Across the Universe, is used as well.

Overall, I think this movie comes through with heartfelt messages. However, you will have to suspend belief and let yourself go with it. Laura Dern also pops up with an excellent performance. The final scenes were fresh and unexpected. Thank God this movie did not stay in the courtroom!

7/10