| | | Love Is All You Need.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Penn give career-defining performances in this humorous and heart-warming film about a mentally-challenged father who enlists the aid of a high-powered attorney to help him regain custody of his daughter. An all-star supporting cast and a spectacular soundtrack complete this unforgettable story of life, love and laughter.
"You have to see I Am Sam. I loved it." Rosie O'Donnell, The Rosie O'Donnell Show
"Penn's mentally retarded Sam Dawson will melt your heart..." Glen Lovell, San Jose Mercury News
"Sean Penn...gives a bold, heartfelt performance." Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"A wonderful movie about the power of the human spirit." Joel Siegel, Good Morning America
"Michelle Pfeiffer gives the most amazing performance. Sean Penn is probably the best actor working in movies today." Roger Ebert, Ebert & Roeper
Editor's Note
Actor Sean Penn displays another facet of his versatility as the title character of this inspirational tearjerker--a mentally handicapped father fighting for custody of his young daughter (Dakota Fanning). The child welfare board of his native Santa Monica has taken her from him, worried that at eight years old she has already begun to pass him in intellectual development. Sam's argument is that it's not brains but love that counts, and his case is taken by a stressed-out hot shot lawyer named Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer) who has her own problems dealing with her rebellious son. Anchored by his infectious love of the Beatles, the ceaselessly enthusiastic Sam becomes a positive influence on Rita as he raises a lot of questions about what's most important as a parent. Though it's Penn's show, Pfeiffer is so good she practically steals the film from him, and the startlingly precocious Fanning is not far behind. A warm soundtrack of Beatles covers and clever, fast-cut editing help the message of love and forgiveness shine through.
| Features | English Subtitles and Closed Captions | | 5.1 Dolby Digital | | DTS Surround Sound | | Stereo Surround Sound | | Theatrical Press Kit | | Theatrical Trailer | | Widescreen Version of the Film | | Hot Spot | | Deleted and Alternate Scenes with optional Director commentary | | Original Documentary: Becoming Sam | | Filmmaker Commentary - With Director / Co-screenwriter Jessie Nelson | | Script-to-Screen | | Link to Original Website |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: New Line |
| Release Date: 12/11/2007 |
| Running Time: 134 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2002 | | Catalog ID: 5537 | | UPC: 00794043553721 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (2002) | | | Sean Penn, Nominee, Best Actor |
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"...Mr. Penn, with his usual discipline, burrows deep into Sam....You need only look into the actor's eyes to see how deeply he is committed to perceiving the world the way Sam does..." 12/28/2001 p.E19Box Office
"...Emotionally effective....Fanning, in her first feature role, is charmingly earnest and positively luminous..." 01/01/2002 p.57 Rolling Stone
"...[Penn] gives a bold, heartfelt performance....[It's] a portrayal of stirring emotion and blunt truth..." 01/31/2001 p.58 Total Film
"..[Fanning is] cute without being cutesy, smart without being smart-arsed, she's the bright eyed emotional heart of the film..." 05/01/2002 p.101 San Francisco Chronicle 8 of 10
I Am Sam deserves to be remembered for Sean Penn's remarkable performance as a mentally challenged man... Penn doesn't compromise, and the script never forces him to. - Mick LaSalle
Los Angeles Times 8 of 10
...The characters have been written with much dimension, insight and nuance, and they have been brought to life by a cast that possesses the same qualities. ...Penn's portrayal of Sam will no doubt attract wide attention and acclaim, all of it richly deserved. It would be a shame, however, if it would overshadow Pfeiffer's contribution... - Kevin Thomas
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