"I AM SAM"

One of the rules of screenwriting is to have your main character(s) develop or show change during the film. If they began with a cold heart, you need to have them gain some sympathy, etc.

"I am Sam" revolves around a man afflicted with mental retardation who must go through the legal system in order to gain custody of his daughter.

Sean Penn plays Sam….and nails the part (should've won the Oscar). Every manuerism, facial expression and reaction is flawless. I was completely convinced not only of his portrayel of his condition, but of his love and desire to regain his daughter, Lucy.

Michelle Pfeifer whose character is the focal point of experiencing that 'change' plays his lawyer. And while Michelle is generally an impressive actress, I felt she tried too hard in conveying her character's evolution.

Maybe it's just Michelle. We're so used to seeing her as the innocent beauty and/or struggling mother that she has to stretch in order to pull off being heartless and uncaring. And though she needed help with it, she did eventually fall comfortably into her element later on and was completely convincing in her determination to help Sam with his daughter.

This film was about many things, but I felt its primary focus was the question of what's more important "The quantity or the quality".

If you rent it, rent some Kleenex, too.

My Grade: B

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