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I Am Sam

            Before I begin my review of the movie "I Am Sam" I should be upfront and state that I love the tearjerker genre. I always like the movies that play with my emotions and I think that is a sure sign of a well made movie, but I admit I find most of these movies intriguing due to the fact I think I am an over emotional male that is easily touched by the sad story. These sorts of films often use music and other elements to pull at my emotions; director Jesse Nelson is no different in his use of the tools to touch the heart. "I Am Sam" is the story of an autistic adult and his struggle to maintain custody of his daughter. The movie deals with a controversial issue and forces the viewer to sympathize with Sam the autistic father who is trying to maintain custody of his child. Sean Penn, who plays Sam, does an amazing job acting the part of an individual with autism but this is not to say the story is not without faults.
             Sam has a mild case of autism but is a very high functioning individual despite his mental disability. When the show first began I thought the movie would parallel the classic movie Rainman, staring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. But I quickly dismissed this comparison as soon as the plot began to evolve. The story is not about accepting the autistic adult like Rainman was but instead deals with parenting and the characteristics of a good parent. The movie argues through every scene that love is the single most important characteristic of parenting.
             Sam Dawson is able to work at Star Bucks earning minimum wage, but quickly has his life changed when he finds himself a father after having a one-night stand with a homeless woman who was only looking for a place to live. As mentioned same is very high functioning and it is possible that a Starbucks employee could do their job with autism but Sam has some unrealistic abilities. Autisitic individuals are characterized by their inability to deal with changes, as well as emotional detachment.


Essays Related to I Am Sam

1. I Am Sam: A Diagnostic View Mental Retardation and Autist Sp

... Am Sam, Sam, the main character and the focus of this writing, is a "mentally challenged- father who enlists the aid of an attorney to help him regain custody of his daughter. Sam and his pro bono' lawyer must demonstrate that his caretaker capacity has not been hindered by his developmental delays. Sam ... subtype of mental retardation known as Williams syndrome. Individuals with Williams syndrome tend be overly friendly, affectionate, engaging, and charming. Like Sam, these individuals may be quite interpersonally sensitive and acutely attuned to the emotions of others. Sociability and ...

  • Word Count: 3599
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Autism and I Am Sam

... ; Thank GOD that is not my child". It breaks my heart to hear people talk like that. With that being said I chose to do my paper on the movie I AM SAM. I chose this movie because this is a wonderful movie that represents mental retardation or intellectual disability and a couple other things that I will mention later. Mental retardation means significantly sub average intellectual ... . In this classification the individual normally requires significant aid with daily living skills[ CITATION The l 1033 ]. In the movie I Am Sam, Sean Penn plays the role of Sam Dawson a mentally retarded fa...

  • Word Count: 1883
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Film Review - I Am Sam

... that Lucy still needs a mother figure and allows her to continue to help raise Lucy. Throughout the duration of the film "I am Sam" parenting roles and interactions with children, how children change relationships, and parent-child relationships play a huge role. Children tend to put a burden on parent-child relationships which usually can ... his daughter and being there for her regardless. Furthermore, throughout "I am Sam" healthy communication skills and managing conflict, as well as skill-full communication play a big role as well. Within the movie, Rita (Sam's lawyer), is continu...

  • Word Count: 1127
  • Approx Pages: 5

4. Iam Sam

... her to the doctor and pay the bills? And how did Lucy become this smart and charming little girl? The state thinks that it is despite Sam but I have no doubt it is because of Sam. I am no expert on this but I can imagine that Lucy will grow up to be a much more patient, more understanding, more modest and more mature adult than ... him. Although the movie is well developed and the characters have been written with much dimension and insight I find the ending a little disappointing - a little too "hollywood" for my taste. Will "I am Sam" have an impact on the viewers" attitudes toward me...

  • Word Count: 995
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The "Son Of Sam" Law: The First Amendment Gone Gray

... were frantic and, from letters left at the different crime scenes, the press eventually dubbed him, Son of Sam. ?I am deeply hurt by your calling me a wemon hater. I am not. But I am a monster. I am the 'Son of Sam.' I am a little brat.? (Excerpt from a letter written to Captain Joseph Borelli of the NYPD) (New York ... Police File) Eventually, the Son of Sam was caught, and the psycho had a name?David. The press clamored to ... to balance the scales of justice, did it leave another unintended victim in its wake? What of the First Amendment? Had theSon of Sam? law become just another fo...

  • Word Count: 1561
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Sam and the Magic Turtle

... where would I, being a simple little turtle and all, have the capabilities to provide you with such food?" "So you really are magical?" exclaimed Sam in an astonished voice. "Yes, I am," replied the turtle, "And I am also in a hurry, could you please choose your next wish so I may go on my vacation?" "I wish that I was ... - Sam paused as he though of his next wish. "Oh! I've got it!" He exclaimed. "I wish that I was the best fighter in all of ... the Orient." "Very well," said the turtle, and with a gust of wind and a few words of an ancient language Sam became a powerful and well-known...

  • Word Count: 920
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Son Of Sam

... Jody Valenti in a parked car. Lauria was killed, and Valenti was seriously wounded. This event officially marked the beginning of the "Son of Sam" killing spree(Panic 1). Berkowitz struck again on October 23, 1976. Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan were just leaving a party when a man appeared ... This time there was a twist in the story. Berkowitz had left a letter addressed to Captain Borrelli and identifying himself as the "Son of Sam", marking the first contact Berkowitz had initiated with the authorities, and now providing a name for himself (Capture 2). The letter exposed small detail...

  • Word Count: 2646
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Psychology Debate: I Am Sam

Sam is developmentally disabled as he is an autistic individual and his mental capacity is that of a seven year old, whereas his daughter, Lucy is a normal child and progressively develops according to her age.  As Lucy nears her seventh birthday, her development surpasses that of her father. Lucy's teacher is worried and displays her concern regarding Lucy to Sam as she states, Lucy's developmental progress is being hindered as a result of Sam's disability. According to the teacher, Lucy is observed holding herself back and unable to achieve her full potential due to her father's autistic na...

  • Word Count: 3383
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Why am I (or am I not) a criminal?

... different activity. The factors influencing my decision are based in two categories: objective and subjective availability. Regarding the first part of the topic question "am I a criminal?" depends on the definition of a criminal. The legal definition is "someone who has been convicted by a court of law." ... Civil knowledge is common knowledge that most individuals know. Technical knowledge is knowledge specifically related to a certain field. In the case of Sam Goodman, civil knowledge knows the ballpark prices of the stolen goods that are brought into his shop, whereas technical know...

  • Word Count: 3180
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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