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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. Autism and I Am Sam

I have had people come up to me and thank me for the job that I do, or I have had people ask me if I am crazy for doing the job that I do. ... With that being said I chose to do my paper on the movie I AM SAM. ... In the movie I Am Sam, Sean Penn plays the role of Sam Dawson a mentally retarded father with the mentally capacity of a seven year old. ... I would have to say that Sam shows more tendencies in autism behaviors. ... The things named above are just a couple of things that I have noticed about I am Sam that makes me think that autism plays a major role in Sam' life. ...

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

2. Film Review - I Am Sam

The film "I Am Sam" is a fantastic film about a single father's struggle to keep his daughter, Lucy, because of his mental sufferings. ... Sam's friends recommend that he hires Rita Harrison, a lawyer, which Sam decides to go through with. ... 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. ... Furthermore, throughout "I am Sam" healthy communication skills and managing conflict, as well as skill-full communication play a b...

  • Word Count: 1127
  • Approx Pages: 5

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

I Am Sam: A Diagnostic View Mental Retardation and Autistic Spectrum Disorders Advance Psychopathology In the movie I 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. ... In a desperate move to support Sam in his child custody, Sam's manager decides to promote Sam to coffee maker. The promotion is a fiasco and Sam is overwhelmed. ... The woman try's to persuade same to take her home by stating; "I can make you happy a...

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

4. Iam Sam

"I am Sam" is the story of mentally challenged Sam Dawson who is suddenly faced with raising his newborn daughter on his own after the mother leaves the two of them right outside of the hospital. ... 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 others. ... Will "I am Sam" have an impact on the viewers" attitudes toward mentally disabled people? ... All in all "I am Sam" is not as much about solutions as it is about just presenting a problem. ... In my opinion "I am Sam" is not just about...

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

5. Psychology Debate: I Am Sam

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. ... The impact of Sam's disability on Lucy is often witnessed. For instance, when Lucy read a new book to Sam and she came across the word "difficult" which Sam was unable to read, she hesitated to read it and eventually said, she does not know what the word is. ... Quite clearly, Sam miserably failed at doing so and why was that? ... And Sam does not say anything in response but instead, agrees. ...

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

6. Sam and the Magic Turtle

The turtle laughed to himself and interrupted Sam out of his thought by saying, "I bet you think that I"m some sort of mutant, that somehow my shell attracts clay, and that was how I was able to bring you plates upon plates of food." ... "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. ... "I have been sitting here on my couch, puzzling what my next and final wish shall be," confessed Sam, "I have finally decided! ... "Thank you so much," said Sam, "I s...

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

7. Maltese Falcon

Miles said to Sam, "She's sweet...Maybe you saw her first, but I spoke first." ... Brigid said to Sam, "Can't you shield me so that I won't have to answer their questions...I am afraid and alone." ... "I would have come back to you soon, from the very first instant I saw you, I knew." ... Gutman said to Sam, "I am a man that like stalking to a man that likes to talk." ... Sam said to Brigid, "Since I got something on you, I am not sure that you wouldn't put a hole in me someday! ...

  • Word Count: 1696
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Moonrise Kingdom - Character Analysis

Sam and I are very different people but we also have some common characteristics. ... The difference is that, if I ever get into a relationship, I will take my time to get to know the person well enough that I know I am not making the wrong choice. ... Although in ways, Sam and I are similar. ... I think that in ways, I am a complex person to understand and sometimes, I don't even know who I am. ... I thought Sam was a very powerful and meaningful character that really brought essence to this beautiful movie....

  • Word Count: 615
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

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