Sean Penn’s performance as Sam Dawson (a mentally challenged father trying to raise a young daughter) is nothing short of brilliant. Never have I seen an acting performance as magical as this. Not Dustin Hoffman in “Rain Man”. Not Billy Bob Thorton in "Sling Blade". And, not even Tom Hank’s performance in "Cast Away" can compare to Sean Penn’s masterful work. In fact, the entire cast of “I Am Sam” deserves admiration for one of the most heartfelt and touching movies to hit the big screen in sometime.
During the film, I heard more tissue blowing than at the doctor’s office in January. And, all of it was well justified. No matter how strong you think you are or how much you try to convince yourself that this is only a movie, you will find yourself emotionally caught up in Sam’s struggles and fighting tears during nearly every scene. Yet, “I Am Sam” is much more than a sad sappy movie. I found myself laughing uncontrollably at times while being fully enchanted by the storyline.
Wonderful, Wonderful movie. An absolute must see. |
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