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Portrayals of people with learning disabilities have done well at the American Academy Awards: Oscars rewarded Marty (1955), Charly (1968), John Mills as Michael in Ryan's Daughter (1970), Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988), and Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994). Certainly the roles are challenging and it is seen as a “good thing to do,” but actors could well be accused of what Schiff levels at Pfeiffer within the film: “Aren't you just doing this so you can make a speech at a charity luncheon?” Given its thin plot, questions arise as to how the film achieved such a first rate cast, and why actors queue up to play characters with learning disabilities. Trouble is, she plays self absorbed to such excess that she seems to be in a different film, perhaps a caper or comedy movie.
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Sam chooses his attorney (Michelle Pfeiffer) because she has the biggest ad in the Yellow Pages, and she accepts his case for free having been embarrassed by him at a drinks party. There are too many contrived “not without my daughter” speeches, and the line between empathy and sympathy or pity is crossed too often.Īlongside learning disability stereotypes (childlike innocence paired with profound insights and wisdom) come the hooker with the heart of gold, the court psychologist with problems of her own, the successful lawyer needing emotional succour, evil social services, and the demonic public prosecutor (Richard Schiff).
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No doubt the filmmakers wanted it all to be “real”-to establish Sam's dignity as a person and a parent-but it just doesn't happen. Director Jessie Nelson has described how Silverman began to cry during the filming of a courtroom scene, distressed that anyone could challenge Sam's ability to be a good parent. Sam's friends are also “mentally challenged” and some of these are played by actors with learning disabilities, not least Brad Allan Silverman. Court proceedings are inevitable: this is America. This does not prevent him from raising a child (Dakota Fanning) virtually on his own until she turns seven (his mental age) and “outgrows him.” Their lives have been idyllic and invisible until Sam is wrongfully arrested for soliciting. Sam (Sean Penn) has moderate learning disabilities and cannot brew coffee or reliably cross town on a bus. No one sets out to make a bad film-it just happens, and I Am Sam is a real mess.