James Berardinelli's film review of 'I am Sam' is a considerably biased outlook on an otherwise monumental film with dazzling performances by Sean Penn and Michelle Pfiefer. Berardinelli is convinced that this film was just 'tear jerker' that was created with a sole purpose to win or at least be a nominee for the Oscars. Berardinelli is unenthusiastic and sometimes sarcastic tone add to his cynical opinion of this film.This critic claims that his film is 'to be regarded as a 'tear jerker', his belief is from the fact that there are more emotions involved throughout it's 'fanciful screenplay' and less logic. Berardinelli's stance is somewhat understandable yet I find it unconvincing . The issue associated with this film is a rather delicate one and is partly because it questions our logic and emotions, this film ask us whether it is best to have a non-lov ...view middle of the document...
Sean Penn might not be worthy of an Oscar but surely he performed much better than Dakota Fanning who in my judgment was a 'by-the-book portrayal' of a child with an autistic parent. If it were truly based on a character's cuteness i would find utterly far fetched how such actors as Sean Connery won an Oscar playing the role of an aged wrinkly man, I am certain no one in the judging panel believed he was cute!The critic also alleges that the 'one aspect of the film worth lauding is the character interaction', this claim seems to be the only one I agree with in this critique, This film's two key relationships-those between Sam and Lucy, and Sam and Rita- are performed so overwhelmingly brilliantly that I found it difficult to believe the actors had never had these relationships in real life. However, the critic goes on to claim that "the film-makers' aptitude in this area does not extend to the overall production...by smothering it in cloying, unconvincing melodrama" Berardinelli believes the character interaction in this film is smothered by the weaknesses in the film therefore the only aspect of the film that is outstanding had been somehow corrupted. The critic is somehow correct but to claim that all the film's weaknesses smothered it is outlandish, it is undeniable that in the two key relationships melodrama did pay a part. However, the characters would have seemed unrealistic and emotionally dead, it is hard to imagine any of the characters involved in lawsuit not showing the sort of emotion they were displaying in the film.Berardinelli's critique is disappointedly cynical and seems to only pick on the film's weaknesses, I cannot help but strongly disagree with almost entirely all his claims, the critic did not seem to backup his claims but instead relying to convince his audience solely on his opinion. However, in the perspective of a viewer who did not study the film, his review seemed persuasive.
