I Am Sam is a 2001 American drama film co-written and directed by Jessie Nelson, and starring Sean Penn as a father with an intellectual disability, Dakota Fanning as his bright and inquisitive daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer.
Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff, and Laura Dern appear in supporting roles. Nelson and co-writer Kristine Johnson researched the issues facing adults with intellectual disabilities by visiting the non-profit organization L.A. GOAL (Greater Opportunities for the Advanced Living).
They subsequently cast two actors with disabilities, Brad Silverman and Joe Rosenberg, in key roles. The film’s title is derived from the lines “I am Sam Sam I am” of the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, which is included in the movie.
The film received polarized reviews from critics and audiences. It grossed over $97 million at the box office, against a production budget of $22 million. For his role as Sam, Penn was highly acclaimed and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002.
The film launched the career of child actress Dakota Fanning, who was then seven years old and had only acted in two small roles. She became the youngest actress to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
I Am Sam is the soundtrack to the 2001 film I Am Sam. It was released on January 8, 2002 by V2 Records.
The album contents are made up entirely of cover versions of songs by The Beatles, although it was originally intended to consist of the group’s original recordings.
When producers were unable to obtain the rights to the original tracks, they commissioned the artists featured on the album to record the versions released.
Artists such as the Black Crowes, Nick Cave, Stereophonics, Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright, the Wallflowers, Ben Harper, the Vines, and Ben Folds to record the versions released. Penn‘s brother, Michael Penn, is also featured on a duet with his wife Aimee Mann.
Tracklist:
- Two of Us (by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn)
- Blackbird ( by Sarah McLachlan)
- Across the Universe (by Rufus Wainwright)
- I’m Looking Through You (by The Wallflowers)
- You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (by Eddie Vedder)
- Strawberry Fields Forever (by Ben Harper)
- Mother Nature’s Son (by Sheryl Crow)
- Golden Slumbers (by Ben Folds)
- I’m Only Sleeping (by The Vines)
- Don’t Let Me Down (by Stereophonics)
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (by The Black Crowes)
- Julia (by Chocolate Genius)
- We Can Work It Out (by Heather Nova)
- Help! (by Howie Day)
- Nowhere Man (by Paul Westerberg)
- Revolution (by Grandaddy)
- Let It Be (by Nick Cave)
All tracks written by Lennon, McCartney, except “Here Comes the Sun” and “If I Needed Someone”, which were written by George Harrison.
