There are some roles that an actor takes over the course of their career to help expand the knowledge of their craft and go beyond what the roles that the public would normally see them in. Since the beginning of his career Sean Penn has pushed himself to go in directions that has brought him critical acclaim as well as popularity with the viewing audience. And here once again he amazes the critics and the audience with his portrayal of Sam. With a supporting cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer and Dakota Fanning this story is strong from the opening scenes to the closing credits.
After seven years of child raring young Lucy is taken away by the state from her father who is mentally handicapped and has the capacity of a seven, but he joins forces with a high-powered lawyer to get her back. With the strong acting from every member of the cast and the skillful directing from Jessie Nelson, its surprising that this film was not nominated for more awards. This life journey that we're all taken on tugs at your heart strings from the very beginning and never lets go, and with a story like this that brings you to the highest point on the emotional scale its amazing that the story doesn't lose any thing from staying at that constant level.
Watching Penn grow as an actor over these many years has been a treat, and seeing him take on a role that most people would have shied away from shows just how much he's grown and how much farther he's willing to push himself. The soundtrack here uses songs from The Beatles catalog to help tell the story and with the real life tidbits that Sam mentions throughout the story the audience is given a handle on things as if they were really taking place. So if you haven't seen this film, and your looking for something that will leave you thinking this is the movie for you, just remember to bring some Kleenex you may need them.
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