ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Cynthia Sarob Sean Penn does a great job here. Very convincing and touching. You also get Michelle Pfeiffer and Dakota Fanning. What can possibly go wrong there? The performance of Sean Penn is outstanding. He plays a mentally disabled father who does all he can to stay with his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning). This movie has funny moments but is also sad and very deep. You cannot avoid but feel with the protagonists.If somebody asks me to recommend a movie, here we go. It even comes with Beatle songs. Give it a try"!Don't miss out on that wonderful masterpiece. It is quite long but you won't regret it. I run out of adjectives to describe the film. It left me speechless. And that is quite something for a woman.

pdragoumanos It's my first review on IMDb,I hope it will be the first of the many to follow. I obviously loved this movie as I watched it again yesterday.I think i've watched it 4-5 times in bits and pieces,however I watched it all yesterday. It is a beautiful movie,very sentimental,makes one come in touch with his/her feelings and question the stupidity and the morale of both the 'common'people and the system. As for its flaws,yes there are some but that is beautiful,the movie is 15 years old and some of the...questions raised by the users' are irrelevant.Realism is not such an X factor here,personally I didn't care whether Sam was autistic or mentally handicapped.What I cared for was his unconditional love for everyone,his passion and his drive for life.What a fine example for everyone,great life lessons from a beautiful movie.Just watch it with open hearts and souls.

Rasmus Johansen I didn't expect very much from this movie when I sat down and watched it but when it was done I could feel a lump in my throat. The movie is a very heart-warming and relevant story of an intellectually challenged man (Sean Penn) who is father to a 7-year-old daughter (Dakota Fanning). Because of his mental disability, his qualification of being a father is questioned. With help from the hard-working lawyer, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, he fights for his custody. I believe this is among the best films I have ever seen. The humour in the film is warm and funny but not hysterically. The acting is stunning; I don't think I have seen a better child performance before (or at least in long while) than the one Dakota Fanning did in this movie, and Sean Penn's performance was unforgettable and beautiful. Michelle Pfeiffer is brilliant as well and even though she doesn't have the most important role, she adds a nice touch to it. I felt entertained throughout the movie and wasn't bored any time.

Tunnelvision93 This enchanting tale of a fathers love for his daughter was simply sensational. The meaningful relationships which are carried through this cinematic experience are revolutionary, from Sam's love for Lucy, to the tremendous amount of love and care he receives from his friends, to lastly touching the life of Rita. The role of Annie I felt fell flat at times however, extremely crucial to the storyline. This film was quite difficult to watch at times as I could not imagine myself in these circumstances. It was devastating to watch as Lucy gets taken from Sam as it affects so many of the people in his life. Thankfully his friend suggests a lawyer from the phone book and he manages to get an appointment with her (Rita). In the beginning when first meeting Rita you quickly find that she is not everyone's cup of tea, however as the story unfolds you warm up to her. Throughout the storyline you find Rita begins to have a soft spot towards Sam as she has a 7 year old as well and could not imagine losing him. Slowly as you find Rita begins to warm up to Sam she opens up to him about her issues with her personal life and husband in which he responds that she should leave him. Near the end of the trial Rita comes over to Sam's house to prepare and gives him a suit casually slipping in that her husband left it when he moved out. This lead to my favourite line when Rita says, "I worry that I've gotten more out of this relationship than you." I bet she never thought her life would change so much by one person. Remarkable. The ending scene is Sam refereeing Lucy's soccer game and the two of them are having a blast. This was a wondrous way to end the film as you are hopeful that Sam still gets to be an important part of Lucy's life. I found this film to be captivating from beginning to end. There was just the right amount of comedic aspects to bring your spirits up as the tragedies were unfolding. A true classic for this girl. Solid 8 out of 10.