I was skeptical of this movie for many years. I've never understood the Hollywood fascination with with showering accolades on actors that play disabled people. After all, guys have pretended to be disabled since we could talk. If you're a woman and you doubt this, ask your guy to do an imitation of a disabled person. I'm not saying it is right or that we're proud of it. I'm just saying that we can all do it. Has there been a more overrated performance that Hoffman in "Rain Man"? At least he did it well.... I've seen bits and pieces of "I Am Sam" and it looks like Sean Penn was a retarded guy on helium.
Anyway, it was clear from the opening minute of the movie that this was something different. First of all, the Billy Bob Thornton (who also wrote and directed the movie) somehow made his skull look like a neanderthal's dome. Think Billy Corrigan meets Private Pyle. More importantly, Thornton came up with a very unique character. Karl is just that - a character, not an imitation. Second, the movie was not a preachy flic about how disabled people are people too. In fact, we slowly learn that Karl is most likely not enabled. Mmm hmm.

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