Storyline: Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers. Everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school’s biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka “Big G” (Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, “Big G” has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon’s madness as to why he teamed these two up.
Director: Michael Pavone
Cast: Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Randy Orton, Chase Ellison, Daniel Roebuck
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Runtime: 101 min
Release Date: April 29th, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material throughout, language and some bullying.
Distributors: Samuel Goldwyn Films
That’s What I Am is a movie set in 1965 in a small Southern California town. It is about a boy and other young adolescents and how they’ve been way back then when there weren’t that many stereotypes yet or so we thought. It was great to see human nature and how it works and to see just how physical people really are. I may never know how people especially children behave and see things back then but seeing how they are no different from how we are today makes me sad knowing that it is still people who makes other people’s lives a living hell.
Ed Harris’ portrayal of the favorite teacher Mr. Simon was well played. I also loved how WWE, a sports empire that shows players bullying other players, showed how bullying is bad. I loved when Mr. Simon shared his entry to a contest that won him a flashy car, that “human dignity + compassion = peace” because the words are still very much applicable to the modern world, it just maybe the solution to world peace. The reference to tolerance was also good since it is also a key to living and understanding other people.
The cast played their roles well. The story was great but there weren’t that much depth and emphasis given to issues tackled in the film. The rumors of homosexuality was mentioned and Mr. Simon’s refusal to address the issue thrown at him may also make people think that maybe there could be some truth into it but that it is not important since it is only one aspect of a person and it doesn’t define him. Though the other issues of looks and images weren’t really talked about in the movie, it still teaches people to not judge other people based on their looks and that geeks and outcasts could still be the Mark Zuckerberg in the future. Topics of puppy love and relationships were also good since it did give some laughs and reminded everyone of the kid they once were.
6 out of 10 stars. It may be a bore but it does give viewers a trip down memory lane plus it does teach people of the importance of respect, tolerance and acceptance.
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