I Am Sam | 2007
Despite learning difficulties, Sam Dawson (Sean Penn) fights for custody of his seven-year-old daughter. I wonder if the slick, pricy lawyer fighting the case for him (Michelle Pfeiffer) will learn warm, fuzzy life lessons? The film raises serious issues, and Penn turns in a committed performance, but it slips to easily into feelgood cosiness.
The coffee shop in which Sam works is Starbucks, 10955 Weyburn Avenue in Westwood Village, alongside the campus of UCLA.
Sam’s apartment (which appears to be Downtown LA, courtesy of a digital skyline) is Wonder Palms, 5000 California Avenue, between 5th and 6th Streets in Santa Monica.