That’s What I Am 2011

     Andy Nichol is a 12 year old boy in one of the Jefferson Middle Schools in California of 1965.  He is in the eight grade, he is intelligent but shy, awkward, socially unpopular and he will do anything to avoid ridicule and ostracism.  Mr. Simon is a popular teacher and he pairs Andy with Stanley on a school project.  Stanley is a more unpopular student, he’s a social pariah and he is also known as “Big G.”  Stanley has thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head!!  He has been the object of ridicule since grade school.  This will really seal Andy’s fate as an outcast and make him even more doomed.  

     There is an area on the school ground reserved only for the outcasts.  Once you set foot on this property, you are forever an outcast.  A major problem is they can only meet in this area to work on the project?  Later, Mr. Simon finds himself the target of a malicious rumor.  This story circulates after Principal Kelner suspends a school bully for brutally beating a female classmate.  The cause of the beating was because the bully thought the girl had cooties?? 


     This is very good, Mr. Simon is trying to teach the students that tolerance leads to peace.  Mr. Simon has also won an essay contest on world peace with a new car as the prize.  His essay was only four words:  human dignity + compassion = peace.  There are positive messages about being true to yourself and sticking up for others.  Bullying consists of name calling, punches, threats and a jacket is used for whipping.  4* (I really liked this movie)



101 min, Drama directed and written by Michael Pavone with Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton, Amy Madigan, Camille E. Bourgeois III, Redwick D. Scott II, Jordan Reynolds, Vanessa Cloke, Sarah Celano, Dalton Dare.



Note:  Imdb 7.0 out of 10 with 10,128 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 60% with 20 critics 68% audience with 1,784 ratings ons, Common Sense Media Carrie R. Wheadon, 10+ age, 4* positive messages, 4* role models, 2*violence, 2*sex, 2* language, 1* consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking, Metacritic 53 out of 100 with 11 critics(4 positive 6 mixed 1 negative) 5.3 out of 10 with 6 ratings (4 positive 1 mixed 1 negative), Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 101 reviews.

Special Note:  This film is based on a true story.  This is the first film for Randy Orton.  Ed Harris and his wife Amy Madigan have frequently collaborated together on films.