THAT’S WHAT I AM (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

That’s What I Am—Disney high school movie ambience—turns into a great teen flick. It’s worth watching and provides a good platform for the acting talents of Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Alexander Walters, Daniel Yelsky, Mia Rose Frampton, and Amy Madigan.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Twelve-year-old Andy Nichol’s (Chase Ellison) teacher Mr. Simon (Ed Harris) teaches human dignity plus compassion equals world peace. Andy gets a firsthand demonstration how that formula works when he is paired, for completion of a school project, with Big G (Alexander Walters), a boy exiled from the mainstream school crowd since grade school. He watches Big G courageously stand up to school bully Jason Freel (Camille E. Bourgeois III). Then, he observes how Mr. Simon deals with a community that supports a rumor that Mr. Simon is homosexual.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Michael Pavone for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Denise Chamian and Michael Pavone for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Sherri Nichol (Molly Parker), Jim Nichol (Daniel Roebuck), Norman Grunmeyer (Daniel Yelsky), Mary Clear (Mia Rose Frampton), Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan), Dan Rainier (Renwick D. Scott II), and Irene Freel (Vanessa Cloke).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a good, well-written film that makes the strong statement that it takes courage to be compassionate.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers