That's What I Am

"That's What I am" is a wonderful film that had a VERY limited run and died at the box office. It's very sad, as the film really was very touching and enjoyable....and it nearly earned a 9 from me.

Andy (Chase Ellison) is an 8th grader back in 1965 and like nearly all his classmates, they love their English teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris). He's a very decent and compassionate man...and tries very hard to instill these values in his students. One of these actions is pairing up Andy with 'Big G' (Alexander Walters)...a very awkward and huge kid who only has a few friends. While Andy isn't Mr. Popularity or a tough kid, he likes being average and accepted...and he's worried that being paired with Big G will somehow destroy him image. The film is about this, some ugly rumors about Mr. Simon, and about being decent to each other.

There is a lot to this story, though it all boils down to this decency....kids learning to treat each other well and accepting the diversity in those around them. It does NOT come off as ultra-PC or preachy...just a lovely story with really nice acting. In many ways, it's like a drama merged with the TV show "The Wonder Years"...but with much more depth. Well worth seeing and, as usual, Harris is simply amazing.

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.

That's what I am is a WWE film, which caught my attention because the film was actually amazing! The film, acting, and everything is all very real and captures middle school just as it is. I was very surprised by this and wish the average was a little higher than a 7. Parents to kids: The film touches very deep and suggestive materials that some might find no suitable. Not a problem for me, but as seeing how people can get a little strict about that stuff, just calling it out there. The acting is very good and very real and they took as I can see a long time trying to capture the emotions. Not really that great as I put it, but they did a very well job. And even to add on to that, this is a WWE film which is a big step up for them and if they could continue making movies like this, that'd be great. So. I highly recommend this to anyone who well has good taste in movies and can learn to surpass the WWE sign popping up before the movie. 7/10.

This is a type of a movie where you don't realize how great it is until the ending scene. No matter how movies like this one ends you'll end up crying(or not) because you feel as if you actually were with them trough all that happened. It doesn't matter if the movie has a happy or sad ending, you'll just be touched with the ending anyway!

It shows a classic example of American schools in the 1950s. We follow the story of the school boy Andy who's assigned to write a report with the biggest victim of bullying in school. Believing that he'll just have to finish the report and then be done with even talking to the loser, he ends up learning a lesson of a lifetime.

The movie is about finding out who you are and accepting who others are. It's about school, friendship and falling in love at a young age.

what a refreshing film! though of course somewhat derivative (what schoolteacher drama is not these days!?) That's What I Am still manages to surprise and even delight in moments. I wandered into the Quad cinema looking for whatever was playing on a Sun afternoon, so expectations were very low, and I had not heard of this film--upon seeing the poster almost decided to read a book instead. but I went in, and very glad that I did. Ed harris is fantastic as the teacher we all wished we had. But the conflict of the story does not end in some far fetched deus ex machina, and yet...it paints a redeeming picture of humanity despite an equally visible and counter-vailing reality of distrust and salem witch hunting. I would recommend this for all ages (middle school and up) and think you will find it to be a very rewarding way to spend a couple of hours. I hope this film goes forward so more can see it.

Human Dignity + Compassion = PEACE. That's Mr. Simon's (Ed Harris) award-winning four-word solution to world peace. Unfortunately, children are cruel, and there isn't even peace in his 1965 junior high classroom. "That's What I Am" is narrated by an adult Andy Nichol, who, as an awkward 13 year-old is popular enough that he gets bypassed by the bullies but he wouldn't want to jeopardize that by socializing with the outcasts. This is just a coming-of-age story, but it's personal, based on a true story, and completely realistic that the lessons are meaningful, not corny. This isn't just about teenagers struggling with the awkward phases of life, or about playing up bullying for laughs, there are serious undertones to the maliciousness of kids. And it's all too real. Mr. Simon is the best teacher in the state of California (and there are awards to prove it). He does what he can to bring peace to the world. He pairs up Andy with Big G, the tall, skinny red-head who gets tormented each day. Big G, however, doesn't let that get to him. That doesn't deter the bullies, but Big G has an inner strength that allows him to stay true to himself. Andy is inspired by that. And so am I. It tries to teach tolerance and being true to one's self, but does so through a beautifully-told, coming-of-age story that is more adult in nature than juvenile. The events that occurred were real, and had serious implications to the well-being of society. It has taken society a lot longer to be tolerant than we would like; "That's What I Am" doesn't trivialize it but focuses on the personal, positive resolutions that the good characters come to. It's real, but we also get to see the Andys of the world get the girl. I like that kind of world.