Plenty Sport : EZINE 16 SPECIAL OLYMPICS | Page 10

Recommended Movies about Special Needs
I Am Sam

Special Olympics

This is one of the best feel good movies

"Special Olympics" is a movie filled with

of recent generations. "I am Sam"

emotion that will bring a tear to your

delves into a script that speaks about

eye. Acting credits to George Parry's as

the specially challenged, who like every-

Matt. Add to the cast big name perform-

one else can laugh and cry. The great

ers like Debra Winger, Mare Winning-

acting is well supported by an equally

ham and Charles Durning and the end

great soundtrack which includes the

product proves most inspiring and en-

Beatles. Acting duties were well deliv-

joyable to watch. Also known as "A

ered by the talented Sean Penn, who

Special Kind of Love" the theme speaks

earned a nomination for the role. He is

of accepting and tolerating those who

ably supported by Dakota Fleming as

are just made differently but are very

Sam's daughter, Laura Dern, Diane

much like the rest of us. Give "Special

Wiest, Stanley DeSantis, and two actu-

Olympics" a look; It is very much one for

ally mentally handicapped actors. The

the entire family. The ability to love

script is stirring, sappy and for the most

sports is in all of us. And all of us should

part dramatic at best.

be given the opportunities.

A Beautiful Mind

Russell Crowe, the beautiful Jennifer
Connelly, Ed Harris, Christopher Plummer, Adam Goldberg all serve in this
Ron Howard story of the 1994 Nobel
Prize winner. The movie unravels to

The Ringer

It took a while for this movie to gain
wide acceptance from those affiliated
with the Special Olympics. Once it was
decided that “The Ringer” could humanize their athletes and bring more positive awareness to the SO organization,

address the issue of John Nash, a

The Special Olympics Chairman Tim

Princeton student and brilliant mathe-

Shriver endorsed the movie due to the

matician who is treated for schizophre-

attention it would bring. As indicated by

nia. As he battles his delusions, his

the Director, the film includes about 150

loving wife makes the difficult decision

disabled athletes and actors — the larg-

to stand by him through a monumental
crisis and demonstrate the values of
persistence and determination. The end
result shows that battling to overcome
the odds can lead to a fulfilling life.

est population of intellectual disabled
people ever portrayed in a mainstream
movie. The opportunity to show the
general masses that people with intellectual disabilities are multifaceted and
talented was proven.