That's What I Am

Plot

A coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age…

Release Year: 2011

Rating: 6.9/10 (3,617 voted)

Critic's Score: 53/100

Director:
Michael Pavone

Stars: Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker

Storyline
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. Everyone's favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school's biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley, aka "Big G" (Alexander Walters) on a critical term project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, "Big G" has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon's madness as to why he teamed these two up. As the story unfolds, Mr. Simon finds himself the target of a malicious rumor after Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan) suspends a school bully for brutally beating up…

Cast:

Ed Harris
–

Mr. Simon

Chase Ellison
–

Andy Nichol

Molly Parker
–

Sherri Nichol

Daniel Roebuck
–

Jim Nichol

Randy Orton
–

Ed Freel

Daniel Yelsky
–

Norman Grunmeyer

Alexander Walters
–

Big G

Mia Rose Frampton
–

Mary Clear

Amy Madigan
–

Principal Kelner

Camille E. Bourgeois III
–

Jason Freel

(as Camille Bourgeois)

Renwick D. Scott II
–

Dan Rainier

Jordan Reynolds
–

Ricky Brown

Vanessa Cloke
–

Irene Freel

Sarah Celano
–

Karen 'Cootie' Connor

Dalton Mitchell
–

Sam Nolan

(as Dalton Zachary Mitchell)

Taglines:
I'm a Teacher. I'm a Singer. I'm a Writer.

Details

Official Website:
World Wrestling Entertainment [United States] |

Release Date: 29 April 2011

Filming Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $5,000,000

(estimated)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Goofs:

Anachronisms:
(At 1:31:45) When Andy is headed to Mr. Simon's house, a white 90s Lincoln Town Car can been seen in the background.

Quotes:

Andy Nichol:
Why would God do that, mom? Make someone look like Big G? So that everyone makes fun of him?

Sherri Nichol:
Maybe because God didn't see anything wrong with him in the first place. And Andy… His name is Stanley.

User Review

Great lesson and characters

Rating: 10/10


I saw this movie at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It
was shown as their Centerpiece Film, a film airing only once and
marking the mid-way point in the Festival. It told a wonderful story
and highlighted a beautiful lesson in humanity. The characters were
great! I especially loved the dynamic of the parents of the main boy in
the film. They could not have been more opposite. The mother was a
compassionate, open-minded critical thinker. The father was a
traditional, stern man of the 1960's era. Ed Harris displayed
incredible patience and Amy Madigan's role as the school principle was
marvelous. Both of their roles really sucked you into the movie. I
really hope that someone recognizes the value of playing this movie in
schools and makes it happen.