I think Penn’s acting abilities are over rated. If you’ve ever been around mentally handicapped individuals, you would have laughed at his portrayal of one in “I am Sam.” His acting in “Mystic River” was a textbook example of method acting. I doubt he would have won if he starred in similar movie depicting an assassinated heterosexual politician.
His best role was Mr. Hand’s “pet” student...........
In I Am Sam he was outacted by Dakota Fanning.