Dead Man Walking
Composite Score: 85.73
Starring: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J. Barry, R. Lee Ermey, Celia Weston, Lois Smith, Scott Wilson, Roberta Maxwell, and Margo Martindale
Director: Tim Robbins
Writer: Tim Robbins
Genres: Crime, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for a depiction of a rape and murder
Box Office: $39.36 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Dead Man Walking is Tim Robbins’s film adaptation of the nonfiction book of the same name by Sister Jean Prejean about her time counseling condemned death row inmates in Louisiana. The film stars Susan Sarandon as Sister Prejean and Sean Penn as the fictionalized amalgamation of the subjects of Prejean’s book, named Matthew Poncelet in this film. Penn received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance, and Sarandon won Best Actress for hers. Additionally, Robbins received a Best Director nomination, and Bruce Springsteen’s song for the end credits, “Dead Man Walkin’”, was nominated for Best Original Song. Along with the strong performances of its two leads, the film also continues to be recognized for its tactful and humanizing examination of the death penalty and those that it impacts.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Dead Man Walking is an incredibly difficult watch, dealing with the difficult subject matter of rape, murder, justice, the death penalty, and religion, making it a film that not all audiences will enjoy equally. Its story provides a powerful look at human nature, desperation, atonement, and the human need for relationship and love, but it does so in devastating and, at times, troubling fashion. This is not a film for the faint of heart, depicting (as its rating indicates) a scene of sexual and physical violence in a manner that depicts the depravity of the perpetrators, which could be triggering for some audiences. For all the good that the film seeks to do, it also unapologetically portrays the evil done by its imprisoned subject, which is part of what makes it so profound but also potentially troubling for some viewers.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
For someone better known for their acting, Tim Robbins showcases a unique and talented directorial vision in Dead Man Walking. He crafts a film her that highlights the humanity of its characters, just as Prejean sought to do in her work with the death row inmates. He accomplishes this through creative camerawork that highlights the moments of connection and disconnection between Jean and those she’s talking to, be it Matthew Poncelet, members of his family, the parents of his victims, the parson at the prison, or even the prison employees. Every scene and interaction reminds the audience that everyone involved in this process – the judges, the victims, the families, the inmates, the lawyers, and the bystanders – is human and equally deserving of respect and dignity. At the same time, he manages to tell the story in a way that doesn’t ever let you forget the crimes of the film’s victim/villain, bringing you to a place of truly understanding Sister Jean’s (and others’) desire to abolish the death penalty – not because these people don’t deserve severe punishment for their heinous crimes, but because any system designed to end in the death of those involved must get to a place where it no longer sees the humanity of its victims, and that is an unacceptable end. Both Penn and Sarandon are more than up to the task of making sure that Robbins’s vision is carried out to its fullest. Sean Penn brings the audience to a place of both love and hate, playing Poncelet with all the amount of anger, brashness, and callousness to be a believable death row criminal in concert with the desperation, sadness, and hurt that remind us of his humanity. In the same way, Susan Sarandon plays Sister Jean Prejean as this imperfect saint, seeking to know more about the people in the world that she’s been thrust into in order that she may remind them of the unconditional love of God. It’s a fairly quiet performance for most of the film that culminates in this beautiful picture of love in the film’s final few minutes, perfectly capturing the message of the film and of the real woman who she’s portraying.
With his two shining leads in Sarandon and Penn, Tim Robbins delivers a truly nuanced and heartfelt look at the death penalty, emphasizing the universality of human dignity and the need of all people for love in the process, earning this film a place among the greats. It makes for a difficult watch due to its subject matter, but those who do will most likely find plenty to ruminate on when the credits roll. If you have a library card, you can currently rent this film on Hoopla for free; otherwise, it is available to rent on most other streaming services if you’d like to give it a go.
