Review of Dead Man Walking (1995) by Erin C — 18 Apr 2010

(from The Watermark 01/20/96).

An utter masterpiece about crime, redemption, and capital punishment. Sarandon is a nun who has been contacted by a convicted killer on death row (Penn). He was found guilty of raping and killing two teenagers, and asks for Sarandon's help in delaying his death sentence in order to prove his innocence. The community and the families of the victims are angry with Sarandon's involvement with him; she is torn between Penn, who asks her to be his spiritual advisor when his execution date is set, and the victim's families who are in need of her help to heal themselves. Sarandon's performance is a good balance of reverence, controlled spunk and forced humor. Penn, one the most talented and underrated actors of our time, capably takes a death row criminal and makes him both tough and sympathetic. As his emotions come to surface toward the end of the film, he pulls you deeper into his spell. Director Tim Robbins wrote the screenplay, based on a true story. His script is a compelling, moving, and beautifully visual story, which is multi-layered food for thought over the societal dangers of capital punishment. The climax of the film - as Penn is headed for death by lethal injection - is stirring, passionate, and masterfully constructed. The music Robbins uses has an unusual middleastern influence - and it works, probably better than if he had chosen to use traditional spiritual music. It isn't a pleasant subject matter, nor is it a fast-paced film, but as you watch it, it just keeps getting better and better. Queer Quotient: What type of mousse are they giving Penn in the pen? His hair doesn't get messed up, squished - hell, it doesn't even move!