Dead Man Walking (1996)

Dead Man Walking (1996)

Spectacular performances elevate this already beautiful, morally complex drama on the death penalty

The Very Best

8.4

Movie

United Kingdom, United States of America
English
Drama
1995
TIM ROBBINS
Adam Nelson, Anthony Michael Frederick, Arthur Bridgers
122 min

What it's about

A death row inmate turns for spiritual guidance to a local nun in the days leading up to his scheduled execution for the murders of a young couple.

The take

Told with grace and maturity without sensationalizing its subject matter, Dead Man Walking expertly walks the line between taking a moral stand and keeping the messy humanity of its characters intact. Though it may seem just like a legal drama or prison film on the surface, writer/director Tim Robbins weaves in commentary on class and the role religion is expected to play in middle class Southern communities—especially in the context of justice and crime. Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon (in the role that won her her Oscar) play every side to this drama with remarkable control, building an unlikely rapport that culminates in a finale that's as moving as any great tear-jerker. It may be tough to watch at times, given the raw emotions that are laid bare, but Dead Man Walking remains relevant even today.

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