Dead Man Walking
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Movie Reviews of Dead Man Walking
Movie Review: Life changing
Summary: 5 Stars
Prior to viewing this film, I was a staunch supporter of the death penalty. I truly believed that if someone committed such a heinous crime as taking the life of another person, then they deserved to die.What "Dead Man Walking" did for me was never challenge that belief, or try to dissuade me through debate. What it did was present one of the most well-rounded, emotional films that asked the questions I never asked myself when considering this punishment.
I was very leary of seeing this film because I didn't want to sit through two hours of being preached at by a one-sided liberal point of view. What ended up happening was because Sister Helen Prejean struggled with everything herself, I began to struggle too. Because she had the courage to deal both with this hideous, racist criminal and the victims understandable embittered families, I began to deal with them too. After watching this film, I began to doubt my own stance, finally recognizing that death for death is no just punishment.
That's not to say you will reach such a conclusion. The movie doesn't suggest anything of the sort. What the movie does is present to us the confusing array of pieces, and we, as individuals, and as a society, need to construct the puzzle as we see. But we must not hide from the hard facts of executions, we must not anesthesize ourselves to the horror of what we inflict on these prisoners. The movies suggests that we see the entire picture before making our own judgment calls.
The performances of Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn are some of the best I've seen in any film recently. Both deserved all the accolades, as well as Tim Robibns for crafting such a picture. For a two hour movie to explore such complicated ideas as death and faith is quite an amazing feat.
Movie Review: Great Emotional Impact
Summary: 5 Stars
"Dead Man Walking" is a great drama released in 1995 starring Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. It was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. This true story was adapted into movie brilliantly. The emotional impact is present in every scene and every word. The hardcore impact is present from the moment Sister Helen meets Matthew, a death row inmate recently given his execution date, to the end. Such intensity keeps audience interested the whole time. This also opens the debate about death row in the US. The ensembe was lead by Tim Robbins in his directorial debut. He wonderfully created every scene with his own emotional impact, which is clearly expressed. Susan Sarandon won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Sister Helen (the real Sister Helen is seen in the candlelighting memorial). Her research of the events and the people is prevelant. This is one of her career bests. Sean Penn's portrayal of Matthew earned his place as a serious actor; therefore, placing him many steps ahead from where he was before. His heart and soul is poured into every scene, namely his breaking down scenes. Both actors' own emotional impact makes this movie a more unforgettable experience. Bruce Springsteen's theme song, also called "Dead Man Walking", is a great song and performance to represent such a powerful movie. The movie "Dead Man Walking" is great for those looking for a powerdrama. This will surely please audiences for many more years.Movie Review: WE ARE NEARLY ALONE IN THE WORLD IN KILLING AND TORTURING OUR PRISONERS; LET US STOP NOW THIS OFFICIAL VIOLENCE
Summary: 5 Stars
Let us rejoin the community of civilized nations and stop the death penalty and the torture of prisoners.
Recently the International Court in La Hague requested the state of Texas not execute some Mexican nationals in its death row, in order that the case may be reviewed and their access to the Mexican Consulate granted as assured in international treaties.
Texas killed them. The President of the United States George W. Bush claimed he had no legal right to intervene.
When George W. Bush was governor of Texas he approved more executions than any other in history.
Let us stop the killing.
Let us become pro-life.
Read this book.
Sister Prejean is a good and holy nun from Louisiana who was requested to be a pen pal with a prisoner. She began to see him as a human soul, and this emerges in her eloquent writing. We must not kill one another. Read this book. Vote pro-life.
Thou shalt not kill. To kill for a Christian is always wrong, as Christ forbids us directly and clearly. The UNited States COnference of Catholic Bishops clearly and repeatedly forbid it in their official documents. Numerous other books document the injustices of the United States death penalty, its racism, its classism, its biases. This book tells us of one human soul, and the sister who perceived him.
Read this book. Do further research. Fight the death penalty. Be pro-life.
Movie Review: THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE
Summary: 5 Stars
DEAD MAN WALKING is a difficult film to watch, in that it is so hard to decide if the death penalty brings redemption or closure. Director Tim Robbins wisely shows both sides of this long fought controversy. For every time we see Sean Penn's side of things, Robbins makes sure we see the bodies of the two young people whose lives were taken. Penn is marvelous in his role as Matthew Poncelet, an embittered, hard young man whose time on death row has yet to prepare him for his road to redemption. Susan Sarandon gives an Oscar worthy performance as Sister Helen Prejean, a nun who finds herself becoming Penn's spiritual advisor as the time for his execution draws near. Sarandon is brilliant as she fights her internal demons, wanting to bring Penn his redemption, but wanting to console the families of the victims as well. Raymond J. Barry, F. Lee Ermey and Celia Weston are superb in the roles of the victim's parents, and Robert Prosky delivers a fine performance as a lawyer who tries a last ditch attempt to stay the execution.
The movie doesn't preach at us or make decisions as to what is right. Penn's crime is a hideous one, but it is to his credit that we still feel sympathy for him as he approaches his execution.
Movie Review: Only as a story
Summary: 5 Stars
Fine as a story only and Sarandon+Penn starred OK. Attractive by all means , that is why I give it 5 stars. Faced with the real fact, however, same deserves a lot of sharp reactions, and it is amazing those who think it is a 5-star movie indicate wrong reasons. However classical, simple and cliche the question ''how would you react if the victims were your loved ones'' sounds, it still reflects some logic. Terms of both religions and so-called modern civilization might consider capital penalty ''lust for revenge '' or ''victims-sided act''. It is also true that a punishment should depend on the circumstances which leads to a criminal motive. However in THIS particular story, NO circumstances can be found that may make one think the captital punishment is too much for the crime committed. The nun's approach to the prison inmate was abhorrent, and what kind of reaction she had expected from the parents of the dead upon begging sympathy, forgiveness or understanding for the criminal is sone good question that needs a reply. Both humanity and inhumanity reflects man's character, so does capital punishment. Which makes me wonder whether some of those have come from the moon or other planets.