Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Susan SarandonSister Helen Prejean
- Sean PennMatthew Poncelet
- Robert ProskyHilton Barber
- Raymond J. BarryEarl Delacroix
- R. Lee ErmeyClyde Percy
- Celia WestonMary Beth Percy
- Lois SmithHelen's Mother
- Scott WilsonChaplain Farley
- Roberta MaxwellLucille Poncelet
- Margo MartindaleSister Colleen
Recommendations
- 100
ReelViews
It's ironic that a film with this title should be among the most vital, alive, and challenging cinema experiences of the year. - 100
San Francisco Chronicle
Acting rarely gets better than this. - 90
Washington Post
An extremely affecting experience, down to the last agonizing moment. - 90
Film.com
Sean Penn gives the most riveting, selfless performance of his career. - 90
The New York Times
Quietly courageous drama . - 90
Film.com
A complex, myriad-faceted work of art. - 90
Dallas Observer
Dead Man Walking drops a massive, writhing knot of sorrow in your lap and then doesn't tell you what to do with it. If that doesn't sound like entertainment to you, you're right. It does something far more profound: It finds the tragic universal core of a contentious issue. - 80
Newsweek
No simple diatribe against capital punishment, it's a strong film, made stronger by two terrific performances.
