Dead Man Walking (1995)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writers (WGA):

Helen Prejean (book)
Tim Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

12 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A nun, while comforting a convicted killer on death row, empathizes with both the killer and his victim's families.

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Death Row | Murder | Empathy | Repentance

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 18 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Susan Sarandon	...	Sister Helen Prejean
Sean Penn	...	Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky	...	Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry	...	Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey	...	Clyde Percy
Celia Weston	...	Mary Beth Percy
Lois Smith	...	Helen's mother
Scott Wilson	...	Chaplain Farlely
Roberta Maxwell	...	Lucille Poncelet
Margo Martindale	...	Sister Colleen
Barton Heyman	...	Capt. Beliveau
Steve Boles	...	Sgt. Neal Trapp
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Warden Hartman
Ray Aranha	...	Luis Montoya
Larry Pine	...	Guy Gilardi

MPAA:

Rated R for a depiction of a rape and murder.

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #34133) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Angola, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Havoc

Trivia:

Because Peter Sarsgaard and Missy Yager's brutal rape scene was filmed in the mud, every time they did a new take they had to get up, get showered, get dressed, put new makeup on and do it again. It took all night to film.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: As a nun, Sister Helen has her ring on her right hand instead of her left, as it should be for a married woman.

Quotes:

Sister Helen Prejean: I want the last face you see in this world to be the face of love, so you look at me when they do this thing. I'll be the face of love for you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sliders: Dead Man Sliding (#3.10)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Be Not Afraid

Incredible filmmaking

"Dead Man Walking" is a piece of incredible filmmaking. All the acting is top-notch and realistic, and the script examines the issue of the death penalty from both sides, paying equal homage to both. Above all, this is a deeply moving story of redemption, of death with dignity and loss of ego. Any film that deals this courageously and maturely with such incredibly difficult subject matter deserves a rating of 10/10. Thank you, Tim Robbins!