Dead Man Walking

UPC: 027616784926

Studio: MGM

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Adult Situations, Profanity, Watch With Your Teen]

Summary: Tim Robbins' second directorial effort (after the political satire Bob Roberts) was this drama based on a true story, which explores the issue of capital punishment. Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) is a nun and teacher living in rural Louisiana. One day, she receives a letter from Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn), who is scheduled to be executed soon for the rape and murder of two teenagers. After meeting Matthew, Sister Helen agrees to serve as spiritual counselor and see what she can do to stay the execution. However, Matthew's claims of innocence seem shaky at best, and it's clear he's a reprehensible, amoral racist. When it becomes obvious that Matthew's sentence will be carried out, Sister Helen offers what comfort she can to Matthew, but also tries to guide him to an open admission of the extent of his crimes and an acceptance of divine forgiveness, telling him "I want the last face you see to be the face of love." Susan Sarandon won an Oscar for her performance as Sister Prejean, and Sean Penn was similarly nominated for Best Actor as Matthew. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Best Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Actress – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Director – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Screenplay – null Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Silver Bear for Best Actor – Berlin International Film Festival Best Actor – Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Actress – Independent Spirit Awards Best Actor - Runner-up – National Society of Film Critics Best Actor – Screen Actors Guild Best Actress – Screen Actors Guild Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Screenplay – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Features: Feature-length audio commentary by Tim Robbins
Collectible booklet
Original theatrical trailer

Dead Man Walking

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 02/06/2001

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 122 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Scene Selections
1. Logos/Title/Credits [5:05]
2. On Common Ground [9:20]
3. A Friendly Lawyer [5:53]
4. "You're Not From TV?" [5:10]
5. Defense/Prosecution [9:44]
6. Lost Lives [4:51]
7. Surreal Protest [5:52]
8. Hopes Parents [8:07]
9. Battling Racism [6:33]
10. True Crime [8:53]
11. Final Reflections [4:39]
12. In Deep Water [5:19]
13. A Family Left Behind [5:47]
14. Final Appeal [5:19]
15. Admissoin of Guilt [9:50]
16. "Dead Man Walking!" [4:52]
17. "Killing Is Wrong!" [7:38]
18. Letting Go/Credits [9:08]
Side #2 --
0. Scene Selections
1. Logos/Title/Credits [:08]
2. On Common Ground [5:03]
3. A Friendly Lawyer [9:20]
4. "You're Not From TV?" [5:52]
5. Defense/Prosecution [5:10]
6. Lost Lives [9:44]
7. Surreal Protest [4:51]
8. Hope's Parents [5:52]
9. Battling Racism [8:07]
10. True Crime [6:33]
11. Final Reflection [8:53]
12. In Deep Water [4:39]
13. A Family Left Behind [5:18]
14. Final Appeal [5:47]
15. Admission of Guilt [5:19]
16. "Dead Man Walking!" [9:50]
17. "Killing Is Wrong!" [4:51]
18. Letting Go/Credits [7:38]

Rebecca Flint Marx

A startling and provocative achievement, Dead Man Walking manages the not insubstantial feat of making an eloquent statement against the death penalty while refusing to excuse the killer of his crimes. Preferring to make a case for humanity and the capacity for human forgiveness, writer/director Tim Robbins avoids the self-righteous moralizing that often mars "message" movies. Instead of vilifying those on either side of the death penalty issue, he paints an even portrait of the rage, grief, and complexity in the arguments of both camps. Although Dead Man Walking is remarkable for Robbins' presentation of the many moral and personal issues surrounding the death penalty, it is most memorable for the performances of Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. Penn, in particular, manages to be reprehensible and charismatic all at once: as hateful as he is, the audience cannot look away from him. He makes an initially vile character ultimately sympathetic without resorting to sentiment or manipulation. The performance is uncompromising: never once do we see him try to vie for the audience's sympathy, and his eventual salvation comes on his terms alone. For her part, Sarandon turns in one of the best performances of her career. Her Sister Prejean is both drawn to and repelled by Poncelet, and Sarandon captures these conflicting emotions with honesty and grace. Rather than make Prejean a saint, Sarandon plays her as an unwaveringly decent but flawed human being. She is smart enough to realize the repercussions of her support of Poncelet but compassionate enough to believe that her brand of Christianity must have as much room for those who have sinned as for those who have been sinned against. Thanks to her portrayal and that of Penn, Dead Man Walking is carried by two performances that don't seem to have a hint of acting about them. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Clancy Brown  Actor 
Margo Martindale  Actor 
Lois Smith  Actor 
Nesbitt Blaisdell  Actor 
Amy Long  Actor 
Sally Ann Roberts  Actor 
Jack Black  Actor 
Scott Sowers  Actor 
Kevin Cooney  Actor 
Cortez Nance, Jr.  Actor 
Scott Wilson  Actor 
Lenore Banks  Actor 
Alec Gifford  Actor 
Larry Pine  Actor 
Barton Heyman  Actor 
Adele Robbins  Actor 
Steve Boles  Actor 
Mike Longman  Actor 
Pamela Garmon  Actor 
Steve Carlisle  Actor 
Roberta Maxwell  Actor 
Peter Sarsgaard  Actor 
Ray Aranha  Actor 
Michael Cullen  Actor 
Adam Nelson  Actor 
Tim Bevan  Executive Producer 
Eric Fellner  Executive Producer 
David Robbins  Composer (Music Score) 
Tim Robbins  Director 
Tim Robbins  Producer 
Tim Robbins  Screenwriter 
Bruce Springsteen  Composer (Music Score) 
Tom Waits  Composer (Music Score) 
Jon Kilik  Producer 
Rudd Simmons  Producer 
Tim Baven  Producer 
Susan Sarandon  Actor 
Sean Penn  Actor 
Robert Prosky  Actor 
Raymond J. Barry  Actor 
R. Lee Ermey  Actor 
Celia Weston  Actor 

Country: USA