Dead Man Walking 1995

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Dead Man Walking ★★★½ 1995 (R)

True story of a nun whose anti-death penalty beliefs put her in moral crisis with grieving victims when she becomes the spiritual advisor to a death-row murderer. Based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean, Sarandon stars as the nun who develops a relationship of understanding with inmate Poncelet (Penn), unwavering in her Christian beliefs even though Penn's character shows little or no remorse for the two young lovers he was accused of murdering. Penn offers one of the best performances (but worst hair-dos) of his career, while writer/director Robbins presents both sides of the death-penalty issue mingled with simple human compassion. 122m/C VHS, DVD . Jon Abrahams, Jack Black, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J. Barry, R. Lee Ermey, Celia Weston, Lois Smith, Scott Wilson, Roberta Maxwell, Margo Martindale, Barton Heyman, Larry Pine; D: Tim Robbins; W: Tim Robbins; C: Roger Deakins; M: David Robbins. Oscars '95: Actress (Sarandon); Ind. Spirit '96: Actor (Penn); Screen Actors Guild '95: Actress (Sarandon).