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United Kingdom, United States · 1995
Rated R · 2h 2m
Director Tim Robbins
Starring Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J. Barry
Genre Drama
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A justice drama based on a true story about a man on death row who in his last days forms a strong relationship with a nun who teaches him forgiveness and gives him spirituality as she accompanies him to his execution.
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.
No simple diatribe against capital punishment, it's a strong film, made stronger by two terrific performances.
Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt
The movie is often preachy and self-conscious, especially in long dialogue scenes, where Robbins's inexpert scriptwriting makes people talk at instead of with each other. Yet the picture's solid assets enable it to soar above such problems, both intellectually and emotionally. [29 December 1995, Film, p.13]
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
An extremely affecting experience, down to the last agonizing moment.
San Francisco Chronicle by Edward Guthmann
Acting rarely gets better than this.
The New York Times by Elvis Mitchell
Quietly courageous drama .
ReelViews by James Berardinelli
It's ironic that a film with this title should be among the most vital, alive, and challenging cinema experiences of the year.
Sean Penn gives the most riveting, selfless performance of his career.
Chicago Reader by Jonathan Rosenbaum
Has its awkward and square moments directorially, but it's also uncommonly honest and serious.
When Luis travels to bury his mother's remains in the family vault, he encounters his childhood memories.