Dead Man Walking ***** (1995, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn) – Classic Movie Review 1007

Writer-director Tim Robbins’s triumphant 1995 film stars his then life partner Susan Sarandon, who won a highly deserved Best Actress Oscar portraying the real-life nun who helps a convicted killer (Oscar-nominated Best Actor Sean Penn) in the last days of his life on Death Row.

Sister Helen Projean has to battle her doubts of Matthew Poncelet’s oft-stated innocence and her repugnance at his racist views, as well as the virulent attacks of those who don’t support her actions.

The wonderful performances by the main actors raise a necessarily dark and depressing film to the rafters. Robbins’s achievement is an incredibly absorbing and subtle film that wrings every tear, message and nuance out of its important story. It’s tough-toned material that shows a rape and murder.

Robert Prosky, Raymond J Barry, R Lee Ermey, Celia Weston, Lois Smith, Scott Wilson, Larry Pine, Roberta Maxwell, Margo Martindale, Clancy Brown, Peter Sarsgaard and Jack Black are in the notable cast.

Robbins was nominated as Best Director and Bruce Springsteen for the Best Original Song Dead Man Walking.

Robbins and Sarandon were together as partners from 1988 until 2009. They met while making Bull Durham (1988) and  have two sons, Jack Henry Robbins (born 15 May 1989) and Miles Robbins (born 4 May 1992).

Robbins says: ‘I always write from an actor’s perspective, which is writing dialogue that fits comfortably into one’s mouth, as opposed to dialogue that is strained and defective. A movie script is a malleable entity when you’re shooting and should be able to become different things and should be able to be rewritten at the last minute. I’m fairly competent as a director and actor, but I am Mr Neurotic as a writer. I just don’t have enough confidence in my abilities to take criticism well. I take it personally. Start with “It’s a masterpiece” and then tell me what you think could be changed.’

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1007

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