Dead Man Walking

Gramercy Pictures (I) | Release Date: December 29, 1995

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 81 Ratings

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User Reviews

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WT_GatorAug 1, 2016

Totally absorbing, gut wrenching, confronting film. Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn completely blow the screen away. You forget you are watching a movie at all.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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mctrollol1269May 30, 2012

Its was not an easy watch. Sean Penn's character almost never moves from the cell and talks to the nun from through bars. Structuring the film like this leads to a very boring script where nothing happens, it is predictable from start toIts was not an easy watch. Sean Penn's character almost never moves from the cell and talks to the nun from through bars. Structuring the film like this leads to a very boring script where nothing happens, it is predictable from start to finish. I would recommend this movie to someone who wants to consider the pro and cons of the death sentence, but it is definitely not an entertaining movie.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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Compi24Apr 23, 2013

Challenging, affecting, and uncommonly well-performed, "Dead Man Walking" earnestly displays a worthwhile and incisive loyalty to its powerful source material.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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SalmanH.Oct 15, 2005

Awesome acting...not an easy movie to watch i must say....but thats the beauty of this movie....Penn and Surandon did deserved an award.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LissaNov 24, 2006

This made me change my views on the Death Penalty. Amazing film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MaryMar 18, 2006

Makes you think again! Made me look this up to see what others thought because it clouded what I thought I knew for sure.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MovieGuysAug 11, 2014

Dead Man Walking has great performances, relevant messages about life and controversial topics like the death penalty, and a fine story. However, the movie can be overly sentimental at times, plus it could've been cut a good 10 minutes.Dead Man Walking has great performances, relevant messages about life and controversial topics like the death penalty, and a fine story. However, the movie can be overly sentimental at times, plus it could've been cut a good 10 minutes. Nonetheless, it's worth a watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DawdlingPoetNov 20, 2021

I thought this was a very well made film - very much a thought provoking watch. Its quite slow paced but it shows things from a different angle, that of the nun trying to connect to the man convicted of multiple killings and who faces theI thought this was a very well made film - very much a thought provoking watch. Its quite slow paced but it shows things from a different angle, that of the nun trying to connect to the man convicted of multiple killings and who faces the death penalty, trying to get an idea of what might have happened and whether he can be redeemed before potentially being killed. I'd say redemption is one of the most obvious themes at play in this film. It questions the ethics of the death sentence but it isn't a documentary as such. Its based on a book, I believe.

I could understand and empathise with the family of the victims who struggle with the nun attempting to (as they see it) side with the criminal. As the saying goes, things are rarely black and white. However, the film follows the nun spending time with the criminal and mulling things over, not actually scientifically or otherwise from a police point of view, going over evidence and re-enacting things to try and discover any potential suspects etc. It takes more of a philosophical angle on things and this may well not appeal to some but I found it quite a sobering, thoughtful watch. There is some poignant dialogue present.

I felt both Susan Sarandon (who plays the nun, Sister Helen Prejean) and Sean Penn (who plays the convict, Matthew Poncelet) gave moving performances - its a quite memorable film partly due to their solid performances, making it an emotional watch.

Overall I thought this was a well made film and I'd recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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loremApr 1, 2020

A disturbing and terrifying slow-burning movie, surrounded by despair, that makes you think about your life and the decisions you make.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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ninjawaiterJun 29, 2022

Disgusting film about giving sympathy and comfort to evil. There is no “both sides.” One is evil and the others are innocent.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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