Dead Man Walking (1995)

The film that

confirmed to me

that Sean Penn is a

great actor, and

that Tim Robins is a

great director.

I have limited experience with actor Sean Penn. This is mostly due to the roles he chooses to portray, few of which actively interest me and his frequent appearances in dull-looking Oscar bait. Prior to this film, my only real experience with the actor was in Mystic River, a film which I find to be heavily flawed, but does feature a strong performance from Penn. Unlike Mystic River however, this is a film that I decided to watch specifically because of Penn, so naturally this film's success in my eyes greatly depended on how well he portrayed the role of a convicted murderer on death row. I am very happy to say therefore, that Penn does exceptionally well and offers a masterful performance.

Matthew Poncelet is a shockingly real character, balancing a genuine loathsome and disgusting edge with a sympathetically human side. Penn delivers so much of the character in tiny gestures and shows some of the most complex reactions and responses I have seen in any film. It is very rare that I both despise a character, especially because the film makes sure that the character's crimes are in no way justified or softened, and yet still feel horrible when watching their suffering. An all time great performance.

The film was directed by Tim Robbins, mostly known for his highly impressive acting career (interestingly he would also go on to co-star in Mystic River alongside Penn), in what is considered to be his greatest achievement behind the camera. It is clear that Robbins's attention was mainly devoted to the performances of his actors, as even beyond Penn every significant performance is great. Susan Sarandon is amazing in what is probably the greatest portrayal of a Nun I have ever seen on screen, a deeply complex and movingly spiritual aspect of the film. Sarandon defiantly acts as the glue which holds this film together, and if Penn gives the film teeth, Sarandon gives it soul. Robert Prosky, R. Lee Ermey and Roberta Maxwell all do very well in significant supporting roles, all adding depth and life to the complex issues and ideas the film explores.

Dead Man Walking features very strong pacing and a rich, spiritual atmosphere, the pace being comparable to a TV-miniseries in all the best ways. It is slow, methodical and deeply contemplative, allowing the audience to experience the emotions and ideas of the film at the same pace as the characters within the story. The films thick atmosphere is provided by the film's top-notch score (which is used with admirable restraint) and it's smooth cinematography. The camerawork in this film not terribly complex, however there is clear technique on display and some nice, if somewhat simplistic, visual storytelling going on here.

The film isn't perfect. It occasionally slips into sappy melodrama, this rarely happens within the film however does undermine the mood somewhat, and the frequent flashbacks to the fateful crime can become mildly obnoxious (although they are used to strong effect most of the time). In addition I found Ramond J. Barry to be quite stiff and awkward in his role, gelling poorly with Sarandon in their scenes together.

Overall, this film is one of the best American melodramas of the 90's. It's compelling and heartbreaking performances and characters are put to the screen in stunning glory, and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see Penn at his very best. I am only sad that Robbinson's directing career seems to have been abandoned in recent years, for he certainly has talent in the director's chair.

By Jack D. Phillips

A Zoom Film Review