Fans oftrue crimerarely stray from disturbing documentaries and live-action adaptations that explore the darkness of the human soul. Nevertheless, today they have the chance to streamone of the best crime movies. The 1995 filmDead Man Walking, starring Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon in an Academy Award-winning performance, is available to stream for free, as the film is currently part of Tubi’s extensive catalog.
Written and directed by Tim Robbins (yes, the Oscar-winning star ofMystic River),Dead Man Walkingis based on the 1993 book of the same name by Helen Prejean.Prejean’s book chronicles her activism against capital punishment and recounts her experience as the spiritual advisor to convicts Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie. The film loosely follows her experience, but frames its story under a new subject named Matthew Poncelet.
Released in 1995,Dead Man Walkingearned instant acclaim from audiences and critics. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Original Song. It would only end up winning in the Best Actress category. Today, the film sits at a 95% on the critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience registers a rating of 86%.
Redemption Through Pure and Unconditional Love
Dead Man Walkingtells the story of Matthew Poncelet, a death row inmatewho claims he’s innocentof the crimes he has been accused and convicted of. Poncelet starts corresponding with Sister Helen Prejean, who bonds with him and decides to help him appeal one last time before his execution. As Prejean gets to know therealMatthew, she finds it inevitable to join him during his last moments. Per the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis of the film:
As death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) nears his execution date, he calls upon Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) to help him with one last appeal, maintaining that he is innocent of the murders of a young couple. Poncelet begins to form a bond with Prejean, and she visits both his family and the relatives of the victims, hoping to learn more about the case. As things begin to look bleak for Poncelet, Prejean does all that she can to comfort and console the hardened convict.
A Gripping True-Crime Drama With Top-Notch Performances
Dead Man Walkingis a deep character study that doesn’t shy away from its controversial subject. Matthew Poncelet is a monster, and he doesn’t intend to hide this at first. However, when he confronts his outcome, he breaks down, exposing a broken spirit. Prejean nurtures what remains of his humanity, which has been eroded by the thought of dying at society’s hands.The progression of Poncelet’s spirit is a captivating experience that is as harrowing as it is necessary, all thanks to Sean Penn’s gripping performance as the cold-blooded killer.
Susan Sarandon’s performanceas Sister Helen Prejean is exemplary and arguably the greatest of her entire career. Prejean’s drive to be beside Matthew is proof of her unconditional love. Saving his life almost becomes secondary because Prejean is as loving as she is honest with the convict and herself. Even though she knows that there’s no way to save Matthew from being executed, she becomes a beacon of hope for him. Her accomplishment is his redemption in the eyes of God, the strongest representation of love aside from hers.
The final act, and specifically, the last 20 minutes of the movie, are heartbreaking — almost as scary as any horror movie you will ever see. Matthew is declared a “dead man walking,” and viewers get a glimpse at the cold environment that is death row. The performances are top-notch, complemented by Tim Robbins' direction and the music by his brother, David Robbins.StreamDead Man WalkingonTubi.
Dead Man Walking
