Cast: Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Robert Prosky, R. Lee Ermey, Raymond J. Barry, Roberta Maxwell, Lois Smith.
Writer: Tim Robbins, Sister Helen Prejean (novel)
Director: Tim Robbins
Running time: 122 minutes.
Grade: A-

Once again, my review for the attention-span impaired: powerful. This is a powerful rendering of the book by Sister Helen Prejean somewhat based on her experiences. Sean Penn, playing the condemned Matthew Poncelet, gives a masterful performance. It is Susan Sarandon, however, who made the movie for me. She is wonderful as the beleaguered nun, facing hostility and mistrust from all around her.

Raymond J. Barry and R. Lee Ermey also do fine jobs as the fathers of the murdered boy and girl, respectively. You should definitely be able to recognize the drill sergeant in Ermey, since that is what he was before he became an actor for Stanley Kubrick in "Full Metal Jacket." The other performances are all solid, most notably the numerous prison guards and officials.

I normally go to the movies for escapism, rather than to have my emotions tugged at by a director trying to make a point. No matter how you feel about the death penalty, this film will touch you. Robbins gives us a bird’s-eye view into the consequences of having a state which decides who deserves to die.

The setup is that Penn has been convicted of a brutal rape and slaying of two teenage lovers. His partner in the crime has also been convicted, but is serving a life sentence, partially as a reward for testifying against Penn. Sarandon is thrown into the mix as the social worker/nun who gets roped into helping Penn. First as a conduit to an attorney and a series of last minute appeals, then as his Spiritual Advisor.

Sarandon is immediately beset on all sides. The prison chaplain—a male, naturally—resents the fact that she is there. The parents of the slain teenagers are horrified that a nun would take the side of a brutal and remorseless killer. Even Sister Helen’s family and the poor people she works with question what they see as a misuse of her time. From Sister Helen’s original naiveté, to her own confusion as to her motives and duty, to her acceptance and love of the murderer, Sarandon never gives a false note. Her performance is definitely deserving of an Oscar nomination—the best performance by an actress I have seen in a long time.

I once heard that those who like sausage and the law should not watch either being made. I’m sure that this also applies to those who support the death penalty. It was vividly painted for me that watching a man be put to death—no matter how vile and loathsome—should only be watched by people directly involved with the crimes he committed. And, of course, the officials who must be there.

There is no doubt that Penn’s character is a worthless bastard and better off to society dead than alive. Still, by the film’s end, I think you’ll be pulling for him to elude the hangman. (Actually the lethal injection, but "eluding the lethal injection" sucks as an expression.)