A convicted murderer on Death Row and the nun who befriends him. Through the portrayal of finely drawn characters and their interactions as the days, hours, and minutes tick down to the condemned man’s execution, powerful emotions are unleashed. While Matthew Poncelet and Sister Prejean desperately try to gain a stay of execution from the governor or the courts, scenes are intercut from the brutal crime, gradually revealing the truth about the events that transpired. In addition to her temporal help, the nun also tries to reach out spiritually and assist as a guide to salvation. –IMDb
Timothy Francis “Tim” Robbins (born October 16, 1958) is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon. He is known for his roles as Nuke in Bull Durham, Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, and as Dave Boyle in Mystic River, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. —Wikipedia
A movie that is surprisingly unpretentious and non judgemental on its take about a very delicate matter, that still fractures societies around the world. Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn have very strong roles and even if all hope is lost almost right from the start, there's still a long path to be done in search for the truth and redemption. Long after it ends, the message still resonates with you.
It takes one of the most complex issues of our time (along with Tony Kaye's "Lake of Fire") and treats it with the respect it deserves. It's not a film "of style", who cares? It's a film of people. And to watch Sean Penn do what he does (without being able to use his hands, arms, body, he's shackled most of the movie) is remarkable. It offers no answers, for there are none. Everyone is right & everyone is wrong.
