...but there's a fight with a lampshade, so I gave it a 5.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Dead Man Walking
(1995)
WOW
10 June 2002
Dead Man Walking, directed by Tim Robbins, is the remarkable story of two people brought together by chance, who change each other's lives. Sean Penn delivers an outstanding performance as Mathew Poncelot, a convicted murderer on death row. Poncelot writes a letter to a nun named Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) and she becomes his spiritual advisor. Penn and Sarandon are brilliant together. The ability to act without music is mastered by both of them.
At first, Sister Prejean doesn't quite know what to think of this man. He keeps insisting that he is innocent and wants a lie detector test. Flashback scenes are used to show Sister Prejean imagining his crime. Penn plays Poncelot well, as the convict gives Sister Prejean a disturbing first impression of himself. There is something inside of Poncelot though, something Sister Prejean, as well as the viewer, can see in his eyes, a living breathing human being, not just a monster. This gradually shows more and more throughout the film as Sister Prejean grows to like him and care about his well being.
Many times during Dead Man Walking, the viewer catches a glimpse of the murder scene. Truly dramatic and heart wrenching, these scenes show Poncelot and another man carry out their crime in the pitch black woods and this is shot very realistically.
Dead Man Walking focuses a great deal on camera angles. These new ways of shooting give the movie a more creative feel. For example, in one scene, when Poncelot and Sister Prejean are talking across from each other with glass in between them, the reflection of the other face can be seen next to the speaker. These new camera angles are a pleasure to watch. There is quite a bit of intertwining of scenes, yet they are easy to understand and are very creative.
Dead Man Walking is a very emotional movie. From seeing the victims' parents tell their stories, to Poncelot himself, the actors show us what it feels like to go through things many of us cannot even imagine; being convicted of murder, losing a child, seeing someone you care about put to death. Penn's portrayal of Poncelot's fear is very scary to think about. The ultimate theme is that killing is wrong, whether it be capitol punishment or murder.
At first, Sister Prejean doesn't quite know what to think of this man. He keeps insisting that he is innocent and wants a lie detector test. Flashback scenes are used to show Sister Prejean imagining his crime. Penn plays Poncelot well, as the convict gives Sister Prejean a disturbing first impression of himself. There is something inside of Poncelot though, something Sister Prejean, as well as the viewer, can see in his eyes, a living breathing human being, not just a monster. This gradually shows more and more throughout the film as Sister Prejean grows to like him and care about his well being.
Many times during Dead Man Walking, the viewer catches a glimpse of the murder scene. Truly dramatic and heart wrenching, these scenes show Poncelot and another man carry out their crime in the pitch black woods and this is shot very realistically.
Dead Man Walking focuses a great deal on camera angles. These new ways of shooting give the movie a more creative feel. For example, in one scene, when Poncelot and Sister Prejean are talking across from each other with glass in between them, the reflection of the other face can be seen next to the speaker. These new camera angles are a pleasure to watch. There is quite a bit of intertwining of scenes, yet they are easy to understand and are very creative.
Dead Man Walking is a very emotional movie. From seeing the victims' parents tell their stories, to Poncelot himself, the actors show us what it feels like to go through things many of us cannot even imagine; being convicted of murder, losing a child, seeing someone you care about put to death. Penn's portrayal of Poncelot's fear is very scary to think about. The ultimate theme is that killing is wrong, whether it be capitol punishment or murder.
Better Off Dead
(1985)
Hilarious........minor spoilers ahead.
28 May 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I like John Cusack a lot so I bought this movie knowing I would like it. I didn't like it.......I loved it! It's pure 80's comedy. I couldn't stop laughing after Laine's mother opens the door while vacuuming and knocks him off the steps after he decides not to hang himself. There's just something about John Cusack--he's got incredible acting talent. I also loved the part when he makes fun of his brother for trying to build that laser gun and the brother turns around and blows up something about 2 feet away from Laine. Oh yeah and all the cereal and cat food spilling all over the floor. CLASSIC.
40 Days and 40 Nights
(2002)
Minor spoiler
10 March 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Once again I must comment on how seriously some of you take movies. This one was so funny and I personally thought Josh Hartnett was great. He didn't need huge slapstick comedy to be funny. It was the subtle things that he did and said that made this movie hilarious. Example: After being asked "Are you over her?" he says "Hell yeah!.....bitch." And people were laughing in the theater for a good 10 seconds and chuckling about it for the next 5 minutes. It's a fun movie to go see. It's not Shakespeare. Just sit back and laugh.
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