Dead Man Walking (1995) - R

A caring nun, Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandan) is the recipient of a desperate letter from death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) trying to enlist her help to avoid execution for murder. As Poncelet's execution draws near, Sister Prejean has feelings of empathy, not only for Poncelet, but also for his victims and their families. In the end, Prejean must choose how to deal with the paradox of caring for the condemned man while understanding fully the heinousness of his crimes. Powerful film. One of Sean Penn's finest performances.

The cast includes: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Raymond J. Barry, R. Lee Ermey, and Lois Smith.

Directed by: Tim Robbins.