There are some things in our lives that rejuvenate us, please us and make us happy. Along with them come the ugly, menacing occurrences that infuriate us. But for now, I’m concentrating on something which really makes my everyday a pleasant one and for those who knows me pretty closely, it should come as no surprise that ‘movies’ are that divine works of art that I worship and which in turn serve my noble purpose of entertaining myself. And God, didn’t I witness something ‘divine’ yesterday? ‘Dead Man Walking’ is a movie directed by Mr. Tim Robbins who is an accomplished actor in his own regard. The movie stars some of the finest actors of our cinematic age; viz. Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, and mark my words, without the wizardry of these fine actors, this movie would have been far, far away from the iconic status that it’s enjoying today. As Roger Ebert, the world’s greatest movie critic, rightly commented, ‘this movie ennobles the art of moviemaking’ and yesterday after watching it, I can most definitely approve of this comment and virtuosic observation.
This is certainly one of the most emotionally absorbing movies that you come across in your lifetime. I was emotionally shattered, devastated and drenched and not able to feel my tears-swelled face when I finished this one. This movie dwells in the deepest ideologies of Christianity and Catholicism and ultimately certifies that there is no greater a humanistic virtue than the ‘forgiveness’. This movie encompasses the fight between the good and the evil but never passes the judgement and leave it to viewers’ discretion what they think of the movie plot which presumably is a realistic one. Well, to give the fate and command of a movie in the viewers’ hands is a very risky proposition because I definitely believe that a movie’s ultimate aim is to entertain the masses and not force them to make their own judgements but this is where ‘Dead Man Walking’ differentiates itself from the rest of the others. This is so simple a movie and yet so devastating in its premise that you feel that you are a part of this thing and can’t let it go before deciding the fate of Matthew Poncelet, a death row inmate at Louisiana Penitentiary, and the chief protagonist of the movie who is counting the last hours of his lives before meeting the obvious conclusion on his face and that’s death. Sister Helen Prejean does everything to turn his capital punishment into a life-sentence but to no avail. She becomes the spiritual adviser of Matt Poncelet and guides the last hours of his life into redeeming himself in something noble and gentle. He, who throughout the movie, denies the charges of murder and rape of which is convicted off, finally gives in and breaks out in one of the most emotionally shattering climax scenes in the cinematic history. Sister Prejean, knowing all the things beforehand, calms him for she is always taught to abhor the sin, not the sinner and make him to seek apology from the parents of both the victims. Ultimately, within the shouts of ‘dead man walking’, Matt Poncelent enters the dormitories of his execution chamber and finally greets his death with both of his hands but at this point of time, he is guilt free and wears a cloak of serenity and calm that’s not familiar to us but certainly is other-worldly.
A lot has already been written about the acting and artistry of Mr. Penn and Ms. Sarandon and at this juncture, I don’t want to pay any more allegiance to their craft for they are icons and knows how to put a life in a character. It will be nothing but trivial if I praise them even some more for many glorified movie critics have already done so in their magnificent and fabulous write-ups. And in this way, I would like to end my piece here with a suggestion for you to watch this movie if you ever get a chance to do so for you’ll be grateful for this ‘never-before-seen’ mastery.
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