Dead Man Walking

One of the year's most critically-acclaimed films and justly so. Susan Sarandon received her long-overdue Academy Award for her compassionate, heartfelt performance as Sister Helen Prejean, who doesn't know what she's getting herself into when she agrees to meet with death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (another galvanizing performance by Sean Penn, arguably the year's best). She works tirelessly to spare his life, putting her at odds with the outraged victims' families. Defies Hollywood convention from its beginning to its inevitable conclusion. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (K. Lee Benson)[Blu-ray Review—May 24, 2011—MGM, 122 min., R, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1995's Dead Man Walking sports a nice transfer with DTS-HD sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to the standard DVD release, including audio commentary by writer-director Tim Robbins, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for this actors' showcase with an Oscar-winning performance by Sarandon and Oscar-nominated turn by Sean Penn.]