Exactly what I expected from lefty nut jobs Tim Robins and Sean Penn.
Matthew was a piece of **** and deserved to die. No sympathy here.
4/10 for being technically well made.
I guess you're not a Christian.
In Christianity one of the central questions is how do you unconditionally love someone who is not your child.
I guess in your religion (or lack thereof) such questions are not asked.
This movie did more to address all sides of the capital punishment issue than any movie made that I'm aware of. Every time the viewer began feeling sorry for Sean Penn's character, a flashback to the murders was shown or the ongoing grief of the victim's families displayed. It also showed the ordeal of the murderer's family as his execution date approaches.
Wow! Who would've thought that 3 months after making the comment, someone of the OP's very apparent intellect wouldn't return to defend his point? Of course when you make a statement that is so persuasive, authoritative and insightful, why would you feel the need to?
"I like fixin' people gooood!"
- Papa Jupiter
I read the book and I feel the movie made changes to anything that might make you dislike Sister Helen. I felt emotionally manipulated. Why make her character older so she could appear to be a mother figure? The real Sister Helen was much younger and closer in age to the killer. In my opinion, she was in love with this guy and couldn't be objective and I'm not the only person who thinks that. She laughed it off but I believe it's true. I still think the killer had a more humane death than he gave the victim. That couple didn't get to choose a last meal or get absolution or talk to their love ones one last time.
When the wind blows it's almost like I see her in the Hamptons...
Helen Prejean was pushing 50 when she first started corresponding with Sonnier and Susan Sarandon wasn't far off that when she made the film so you're wrong. And even if they did change her age thats hardly going to make people who would otherwise hate her suddenly think she's great.
Theres no evidence she was in love with Sonnier. I read the book and I certainly didn't think that. It just sounded like the newspapers looking for a story. The film shouldn't be paying attention to gossip like which isn't that relevant to the story anyway.
What happened to the couple was terrible but they suffered for hours. Poncelet had years of being locked up wondering when he would be killed and imaginig what his death would be like. That to me is worse torture than what they went through even if he did get a last meal and visit (he also got to see his mothers grief which they were spared with their families). If you think he deserved it cause of what he did then I understand your point of view but I certainly don't agree he had it easy.
DrKill, I count not agree with you more. Well said!
shareI lean to the right.... but have to disagree. This is a good movie with great performances. Robbins, Penn, Sarandon could have biased this movie into a caricature of the death penalty debate. But they didn't.
This movie is great drama and leaves the viewer with a series of intelligent questions to confront...and I think the answer is...there are no clear simple answers.
Great movie, great direction by Robbins.
Yeah, I waited for this sister Helen to tell the rapist and murderer to repent, and asked for forgiveness from God, and not from the justice system, but to no avail.Instead she fell in love with him, and would have willingly slept with him, if pardoned and released. Not a christian way spiritual counsel.And the movie strengthened my belief on Death Penalty.(ps- Hope you are still around)
shareeah, I waited for this sister Helen to tell the rapist and murderer to repent, and asked for forgiveness from God, and not from the justice system, but to no avail.
Instead she fell in love with him, and would have willingly slept with him, if pardoned and released.
I thought Robbins actually did show the parents without making them one dimensional. I mean, he had his bias in the writing and directing, but given his stance, it was often centered.
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