MovieChat Forums > Dead Man Walking (1996) Discussion > Manipulation, nothing else

Manipulation, nothing else

posted 9 years ago by crissttigaldames
4 replies | jump to latest

This movie, like other anti-death penalty movies, is pure manipulation.

Just notice one thing: in all of these movies, the convicted murderers were either a. Actually innocent, o b. Deeply regret their crime sometime in the movie. That is what they have to use to try to convince people to oppose the death penalty. But guess what, those people are overwhelmingly guilty as they could be, and they psychopaths, they do not feel guilty. But try putting that into an anti-death penalty movie.

Also try focusing at least the same amount of time on the VICTIMS of the horrendous crimes as on the perpetrators, and let's see how bad people would feel about them getting executed then...

[–] laurieann74 9 years ago

Agreed!

[–] KSzir 9 years ago

I disagree. I was afraid the movie was going to pull that at the end and show Penn's character was indeed innocent of the murders. I'm glad it didn't and I give the movie credit for also presenting the side of the parents and how it can shatter lives and causes a lot of divorces. Also, showing the actual brutal crime transposed to the execution, I thought gave you an equal opportunity to judge whether you think the death penalty is justified or not. I support the death penalty for extremely heinous crimes and the movie didn't change my mind in the least. If it had been a real life case, I think Poncelet got what he deserved despite what was presented. I was more interested in how the Chaplin and Nun try to reach him to confess and try to save his soul by repenting. I think they could have really manipulated the facts more and portrayed Poncelet as far less evil or not shown the victim's side but they did. Like I said, it didn't change my mind other than reminding me that it is possible for some people like Poncelet to sincerely repent and possibly be saved, even though I'm not a church goer anymore.

[–] Royalcourtier 9 years ago

You are completely wrong. It is not correct that in "these movies, the convicted murderers were either a. Actually innocent, or b. Deeply regret their crime". Furthermore that is irrelevant.

What this film shows is how evil and barbaric the death penalty is. Why is it that the USA aligns itself with Communist China, Iran etc in maintaining the death penalty, rather than the civilised world - every country of which has long since ended the death penalty?

[–] Ithilfaen 9 years ago

This movie, like other anti-death penalty movies, is pure manipulation.

It's "manipulation" because it makes you rethink the validity of the death penalty?

Just notice one thing: in all of these movies, the convicted murderers were either a. Actually innocent, o b. Deeply regret their crime sometime in the movie.

And? You think killing someone is fine as long as they're not regretting their crime? So basically you're committing a crime and not regretting it but they deserve death and you deserve what? Sainthood?

But guess what, those people are overwhelmingly guilty as they could be, and they psychopaths, they do not feel guilty

Right. Everyone who ever killed someone is a psychopath.

Stop looking for excuses for your blood lust. You want them killed, at least admit that you are dehumanizing them to feel better about yourself. The truth is killers are people. They have families, they have friends, they have feelings. They're not just vessels for evil you dispose of.

You think people who are against the death penalty just think people who get executed are innocents and saints? We just think killing is wrong, no matter who does it, and what their excuse is.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco