Tim Robbins' second directorial effort (after the political satire Bob Roberts) was this powerful drama based on a true story, which explores the issue of capital punishment. Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) is a nun, teacher and activist living in Louisiana who has often worked with prisoners sentenced to death. One day, she receives a letter from Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn), who is scheduled to be executed soon for the rape and murder of two teenagers. After meeting Matthew, Sister Helen agrees to serve as spiritual counselor and see what she can do to stay the execution. However, Matthew's claims of innocence seem shaky at best, and it's clear he's a reprehensible, amoral racist. When it becomes obvious Matthew's sentence will be carried out, Sister Helen offers what comfort she can to Matthew, but also tries to guide him to an open admission of the extent of his crimes and an acceptance of divine forgiveness, telling him "I want the last face you see to be the face of love." Without stooping to the usual cliches of an innocent man on the way to the death house or the evil man redeemed at the last moment, Dead Man Walking presents a intelligent, spiritually-motivated fable about the impact of the death penalty that, while making it's sympathies against capital punishment clear, also acknowledges the agony this sort of case brings for people on all sides of the issue. Susan Sarandon won an Oscar for her performance as Sister Prejean, and Sean Penn delivers one of the finest performances of his career as Matthew.