Polished Performances
• Actor: Sean Penn
• Character: Matthew Poncelet
• Film: Dead Man Walking
Right from the early days in his career Sean Penn steadily built a reputation by playing unhinged and intense characters. It’s an approach and character choice that has never left him but, arguably, he wasn’t really fully established until he took on the role of Matthew Poncelet in Tim Robbins’ 1995 film, Dead Man Walking.
Poncelet is a convicted rapist and murderer on death row. He befriends a Catholic nun who acts as his spiritual advisor in the days leading up to his execution and the correspondence they share results in Poncelet reflecting on the heinous actions that led to his incarceration.
When we’re introduced to Poncelet, we notice his striking appearance; tattoos, mousy goatee and his pompadour hair but it’s his personality that is most striking. He’s an angry, arrogant man that’s filled with rage and bigoted opinions. Every time he opens his mouth all we hear is sexist and racist remarks. He accepts no responsibility for his crimes and protests his innocence, choosing instead to blame everything on his accomplice. Make no mistake, Poncelet is a hugely despicable individual and from the first moment Penn arrives onscreen, you genuinely do not like this man.
It’s an astonishing performance, not just because Penn welcomes you to hate him, but because he manages to convince you that there’s something more to his character. Something deeper. It isn’t just what you see on the surface. Poncelet is a product of his environment and Penn eventually reveals the layers to him to expose a humanity that’s buried deep inside. He conveys a wide range of emotions that not only show his impressive range as an actor but he does so in such a gut-wrenchingly emotive way.
The hatred you feel towards him changes over the course of the film. It, surprisingly, lessens. You begin to understand the man behind the monster but Penn knows exactly how far to his pitch his performance and he never manipulates you to the point of sympathy. Whether or not you can forgive his actions is entirely up to the individual viewer but to even have you question yourself is testament to the subtlety, the nuance and the depth that Penn displays.
It was a film that struck up a dialogue on the nature and morality of the death penalty and without excusing the actions of Poncelet it still manages to question the moral standpoint of society and it’s chosen method of punishment. This may not have been possible had Penn not delivered such an emotionally commanding performance where he imbues the character with a genuine humanity underneath his dark exterior.
It’s not hard to see how powerful Penn is in the film but what can often go unnoticed (and worth noting) is that Penn has shackles on his hands and feet throughout the whole movie and isn’t able to communicate with very much body language. This a performance that’s totally reliant on his facial expressions and his delivery of the dialogue. That’s not always easy to do but Penn handles it with aplomb and delivers an incredible performance that is arguably the one that solidified his reputation as one of the most intense actors of his generation.
Oscars? – Penn would receive his first Oscar nomination at the 1996 Academy Awards for playing Matthew Poncelet and many believe he should have won (myself included). However, he was beaten that year by Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas.
(You can find more Polished Performances here)
MARKED MOVIES 
June 17, 2016 at 10:37 pm
A movie that discusses an interesting topic without preaching for either side. Sean Penn is amazing and I simply love the movie.
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June 20, 2016 at 1:03 pm
It’s a great flick, man. I’m a big fan myself. It’s one that caused a lot of endless debate and both Sarandon and Penn were outstanding.
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June 20, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Tim Robbins did a great job directing it.
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June 20, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Absolutely, man. Robbins is a great director and I’ve enjoyed his films. Cradle Will Rock was fantastic as well. I’d like to see more from him.
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June 18, 2016 at 12:04 am
I love this series of yours, Mark. This is one of my favourite films, two of my favourite actors. The soundtrack is great too.
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June 20, 2016 at 1:06 pm
Thanks again, Ashley. I’m happy to hear that you’re taking something from this feature. 🙂
With regards to the film, I’m agreed on all accounts. The soundtrack is superb and Sarandon and Penn are two of the very best. Their performances are perfectly weighted here.
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June 18, 2016 at 12:41 pm
A great performance indeed. He was riveting and his chemistry with Susan S. I love that you have opposites playing against each other. Foils are great in a story for creating conflict and they usually change each other’s minds and allows them to become dynamic. Susan won an Academy Award for this, and I agree, while I liked Cage’s performance, Matthew Poncelet was an evil character but you came to feel empathy for him. Not an easy task, but Penn made it look so.
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June 20, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Two very dynamic performances from Sarandon and Penn. Totally agree on the chemistry they had. They played off each other brilliantly and the humanity of their characters really shone through.
Not to take away from Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, he was great, but he wasn’t Sean Penn great. I remember being very disappointed with that result.
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June 20, 2016 at 2:03 pm
What range Sean Penn has to then follow up with Milk and I am Sam and do it so convincingly. Then there’s his other brilliant performance in Mystic River….
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June 20, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Three fabulous performances you mention, Cindy. Oscar nominated for I Am Sam and the other two were Oscar winners for him. Deservingly so as well.
I’m also a big fan of his work with DePalma: Casualties of War and Carlito’s Way.
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June 20, 2016 at 4:22 pm
I’ve GOT to rent Carlito’s Way. Hey, would you be interested in a pairing Carlito’s Way and Donnie Brasco and co-hosting the Lucky 13 Film Club in the fall with me? Depp and Penn and Pacino. What fun!
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June 21, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Aw man, that’s an interesting proposal. I try not to commit too much on blogging now as I always end up feeling the pressure and don’t want to let anyone down. That sounds very tempting, though.
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June 21, 2016 at 2:24 pm
I understand, Mark. If you think of a pairing that you could get passionate about, please, it’s an open invite. A paragraph or two. And hijacking my blog on the day and commenting to your fans. No pressure, just fun! 😉
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June 21, 2016 at 3:02 pm
When you say “Pairing”, what would be the angle we’d be taking? Which film is better or…? What’s your thoughts?
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June 21, 2016 at 3:48 pm
However you see it. Whatever interests you. I was thinking of Al Pacino as the older talent and his chemistry with Depp and Penn, younger talents when they initially came out. Older/younger versions of talent. Passing the torch, so to speak.
Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro.
Al Pacino and Oscar Isaac, Depp, Penn
Another kind of pairing would be original and remake (Cape Fear)
Anything other than Hollywood is good with me. You’re Scottish, so a tribute to Scottish films would be cool.
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June 21, 2016 at 8:32 pm
It’s a great idea, Cindy. I’ve been having a little think and you can count me in. It’s too good an opportunity to pass and it would be a pleasure to collaborate with you on this. I think the passing the torch angle is an interesting one that’s not often spoken about with Pacino’s work with up and coming actors. I’m reluctant to ask for your email on the comments page but I don’t mind giving you mine. Drop me an email at mr.marakai@yahoo.co.uk and we’ll put this thing together. 🙂
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June 21, 2016 at 9:13 pm
Yahoo!
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June 18, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Oh man, Sean Penn. Great pick for this feature. I am sorry to say I have never heard of Dead Man Walking or this character but it certainly sounds fitting for a Polished Performance. For me, I’ll always see him as Jeff Spicoli and that’s a testament to how classic a character that was given everything Penn has accomplished since (excusing The Gunman from last year, of course.)
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June 20, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Thankfully, I managed to avoid The Gunman and from what I hear, I haven’t missed anything.
Big fan of Spicoli too but I reckon Dead Man Walking is Penn’s best work. He’s simply superb. You should check it out, man.
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June 18, 2016 at 3:33 pm
I love that you chose to focus on a single performance here. Penn’s one of the greats of his- or any other- generation. I haven’t seen him in much lately though unfortunately.
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June 20, 2016 at 1:14 pm
Yeah, he seems to have went a bit quiet recently doesn’t he? He always spoke in the past of retiring from acting and focusing on directing more but I hope he’s still got a few more performances in him. Definitely one of the greats. Cheers Matt. 🙂
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June 21, 2016 at 7:47 am
I haven’t seen this one, if I’m being honest. Seems I really should. Great piece as always Mark!
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June 21, 2016 at 3:06 pm
It’s a film worth seeking out, Zoe. The performances are superb but overall it’s the debate it strikes up on the pros and cons of the death penalty. It’s cleverly opened up and it really depends on each viewers individual viewpoint on such a polarising subject.
Thanks, as always. 🙂
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June 22, 2016 at 6:03 am
I will have to look into it, because I was a big fan of how that question was handled in The Life of David Gale, so I do enjoy a movie that makes you think, especially about a sticky topic like this. I have added it to my watch list!
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June 28, 2016 at 6:09 pm
The Life of David Gale was a good flick too, Zoe. I enjoyed that as well but Dead Man Walking was much more powerful for me.
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June 22, 2016 at 11:47 am
An outstanding post Mark. And thanks for reminding me that I have to see this movie. It looks like one that really provokes the thoughts.
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June 28, 2016 at 6:10 pm
It’s definitely thought provoking Vinnie. It’s a hard-hitting and sobering experience that benefits greatly from Sarandon and Penn’s work.
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June 28, 2016 at 6:14 pm
It’s very near the top of my watch list now.
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June 28, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Hope you like it, man. 🙂
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June 28, 2016 at 6:16 pm
I’m a big fan of both Penn and Sarandon.
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