Adapted from Sister Helen Prejean's non-fiction book by actor/director Tim Robbins, "Dead Man Walking" is an intense, harrowing account of one woman's dogged attempt to assure spiritual (if not earthly) redemption for a condemned killer. Penn is ideally cast as the convict, but Susan Sarandon's stripped-down performance as his spiritual guide is courageous, gut-wrenching work, fully meriting that year's Oscar. Unavoidably depressing, "Dead Man Walking" is also very real, shedding light into spaces we could easily ignore, but shouldn't.