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Life of David Gale, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Rhona Mitra

The Day After Tomorrow with Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum (2004)
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Synopsis of the DVD Movie: Life of David Gale

David Gale is a man who has tried to live by his principles, but in a bizarre twist of fate this devoted father, popular professor and respected death penalty opponent finds himself on Death Row for the rape and murder of fellow-activist Constance Hallaway. With only three days before his scheduled execution, Gale agrees to give Pulitzer-hungry reporter Elizabeth "Bitsey" Bloom the exclusive interview she has been chasing. But Bitsey soon realises that this assignment is more than she bargained for, and that a man's life is in her hands. Putting her own safety in jeopardy, she frantically races to piece together the shocking events surrounding Constance's death, before it's too late.

DVD Movie Rating for: Life of David Gale

DVD Movie Rating and Reviews DVD Movie Rating and Reviews DVD Movie Rating and Reviews DVD Movie Rating and Reviews DVD Movie Rating and Reviews Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Movie Plot of: Life of David Gale

A University of Texas professor of philosophy and capital punishment abolitionist, David Gale (Kevin Spacey), finds himself on Death Row convicted of murder. Days before his execution, skeptical journalist Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) is sent to conduct David Gale's final interview. Unaware that she would not be investigating Dr. Gale, Bitsey and her sympathetic intern leave to Texas for what is to become a story of a lifetime.

DVD Production Details of: Life of David Gale

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet

Director: Alan Parker

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby

Studio: Universal Studios

DVD Release Date: June 1, 2003
DVD Features:
Theatrical trailer(s)

Audio Commentary with Alan Parker

Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary

The Making of David Gale

The music of David Gale

Death in Texas

Poster Concepts

Widescreen anamorphic format

Life of David Gale Easter Eggs

None

Cast of the movie: Life of David Gale

Photo Gallery of the movie: Life of David Gale

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size, high resolution photographs
Photo Gallery Live Of David Gale
Life of David Gale, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Rhona Mitra
Life of David Gale, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Rhona Mitra
Life of David Gale, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Rhona Mitra
Life of David Gale, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Rhona Mitra
Life of David Gale, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Rhona Mitra
 

Reviews of the movie: Life of David Gale

The Life of David Gale' is an equal opportunity offender in that it makes both those who support and those who oppose the death penalty look equally venal, conniving and foolish. I don't think that was the INTENTION of writer Charles Randolph and director Alan Parker - since the theme of the film is based on the premise that an innocent man can indeed be falsely executed - but that is the unfortunate impression we are left with once the bizarre plot twists and convolutions have played themselves out.

It is four days before David Gale (Kevin Spacey), an ex-college professor convicted of raping and killing a female colleague (Laura Linney), is scheduled for execution. The twist is that Gale used to be one of the most vocal opponents against capital punishment in all of Texas, and now he is on Death Row. Catch the irony? Gale has decided to open up to a single reporter, `Bitsey' Bloom (Kate Winslet), in an attempt to have her go out and prove his innocence, if not for his own sake, at least for the sake of his young son. The film becomes a typical race-against-time melodrama with Bitsey and her cohort, intern reporter Zack (Gabriel Mann), piecing together the clues as to what actually happened on that fateful day years earlier, in an effort to stave off the inevitable while the clock ticks down and the wheels of Texas justice grind inexorably on.

`The Life of David Gale' is a reasonably entertaining thriller provided you don't apply too much common sense or logic to the matters at hand. In fact, the film's admittedly absurd plot contrivances do manage to keep us guessing most of the way through. Spacey, Winslet and Linney give it their all, even if that means occasionally going over the top to match the overheated nature of the material they have to work with. My biggest complaint with the film is that the overly clever denouement, though it serves its purpose as an acceptable `shocker,' really undercuts the entire film we have just sat through since it turns Gale into a complete and utter liar in terms of everything he has said up to that point. What purpose is served by having him pour out this tale of innocence to Bitsey if he knows she is going to find out the truth later on anyway? It's really a case of a convicted man inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on an innocent party who just wants to help him. (Protecting the son's memory of him seems a tenuous reason at best). Besides, the duplicity underlying the abolitionists' actions would more likely turn the general public AGAINST their cause than win it many new converts. Even though the filmmakers' sympathies obviously lie with those upholding the anti-capital punishment position, the `sincere' protestors depicted in the film don't always seem like the sharpest tools in the shed.

`The Life of David Gale' has its moments as social drama fantasy, but for a real, serious study of the death penalty issue, check out the great `Dead Man Walking' instead.

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Last Modified: 10-Jul-2011 12:24