Directed by:
Alan ParkerScreenplay:
Charles RandolphCinematography:
Michael SeresinComposer:
Alex ParkerCast:
Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Rhona Mitra, Leon Rippy, Matt Craven, Jim Beaver, Melissa McCarthy, Julio Cedillo, Alan Parker (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Alan Parker's look at capital punishment in the US. David Gale was a successful lecturer and head of the Philosophy department at Austin University, as well as an activist for the anti-capital punishment movement, Deathwatch. However, he loses everything when he is falsely accused of rape by one of his students, despite being exonerated. Several years later he finds himself on Death Row after being found guilty of the rape and murder of one of his best friends and fellow activist, Constance Harraway (Laura Linney). With only days before his execution, he agrees to an interview with journalist Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet), who, during the interview, decides the facts just don't seem to make any sense. Receiving an anonymous tip-off sets her further on the road to solving the mystery before Gale's death by execution and it becomes a race against time. (Universal Pictures UK)
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Reviews (9)
Good film, but I have several problems with it. I didn’t mind much the strong political stance regarding the death penalty, because, even if I’m more on the side of the fence the film is against, this is a topic where I can understand and accept the arguments on both sides. What bothered me a lot is that the script gives the savvy viewer an unnecessary chance to ruin the surprise. I figured out the twist (and I don’t mean any other twist, but the main “schock” in the last scene) about twenty minutes in. I know it exactly, because I looked at the clock so, in case I would be right, I could boast about how savvy I am :-D. The script is so loose, for instance, I didn’t find very convincing the relationship between the two journalists. And the last quibble is personal: Kevin Spacey is one of my favourite actors, but as the philosophy professor David Gale, I realised how similar he is to one university professor that taught us philosophy in secondary school, and from that moment on, his performance felt weird…
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The Life of David Gale is a pretty solid crime-thriller that builds up strongly throughout the story to a surprising denouement that no doubt deserves praise. The flawless performances of the trio Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet and Laura Linney also deserve a special mention, because this was simply a star-studded acting tour de force. In short, a sincere film where the cast and the engaging premise are the biggest attractions.
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A psychologically plausible, classically refined Parker's study of an event that happens to eight out of ten well oriented teachers in a lifetime, and with great performances to boot! While Spacey rocks again, and a single glance through the bars trumps Kate Winslet's performance that is as eager as a Titanic's frozen swimmer, Laura Linney's honest to goodness supporting role does here is truly breathtaking at times. The complexity and slight chaotic nature of the screenplay does hinder the oppressive and depressing atmosphere in some passages, but the very strong, unexpected ending tips the scales back to the film's favour. And after all, tell me, the eternal student Rhona Mitra teasingly spanking her ass in front of the sink, who the hell needs a clearer hint? Only David Gale and an idiot. 80%
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A gala performance from the trio Kevin Spacey-Kate Winslet-Laura Linney and a story with a strong message. However, the sometimes confusing directing and the pace of the storytelling occasionally detract from its overall rating, with plot twists coming one after another at times, while at others the entire drama just stays lazily in one place. It doesn't bother me, but it unnecessarily disrupts the impression of coherence.
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This could have been such a great movie, but for me, the script is bad. The actors try their best, although Kate just bothered me here, but the script tries to be so clever that it's overly convoluted to the point where it's predictable, and more than a surprising twist, what you hear is the political agitation. This could have been very clever, but it's not.
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