The Life of David Gale

Name: The Life of David Gale
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: February 21, 2003
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 31
Cast: Kate Winslet, Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney

2003

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Generally unfavorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 85 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 85 Ratings

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The Life Of David Gale

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: February 21, 2003 | R

Starring: Kate Winslet, Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney

Summary: David Gale (Spacey) 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 a fellow activist (Linney). He decides to confide in a reporter (Winslet) who quickly realizes that a man'sDavid Gale (Spacey) 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 a fellow activist (Linney). He decides to confide in a reporter (Winslet) who quickly realizes that a man's life is in her hands. (Universal Pictures)… Expand

Director: Alan Parker

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 130 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

The picture is neither flawless nor foolproof, but it's smart and tight enough to keep audiences off-balance and entertained for the running length. Read full review

David Edelstein

As I've implied, this is a great midnight movie: I enjoyed every patchily edited, ham-fisted scene. But I don't like seeing the wonderful Kate Winslet look stupid, or the wonderful Laura Linney abase herself. Read full review

Connie Ogle

There's no real artistry to this: It's as though Parker has just seen "Seven" and suffered some sort of David Fincher flashback. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Becomes more and more preposterous with each scene -- it's almost like performance art. Read full review

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

Some of this stuff should give you some good laughs. Unfortunately, the film's not a comedy, and once the conservative-bashing wears off, the alleged thriller elements kick in. Too bad that for you, the viewer, there's still another hour to go. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

So nasty, hysterical and long-winded -- and unintentionally makes capital punishment foes look so twisted -- you wish someone had administered a lethal injection to this dreck in its planning stages. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The secrets of the plot must remain unrevealed by me, so that you can be offended by them yourself, but let it be said this movie is about as corrupt, intellectually bankrupt and morally dishonest as it could possibly be without David Gale actually hiring himself out as a joker at the court of Saddam Hussein. Read full review

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User Reviews

LarsT.

Nov 19, 2006

Great film with a great Kevin Spacey.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

RONGIU

Sep 9, 2010

Sorry for the translation, in mechanical.

The news: "Abuse a child and then kill." For "his" father and "his" mother open the doors of "non-sense of Life." I, as a reaction manifest emotional reading or hearing this news? Anger, rage, anger, disgust, contempt and then? And thenSorry for the translation, in mechanical.

The news: "Abuse a child and then kill."

For "his" father and "his" mother open the doors of "non-sense of Life."
I, as a reaction manifest emotional reading or hearing this news?
Anger, rage, anger, disgust, contempt and then?
And then return to "my" peaceful world, shut off "the others and their problems.

"One more news, unfortunately."
There is only one name to give to my attitude. Indifference.
It 'a very serious illness, experts say.
Symptoms: Do not want to understand, not wanting to speak, not wanting to participate in drama to make an informed choice. The "never happen to me" is the motto of indifference.
Is not a film to change the "certainty" of people.
One film, if done well, can help you reflect, perhaps to illuminate the shadows still unexplored. Discussions, debates, meetings, research, well-being. The target is centered.
Falls into error, I think, who think that "The Life of David Gale" is a film for the Texans, or other states, far from it.
Texas does not need these films. Why? Becouse this people familiar with the offenses that can lead you to lethal injection.
It is, however, a punch in the stomach for the rest of the globe,
this drama lives it only indirectly.

Think, is not fiction stage for the parties involved, who live "intus et in cute" the execution of a sentence, most often immutable.

Time adversary, inquisitorial, indictment, the bench, reading the verdict, death row, employees injection, printing, Forum for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and so on.

It 's a tragedy without end, even turns into tragedy when curtain time and alternate judges as much on the trial. So what about the victims on the attackers.

The Life of David Gale, in my opinion, a good movie. Is in the dialogues that I see so much sap. Are endless dialogues to release particles of emotional intensity, giving strength and character to most of the work.
Philosopher and rookie screenwriter Charles Randolph gives to Alan Parker, director, a strong screenplay.
The film is a work with content suitable for persons who want to think, reflect, ask questions, put a strain on their beliefs.

Who wants to do, sit in a chair, will not be disappointed.
Spacey (philosophy professor) and Laura Linney (Constance) are people "triadic" - body, mind, spirit, are committed to a very noble goal. Fight for "life" of those condemned to death.

Question: - The film's characters are presented as the fanatical extremists of an idea, a proposal or as a people full of passion, transport for that idea? This is important, I think the difference is substantial advantage or disadvantage of static or dynamic of the film, it does not deserve, I believe, hasty judgments.
Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet), a young but established journalist is asked by David Gale, sentenced to death three days before the execution to hear his story. During the three meetings the journalist did not "only limited to listening," onset of action. A story to follow with a final not so obvious.

P.S.

Personally privilege the person who asks questions and I have many reservations for who is considered the holder of certainties. I prefer the question mark (?) That exclamation mark (!). Good Ciak!… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Bones

Jul 6, 2011

the first few minutes of the film are very bearable, and you can see the movie is being supported by actors who are very good at what they do and a nice director. the movie brings so many questions and doesn't answer them, sometimes it's not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case - it'sthe first few minutes of the film are very bearable, and you can see the movie is being supported by actors who are very good at what they do and a nice director. the movie brings so many questions and doesn't answer them, sometimes it's not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case - it's very bad. you feel like it wants to be a very exciting thriller but it fails exactly when it gets to the last scene, after you see it it seems like they wanted to grab everyone's attention and make the film memorable - didn't work on me. not worth watching - next… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Porsha

Jul 24, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Kate Winslet always has a great performance and energy about her. The film is one big contradiction, if death penalty is wrong, why put a innocent man down to prove a point ??? the exact thing you are working against! It actually proves they are just like the people who enforce the death penalty. There was no need for Kate Winslet character, if anything, if she was a bit sharper, she could have ruined their whole plan and they would have done this all for nothing. Why not just get the Cowboy to leak the footage after David's death. Instead of telling Kate and have her possibly stop the death sentence ??? !! Movie was trying to be too smart but it flopped… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tetsuo

Feb 11, 2014

This is Dead Man Walking by amateurs. It's plot is convoluted, the acting is dull, and the ending is an insult. It just doesn't give any arguments regarding the death penalty, all it does is repeat the same message over and over again, bludgeoning you over the head. Thankfully this became aThis is Dead Man Walking by amateurs. It's plot is convoluted, the acting is dull, and the ending is an insult. It just doesn't give any arguments regarding the death penalty, all it does is repeat the same message over and over again, bludgeoning you over the head. Thankfully this became a box office bomb.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Broyax

Oct 28, 2018

Ce film est long comme un jour sans pain, d'autant plus qu'il est particulièrement assommant dans son discours de donneur de leçon à la petite semaine. La peine de mort, c'est pas bien, c'est méchant parce que les "erreurs judiciaires d'abord gnagnagna"... Un discours gauchiste et angélisteCe film est long comme un jour sans pain, d'autant plus qu'il est particulièrement assommant dans son discours de donneur de leçon à la petite semaine. La peine de mort, c'est pas bien, c'est méchant parce que les "erreurs judiciaires d'abord gnagnagna"... Un discours gauchiste et angéliste martelé pendant plus de 2 heures dont on a strictement rien à carrer.

C'est dommage pour Kate Winslet, une actrice très appréciable mais la voir se débattre et servir la soupe à un Kevin Spacey défendeur des "valeurs humanistes" de ces mange-merdes d'Amnesty International, se révèle vraiment déprimant. On baigne ici dans la caricature du méchant, oui vraiment très méchant Etat du Texas qui fait carburer la chaise à plein régime. Mais si vous voulez mon avis, on est encore loin du compte parce qu'en Chine, ils ne s'éternisent pas des années dans le "couloir de la mort". Une balle dans la tête, puis on envoit la facture (de la balle) à la famille.

Donc de toute façon, ce prof de philo David Gale qui aime s'écouter parler pour ne rien dire est l'archétype du coupable innocent victime d'une machination et des circonstances qui tombent mal. Il n'a qu'à s'en prendre à son avocat amérindien aux cheveux longs et aux idées courtes.

Bref, tout cela est chiant et pénible mais aussi plein de prétention et bourré d'intellectualisme à peigne-culs. Mais le réalisateur Alan Parker est coutumier du fait à dire vrai. Je lui conseillerais vivement une consultation chez le Docteur Guillotin pour lui remettre les idées en place parce que là, c'est à en perdre la tête.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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