Rating: 
Summary: See the film before the reviewers barricade its effect
Review: THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE is, I believe, a much better film than many fellow reviewers would indicate. Perhaps they are influenced by the reviews that came out in the media at the time of the film's theatrical release, perhaps the Editorial slam on the Product Page by Bret Fetzer taints opinion. I would urge you to see and/or buy this DVD, keep an open mind, and witness the effect on your own emotional response.Kevin Spacey fleshes out the title role as a believable philosophy professor who speaks against capital punishment in the state of Texas which just happens to be the place where more executions are performed than any other state. He is not without problems: alcohol, a drunken sexual relationship with a former student, and an awkward but deeply significant relationship with Constance (Laura Linney) who later when found 'murdered and raped' on videotape results in the arrest and conviction of Spacey's Gale, now facing death on death row. Laura Linney is most credible as a driven anti-death penalty activist for reasons we discover are beyond the range of civil rights reponsibilty. The third part of this triangle is the reporter brought in to investigate Gale's claim to innocence in the last four days of his wait on death row. Kate Winslet captures all the parameters of this contemporary woman with seamless detail. To tell more of the story would be injurious to the unfolding of this worthwhile drama. For a 2 hour plus movie THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE manages to hold our interest, encouraging us as viewers to keep our invetigatory eyes and ears open and struggle along with Winslet and her cohort to finally put together all the pieces of the puzzle. Others have complained that the clues are in every scene: isn't that true of most crime investigations? I see no fault in placing all the information in front of the audience to test the observation of the viewer as much as the skill of the screenwriter in resolving a case with the important message of this film. Alan Parker uses a lot of visual tricks in addressing the facts of the crime and even makes interesting parallels in the background music (the fairly obvious metaphor of TURANDOT arias by the presuicidal Liu appear repeatedly). In the end this story is on a par with DEAD MAN WALKING as far as a significant plea for anti-Capital Punishment voices. See it for yourself. The skills of actors like Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney, and Kate Winslet pledging belief in this script can't be ignored.
Rating: 
Summary: The Life of David Gale - A fairly suspenseful movie!
Review: After watching this very good movie on DVD I would definitely have to say that it would've been nice to have watched it on the silver screen. "The Life of David Gale" is a remarkably well told story that albeit fiction could very easily be a true story based on the convictions of those who agree with either side of the death penalty debate. From the overall theme or premise of this story to the performances, "The Life of David Gale" is most definitely a very good story that falls into the category of films which makes you think your way through it. Although many films in this particular genre suffer at the hands of predictability, this film doesn't in the least. Performance wise, Kevin Spacey does his normal great job of playing your somewhat average to just above average American in this film. I believe that is what most people find appealing about his performances in major films; he's pretty much your average guy. I believe that prior to watching this film the only thing I had ever watched Kate Winslet in was "Titanic" and we all know how well that worked out for this beautiful British actress. Her performance in this film is a very good one; it would be nice to see her in future films. Laura Linney does her usual job of great acting in this film as well. No matter what films I've ever watched her in she always gives a compelling performance. Director Alan Parker does a wonderful job with this film from every aspect of telling this story. The amazing thing about how he directed the film is that when it comes to the death penalty debate, he keeps the film itself neutral, not leaning too heavily in either direction, despite his own convictions. The Premise: Kevin Spacey plays David Gale who is a Harvard graduate working as a professor at a Texas university. His life is about to take a major turn for the worse as his marriage is falling apart and he's accused of a rape he didn't commit. Despite the rape charge being dropped he loses all credibility to include his job and his status as a leader of an anti death penalty organization. He then finds himself being charged with and convicted for the murder of a close friend of his and he gets the death penalty... Move forward six years and it's less than a week away from his execution and he finally decides to give an interview but only to Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) who takes it upon herself to prove his innocence... What follows from there is a film that I would definitely recommend to any and all who are fans of films in this genre as the film is a highly intriguing and fairly suspenseful one. {ssintrepid} Special Features: -Feature commentary with Director Alan Parker
-Deleted scenes with optional Director's commentary
-The Making of "The Life of David Gale"
-The music of "The Life of David Gale"
-DVD-ROM Features
-Theatrical trailer
Rating:
Summary: Forget the critics, this is a good movie!
Review: The only people who hate this movie are anti-death penalty activists because it makes them look like fools. The movie itself had me glued to the screen all the way. Just go see it, it's that good.
Rating:
Summary: One of Spacey's best
Review: A good thiller with great twists and turns in all the right places. Not only is this a good, thilling movie, it is an insughtfull look at the death penalty and "Texas justice". The flim has very good charecters. The redneck lawyer, the young news inturn, and the student with an ax to grind. The most powerfull and and intreging scenes are the ones in which Kate Wislet (also gives an excellent performance) interviews Gale from behind glass.
Gale is a Harvard phiosopher who is stongly opposed to the death penalty. His world is turned upside down when he is put on death row. it is emotionally reaching to watch his family life suffer (suburd filmmaking). Wislet plays a journalist with a shady past. She and her young intern must race the clock to save Gale. Intense, sometimes unwatchable parts. Age 15 and up.
Rating:
Summary: Convincing As A Thriller
Review: Although this was hardly a perfect movie, it did have plenty of suspense and intrigue and felt that it was a good thriller. Kevin Spacey plays a professor who is charged with the murder of a fellow colleague. The irony is that both he and the victim were activists against the death penalty. On death row for the murder, he sets up an interview by a reporter (Kate Hudson) for three days before the execution. When the interview is conducted, the reporter begins to have doubts about the guiltiness of David Gale. She then is in a race against time to try to prove what happened to Constance, his friend at the university. Common to popular belief, I don't think this movie was predictable. There are certainly many twists thrown in, and we expect these, but there seems to be a mystery surrounding other characters in the events leading up to her death. One of puzzling characters is Constance's friend, who is also a member of Death Watch (the name of the activist group against the death penalty). He seems to have a mysterious air about him and it is up to Bitsey (Winslet) and her assistant to uncover the truth of the murder and his role in it. Although there were many arguments, both for and against the death penalty, in the film, we should understand that this was part of the premise of the movie. These were included to show exactly who these characters were. This movie seems to be controversial in nature because of this, but I think that the story of Gale and the mysterious death of his friend Constance is the bigger mystery. An irking aspect of the film was the "subliminal" flashcards of themes, ideas and emotions that continually surfaced on the screen each time a big scene finished. It seemed to say that we, as an audience, we incapable of figuring out exactly how the characters should be feeling at that point in the movie. For instance, the film projects flashcards on the screen with words like "emotion", "isolation", "sadness", "despair", "guilt", after a sad scene. Words such as "evil", "hate", and "ignorance" would surface on a scene where one might feel anger. There were several far-fetched proponents of the film. For instance, Kate Hudson turning into a detective and piecing together every minute deal of information in a span of 72 hours a la Sherlock Holmes is a bit reaching. We have certainly seen the "race against time" theme before, although this film should be credited for at least making an attempt to steer clear of stereotyped characters. The twists certainly were effective in adding an aura of suspense, although some of the events that lead up to the final resolution are a little unbelievable. Still, I think this movie did its job as a thriller. Kate Winslet is convincing as a reporter who is swayed and cannot help but feel compassion for David Gale. Kevin Spacey fits David Gale perfectly. There are enough mysteries and clues to keep you going.
Rating:
Summary: not too hard to figure out
Review: just saw the movie, it was great the ending was suprising. but i have to admit that i knew what was going to happen from the moment the govenor ask david how many innocent people were put to death while he was in office and when her sickness became known. when you believe in something so strong and someone so easily says something that just shoot a hole in it, in return your determined to still proove your right and they're wrong. you saw how david made point after point and then the govenor ask that one question and he couldnt answer. then you find out she's dying and she knows she's dying. from that point on it should be soooooooo obvious whats going to happen next.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting to watch in spite of several problems
Review: I enjoy a surprising ending when it lends coherence to the rest of the movie and not when the surprise is for the sake of surprise itself. I like to see a final fact lending credibility and answers to many questions or holes you had during the viewing. A surprising ending should be such that when you rewind the movie in your mind, bearing the new fact, everything should fall in place.
Although the ending of "David Gale" was not totally a surprise - as the viewer could guess his way through, the last facts did render coherence and answered many questions (such as the passivity of Gale's attorney and the connection between the attorney and Dusty). However, what mainly stayed on my mind is the wonder what will Bitsy do with the new information. Was the new information intended to help her clear her guilt for not "making it on time" or will she use this fact in her coverage? probably not, but if so, what will this new fact do to the credibility of the anti death penalty group? Another issue is the great acting ability of David Gale, which should have been an ordinary person, and not another Kevin Spacey. This is something I cannot explain.
This is a strong movie in the sense of the powerful moving actors, the intriguing plot and the way the story is told; however, politically speaking and in answer to other viewers, I did not feel the movie did anything to affect my views (which were not very definite to start with) on the issue of death penalty. The movie was unable to give us viewers an innocent face to remember when thinking of the death row and in many ways the anti death penalty people were pictured as fanatics. The very important argument of preserving the sanctity of life, of not taking another person's life was not raised in the movie.
It is interesting to see how involved Bitsy becomes during the search for the truth and how she too is exposed. Her crying outside the room after watching the first tape was one of the most moving parts of the movie and a very human reaction she shares with the viewers. The contrast between moments such as this one (or Gale's frustration after his inability to talk to his son), the great sympathy the viewer has towards Gale and Constance and on the other hand the very fanatic radical actions were difficult to reconcile.
Rating: 
Summary: unintended consequences
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: An A for effort - I suppose.
Review: Released relatively briefly after such films as "Dead Man Walking" and "The Green Mile," "The Life of David Gale" is yet another cinematic work with the intention of questioning the efficiency (and morality) of capital punishment in the United States. Of course this takes us to Texas. Star reporter Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) is assigned three interviews with death-row inmate David Gale (Kevin Spacey), one of Texas's most avid anti-death-penalty activists who has been sentenced to death for the murder of Constance Harraway (Laura Linney), his faithful colleague. Gale wishes for the reporter to uncover the truth in the case; Bloom, however, initially maintains her position that Gale is probably guilty and does deserve to die. However, after many flashbacks as told by Gale and many, many plot twists, Bloom's views begin to change, of course, and in the end she must race against the clock (literally) to make sure that justice is truly served. Spacey is dry and lackluster as Gale, and he fails to keep us interested long enough to care whether he is guilty or not in the end. Winslet does well enough with Bloom, although her character is written to act so stupidly at some points that not even her acting talent can redeem. Gabriel Mann is fine as Zack Stemmons, Bloom's intern sidekick, if you will, and the ever-memorable Leon Rippy is precise Braxton Belyeu, Gale's attorney, who provides some funny albeit unfitting comedic relief. The film's greatest asset is the vividly marvelous Laura Linney as doomed Constance Harraway, whose real emotions are the only ones in the film that make us think twice about the matter at hand. Randolph's screenplay is irritably calcuable, and Gerry Hambling's clunky editing makes the film seem quite a bit longer than its true 130-minute running time. It's difficult to tell what message director Alan Parker is trying to put forth here. By portraying both sides as crazy, radical monsters out to advance their political agendas does not contribute well to the film's conclusion, which has a rather blatant conviction. This leaves a really bad taste of insincerity in the mouths of the audience members. The film does succeed to keep one guessing throughout, and it is genuinely suspensful at some points - despite its disorganized, predictable mechanics. OF COURSE no one is in the hotel room shower, OF COURSE the engine overheats at the time it's needed most, and OF COURSE there is always more than meets the eye - literally, in this case, on a videotape. Still, the film has one truly shocking revelation (not in it's conclusion - sorry), and Linney's performance is definitely worth a viewing. If you want a truly sincere view on anti-death-penalty, however, I suggest to go back to "The Green Mile" and "Dead Man Walking."
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: When I decided to view this movie I didn't know what it was about, no idea. As the movie progressed I was so engrossed with what was going on and what was the plot. I was so shocked as to what happened in the movie and the roles that everyone played. People that you though meant nothing in the movie were some key players. The theme of the movie centers around the death penalty and how far people will go to let the goverment know that it is not fair. Watch it, you will not be disappointed!!!! Later
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