Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding all around movie !
Review: ... This movie is wonderful. Kevin Spacey is outstanding. Next to The usual suspects and Seven this is his most complex dark character yet. If you are looking for another Usual Suspects then that is not what you will get. The movie is Called THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE, it is unique in its own way. GO SEE IT.... Wonderful work for Kevin Spacey......
Rating: 
Summary: Solid acting; ending made me mad
Review: Despite the wave of bad reviews, I was still tempted to see "The Life of David Gale" because of the amazing cast involved. I knew this film was going to make me mad and it did just that. Kate Winslet plays Bitsey Bloom, a NYC reporter assigned to interview David Gale, a former professor on death row. She is forced to bring along Jake, a dorky intern, played by Gabriel Mann. Jake doesn't do much other than provide Bitsey chances to insult him, which she does quite frequently. Anyway, Bitsey eventually talks to David Gale and we learn about his past and to why he's now on death row for murdering Constance (played wonderfully by Laura Linney). It is then up to Bitsey and Jake to find out the truth before it's too late.The film provides enough twists and turns to keep viewers interested in it, but the screenplay isn't always as solid as the performances are. Kate Winslet's character is poorly written and I found Jake to be an annoying character just there to be bossed around by Bitsey. Kevin Spacey is great in the title role but I was most impressed by Laura Linney. I enjoyed the film a great deal but the ending made me mad. You'll have to see it to know what I am talking about. I now know why "The Life of David Gale" is hated by critics: it does push a few buttons for those in favour of the death penalty. However, go to the theatre with an open mind and enjoy the film for its suspense and great acting.
Rating: 
Summary: A movie about obsessive fanatics
Review: I really wanted to like this movie. I like everybody in it. But in the end (without blowing the story), it was a farcical tale about a bunch of fanatics who are so obsessed with their singular ideal that when we learn the truth about what is going on, they become so completely unsympathetic to the point of being moronic. If the filmmakers were trying to make a film showing the pointlessness of being such an individual, then I would have to say, "Job well done."
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Thriller
Review: What's your stance on capital punishment? Whatever it is, The Life of David Gale probably won't change it; It is, however, enjoyable for what it is, which is basically a whodunit. Kevin Spacey plays David Gale, a death-row convict with 4 days to go until his execution. He agrees to spend two hours a day speaking with Reporter Bitsy Bloom (Kate Winslet), and as he tells her his story, we learn the reason he's about to be executed. Gale, formerly a high-profile opponent of the death-penalty, has been convicted of the rape and murder of his Death Watch partner Constance (Laura Linney). Bitsy believes Gale is innocent, and sets out to find the evidence that will overturn his conviction. The film is told mainly in flashback, and the many twists and turns the plot takes will have you rehashing those scenes in your mind for days trying to uncover clues, much like another Spacey film, The Usual Suspects. I can see the "Twist Ending" of a film coming a mile off, and after I solved the mystery here, the filmmakers threw in one more twist that I didn't see coming at all. The ending revelation is pretty far-fetched, but it's a neat twist nonetheless. The film goes a little overboard with it's anti-death-penalty politics at times, but never to the point of annoyance. The Life of David Gale is worth a look for all the armchair detectives out there.
Rating:
Summary: A "Life" Unfulfilled
Review: "The Life Of David Gale" is a captivating account of one man's life in prison, where David Gale is serving a sentence for a horrendous sexual crime. Although Kevin Spacey pulls off a believable performance in a starring role, this feature contains a lot of loose ends left for the viewer to tie together - therefore, with the plotline containing several huge, gaping holes. In short, the storyline will leave the viewer thinking "What the hell?" in certain points of the movie. The various adjectives (sprayed in graffiti form), such as "ANGER", "FEAR", "ECSTASY" (whatever), etc., that appear between the plot sequences and the interview scences do not help piece everything together very clearly, either. This, as well as "...David Gale"'s" dragginess quality will not win many popularity contests with the average viewer, neither. So, even though this picture's negative points far outweigh what little it has going for it, the positives contained within are the horrific and disturbing scenes, which, unfortunately, are the only ones that are most likely to grab whatever brief and undivided attention this film will afford to give you. The only other bright spot which gleams the brightest here, are the Oscar-caliber performances of its two stars, Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet, whose performance (of the latter) here hasn't been this stunning since the 1998 monster flick "Titanic". But, despite these two actors' outstanding performances, it stil isn't enough to save this picture from potential gloom and doom. That spells trouble (with a capital "T") at the box office, which makes "...Life..." that much more unfulfilling.
Rating:
Summary: The annoying, manipulative life of David Gale.
Review: Watched this mostly bad movie last night. Kevin Spacey is interesting playing a drunk, but he doesn't play effectively seductive, particularly villainous or necessarily vague ever. He's shown more depth and more believability in other roles. The always-bankable Laura Linney was decent in it, but, on the whole, the film absolutely blew. Kate Winslet was completely annoying, doing wildly implausible and ridiculous things. I'd figured out their big, special twist five minutes into the first flashback. Since the film is so clearly anti-death penalty, it doesn't even bother to notice that the State of Texas and the Death Penalty itself are not villains at the end because of the odd twist. Before the key flashbacks, as well, there were quick cuts to words on paper, in chalkboards. Then, the camera would spin. That was the most annoying bit of editing I'd ever seen. RAPE, REPUTATION, ACCUSATION, MURDER - the signs would flash. In my seat, I wanted a notebook to hold up to the screen. BORED, SILLY, PREDICTABLE, TEDIOUS, IRRITATING, PREACHY. There have been good, interesting movies made about the death penalty. Rent THE WIDOW OF ST. PIERRE or DEAD MAN WALKING. Don't bother with this.
Rating:
Summary: Churchill Was Right!
Review: Although I did enjoy watching the movie, when I walked out, my first words to my husband were, "Liberals are stupid." To begin with, even though he is obviously being cuckolded by his wife, David Gale does nothing to rid himself of her and keep his beloved son. Instead he does something so terribly stupid that he loses everything: his son, his reputation, and his job. Even a moron would have been suspicious when she asks him to bite her shoulder, let alone to tear off her pants and to be rough! Secondly, is there any real reason why two such attractive actresses as Kate Winslet and Laura Linney have to look and dress so unattractively? Is it because they believe they won't be taken seriously if they're pretty? What harm would a few minutes with a curling iron do to their causes? Linney's character says, "I've tried so hard not to be a sex object." Good God, why? Third, it is obvious practically from the beginning that one character is not who he/she appears to be. Thus it is not much of a surprise when it is revealed at the end. Fourth, if Winslett is indeed a serious writer, why does she call herself "Bitsey?" And why would a smart woman not return the obviously defective rental vehicle for another one? Can't she anticipate her dash through the rain in a "climactic" scene? Fifth, I hated the thinly veiled portrayal of then-governor George W. Bush. Why didn't they just make him leer and twirl his mustache like Snidely Whiplash? His point of view was a valid one, but the deck was stacked against him. Sixth, when the rape charges against David Gale were dropped, why was the deck so stacked against him? Why the disgusting motel with the "mud pool?" Where were his friends and supporters? For all his intelligence, how did he allow himself to fall so far? Seventh, why did Berlin set up the "rape?" As for the denouement itself, I did understand the noble motives of all concerned. However, the nudity, I felt, was gratuitous and was repeated more than was necessary. On the plus side, I feel that Spacey, Winslett, Linney, and especially Gabriel Mann as the young intern Zack did a good job. The point of view about capital punishment was one that deserved to be expressed. It was, as I said previously, an enjoyable two hours, but, even though I'm a big fan of Kevin Spacey, I do not want to sit through it again. The title of this review refers to a quote David Gale uses in his debate with the governor. Churchill was definitely right!
Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: this was a very good movie...i would be suprised if someone did not enjoy it. It kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering what would happen next. The casting was perfect and Kate was wonderful. I couldnt have picked a better person. The twists at the end left you comtemplating the whole movie and the motives. I recommed it for a friday night...this isnt a relaxing movie to see though, it is not a chick flick :-)
Rating:
Summary: Overdramatic, cliche, contrived, and VERY predictable!
Review: I was an extra in this film. I live in Huntsville, Texas, and I played an anti death penalty protester. Now, I'm a liberal in real life and also against the death penalty (probably the only person IN Huntsville who is, it seems sometimes), and even though the message of the film seems very anti death penalty itself, the film's moralistic, preachy message made me uncomfortable. If I wanted a sermon, I'd go to church. This is typical, liberal Hollywood propaganda. If I want to see a film addressing a controversial issue, I prefer for the film to use valid points from BOTH sides of said issue, in order to gain more understanding of what is being presented. This movie not only preached, it was mind-numbingly BORING, and the "twist" was easy to figure out way, way before it was revealed. It's the kind of manipulative Hollywood tearjerker that tries to make the audience sob and howl at the "poor plight" of this wrongly accused man, and it's shallow, pointless, EXCEEDINGLY cliche (ripe with horrible dialogue), and did I forget to mention BORING? I had fun as an extra, and I was looking forward to seeing it, but ultimately I am disappointed. Not to mention, Kate Winslet was a complete and absolute spoiled primadonna, VERY hard to work with, and totally self-centered. But that's another story.
Rating:
Summary: an eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind-
Review: i was shocked to find that 80% of the reviews of this film emply the word "sanctimonious"...the only thing i can assume is that people consider it "sanctimonious" when you make evident to them the immorality of their judicial system's dogma of retribution...this film is, and this needs to be acknowledged, enormously anti-american...and no doubt that is going to make for bad press...americans by disposition are not martyrs...we are confused and morally-outraged by people who are willing to give their lives for a cause..a story of a man who hs traded in his sad, pathetic life to further the cause of a political/moral belief strikes at a cultral nerve which runs back to 9/11..we as a society can't comprehend this...we live in a victor-culture..the only martyr we halfway admrie is jesus christ--and even he is dubious in this role b/c he had a resurrection....doesn't count if you don't stay dead this film in no way is agenda-free...but why should it have to be...when the gross majority of films being made try desperately to say nothing, it is of great comfort to know that someone is still willing to moralize, be controbversial and "sanctimonious"...god bless...you made us think.
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