Rating: 
Summary: Should get Best Picture Oscar for 2003
Review: Acting is excellent, story is great and very moving. I will be very surprised if this movie is not nominated and subsequently wins the 2003 Oscar for Best Picture. It brought out a mixture of intense emotions I've never before experienced from watching a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: I thought this movie was excellent. Not only did Kate Winslet do an excellent job ridding herself of a sexy English accent, she did a great job placing herself into a contemporary movie, especially with all of her "period piece" films she has done (I absolutely love her, and any movie she does is wonderful). She is a brilliant actress. Also, Kevin Spacey did an excellent job as well (no surprise!). Of the many reviews I have read about this one, not one person has bothered to mention Laura Linney! She was fantastic as well! ... So, I would totally recommend this movie if you are in for a few twists. I am not a stupid person, and I LOVE movies, but I didn't figure out the ending, as one reviewer stated, "45 minutes into the movie." My best friend, who has to be one of the biggest movie buffs I've ever met, didn't see it coming either. Can someone please explain that as well? Thank you!
Rating: 
Summary: Well acted and thought provoking...
Review: A strange thing is happening at movie houses right now. People like me are going to the Oscar nominated movies and coming out scratching our heads at the mediocrity of the Best Picture nominees, and then for diversion are going to see movies that look good despite bad reviews, like "The Life of David Gale" and finding that we enjoy them more. I don't think "David Gale" is the undiscovered gem of the season, but it is a decent movie and doesn't deserve to be rank among the year's worst films. For one thing, this movie is well acted and has a compelling story. Without giving too much of the plot away, it asks the question: How far would you go for something you believe in? In the case of the characters in this movie, who have nothing left to lose, the answer is all the way. I'm reminded of a guy who set himself on fire to protest the Gulf War in 1991. Many thought he was crazy to give up his life for something that was so above and beyond his control, but he was willing to do it. David Gale is that sort of man; not someone you relate to, but someone you make movies about. It is ironic that "Chicago" -- a truly mediocre movie -- is poised to sweep the Academy Awards and be seen by millions for that fact alone, because the plot of that movie presents a statistical anamoly -- celebrities buying their freedom-- as commonplace, while "David Gale" depicts something that is in fact far more common: innocent people being executed, and is being panned for being unrealistic. The movie is not without its flaws -- Kevin Spacey veers into sanctimony at times; the style veers between realism and glossy music video style camp; and Kate Winslet hasn't improved her American accent since her "Titanic" days. But overall the movie is intelligent and thought-provoking.
Rating: 
Summary: Yes or No?
Review: I would like to start this review by stating that I can not say much about events that take place in this movie without giving out the ending. Since doing so will spoil the whole film for you I will try to avoid them as much as possible. David Gale ' lifelong fighter against death penalty, is convicted of rape and murder of Constance Hallaway and is sentenced to be executed. 4 days before his execution he agrees to give a 3-day interview to Bitsey Bloom. Although convinced of his guilt at first, during the interview she starts to doubt it and sets out to prove his innocence. The story throughout the film is told through Bitseys eyes, as she listens to David Gale. The movie is about capital punishment, as I'm sure everyone knows it. And even though Alan Parker and all the actors claim that the film does not take sides, it does in a very subtle way (not to imply that watching this movie will change your opinion about it). Film basically gives both point of views: why some people support it and why some don't. Story is very well told and ending was well done. Even though by day 3 of the interview I knew what it was (ending that is), good part about it was the way it was presented. One thing that puzzles me is the point behind this movie. It is one big argument against the death penalty given in a most argumentative way. What were the filmmakers trying to achieve? Regardless, the movie is worth watching, if nothing else for the ending.
Rating: 
Summary: What a lame movie
Review: This movie looked bad from the theatrical previews, but I saw it anyway because a friend of mine wanted to check it out. Unfortunately, I was not pleasantly surprised. The main problem with The Life of David Gale is that the "surprise" ending was painfully obvious after about 45 minutes, so much so that I whispered to my friend that, since I knew what was going to happen anyway, I was tempted to leave and she could tell me later that I was right. I eneded up staying, and much to my chagrin, not only was I right, but they tried to split the surprise ending into two separate twists rather than consolidating them and saving me some time. The purpose of a suspense film is to be suspenseful. That's why most suspense films don't lend themselves to repeat viewings unless they're exceptionally well made. However, if a suspense film fails to deliver a surprise when you watch it the first time, then it can only be described as a collosal failure. On an unrelated and admittedly minor note: why does the film behave as if Austin and Hunstville are close to each other??? Texas is a big state, folks. You can't just mosey on over to another Texas town or city like you're in Connecticut or something. I know this is not very important, but it is really annoying if you know anything about Texas geography. The reason I gave the film 2 stars rather than one are as follows: 1. I am an alumnus of the University of Texas, so all of the shots of UT and the city of Austin warmed the cockles of my heart. That, however, is a rather esoteric reason to see a film. 2. The performances of Kate Winslett and Kevin Spacey were both solid. Although Kate may have done a film or two previously that was set in a contemporary time, I had not seen them. Her accent was excellent, her portrayal convincing, and, straight up, she looked awesome. Kevin does a professional job, as it to be expected. Tangentially, Rhona Mitra, who plays the grad student Berlin, is going to be a star. You heard it here first. In sum, I'd skip this one. If you do decide to check it out, I'd like to pass on a caveat to parents who choose to take their children to R-rated films, as did mine. There are a couple of scenes of violence and sexuality that are rather more graphic than you might expect. Do take this into consideration when making the decision to take any child under the age of 15.
Rating:
Summary: Review of The Life of David Gale
Review: Extremely powerful movie about an ideologically committed, but broken, man and his friends. Well-executed and beautifully acted by Spacey and the rest of the cast.
Rating: 
Summary: Manipulative, despicable
Review: "The Life of David Gale" fashions a staged rape as a warm-up and an the reenactment of a brutal crime as an encore. The center ring is a real treat -- the crime itself, a woman handcuffed and stripped naked, left to suffocate with a plastic bag taped around her throat. What a cruel, despicable movie. It pretends to be about anti-death penalty activists and the lengths to which they will go to prove their point that the death penalty is wrong, but it is not a point that should be made by the activists, nor the movie. The death penalty is too important an issue to be tied up in such a crude, mean-spirited thriller. Kevin Spacey barely registers as David Gale, a former University of Texas professor and leader of Deathwatch, who is now slated to get the death penalty for the murder of Deathwatch colleague Constance Holloway (Laura Linney). Gale, a brilliant, often drunk hothead, got put on the world's disavowed list after being falsely accused of rape by a expelled grad student. The fake rape itself is a real treat, shown in all its brutal glory. Gale's wife, a philanderer herself, nonetheless takes the opportunity to stick it to him, taking Gale's son to Spain -- Gale will never see him again -- and e-mailing him to ask for a divorce. "P.S." the note says, "I'm selling the house." About that point I'm thinking, oh boy. But then Gale, who was a tenured professor and must have saved up some money along the way, moves into a tenement apartment building, complete with a pool filled with mud, where he spends his days calling Spain again and again and again. Uh-huh. How Constance dies, and why, you can discover, if you wish. There is little doubt as Gale's fate on the row, nor his role in Constance's death, if you're paying much attention. What's so offensive is that the movie makes all of this seem honorable, which it is most certainly not, and does so by playing up the miseries of Gale's life beyond any reasonable standard, and squeezing a little harder for effect. Spacey plays Gale like a fool. No subtlety here; it's like he means to act as he's being informed by the tag team K-Pax and Verbal on how to do it. Once the whole truth is "revealed," you understand the performance, but you don't admire it. The reverse is true for Laura Linney, who bravely plays a sad, sweet, caring, forgiving school marm who makes a decision we cannot possibly comprehend. Was she crazy? Influenced? We don't know. The movie, because it is not about her choice but about throwing smoke into the moviegoers eyes, will not discuss it. I have not mentioned Kate Winslet. She plays the reporter to whom Gale tells his story; she is essentially used in a sickening, cruel way. I am not sure what she is doing in this movie, a slave to the idiocy of her role, going to and fro like a plot puppet. I love Kate Winslet.She is a master at divining the center of a role -- much like Meryl Streep -- and seeing that core through; she creates three dimensions where there have only been one to begin with. She can play lead, she can support, she can sidekick; there are few actors better at filling in the blanks. But she is powerless here. Absolutely powerless. In terms of intelligence and ferocity, she is Spacey's equal, and yet she is under a virtual spell in his presence. Why? My guess is Winslet followed the lead of the director, Alan Parker, and Spacey, for she thought she was in league with kings. And, at times, both Parker and Spacey have done great work. But both are given to shameless grandstanding and intellectual subversion, and it serves them both very poorly here. I'm sure they're proud of the statement they have made, and the brutality with which they made it, but "The Life of David Gale" couldn't have been any worse if George W. Bush himself sat onscreen and preached for two hours.
Rating:
Summary: Life Of David Gale
Review: Director Alan Parker has done it again.This is a provacative movie with a excellent cast.Great movie making in the tradition of "Midnight Express".Good screenplay by Charles Randolph.Kevin Spacey,Kate Winslet and Laura Linney all turn in top notch acting jobs.Zack(Gabriel Mann) as Bitsey Bloom's intern is excellent.Thrilling drama with many plot twists and a suprise ending.Looking forward to the video release.
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking, fine acting
Review: I really enjoyed The Life of David Gale, although the editing made the story feel very rushed. I love Kevin Spacey, and he gave another compelling performance in this movie. I didn't much care for the casting of Kate Winslet, though she too did a good job. I love how the movie keeps the audience guessing right up until the end. VERY strong political statements are made and really hit you over the head, but since it is supposed to be from this man's perspective, even this point can be explained and justified.
Rating:
Summary: The Life of David Gale
Review: The Life of David Gale starts off a little slow, but eventually works up to a surprising conclusion. This movie was pretty good. The performances by Laura Linney and Kate Winslet were top notch. I think this movie could have been improved a little, but all around, Alan Parker did a good job with what he had. The first few twists in the movie are very predictable, but, the last one threw me. This movie is definitely not for anyone under 16. There is one strong scene of sexuality, and there are very disturbing images of a killing. All around, the Life of David Gale is worth watching.
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