The Life of David Gale (2003)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Alan Parker

Writer (WGA):

Charles Randolph (written by)

Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The crime is clear. The truth is not.

Plot:

A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Murder | Death Row | Texas | Reporter

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Kate Winslet	...	Bitsey Bloom
Cleo King	...	Barbara Kreuster
Constance Jones	...	Reporter A.J. Roberts
Kevin Spacey	...	David Gale
Laura Linney	...	Constance Harraway
Lee Ritchey	...	Joe Mullarkey
Gabriel Mann	...	Zack Stemmons
Matt Craven	...	Dusty Wright
Brandy Little	...	Motel Waitress
Cindy Waite	...	Margie
Jim Beaver	...	Duke Grover
Leon Rippy	...	Braxton Belyeu
Jesse De Luna	...	Supervising Guard
Vernon Grote	...	Door Guard
Rhona Mitra	...	Berlin

Also Known As:

Das Leben des David Gale (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for violent images, nudity, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:MA | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Canada:14A | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #39213) | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Nicole Kidman was the original choice to play Bitsey, but she turned down the role.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Constance is telling David he's on sabbatical, she says, "It was four to two," but her mouth is not moving at all.

Quotes:

Braxton Belyeu: I'm no more afraid of the Grim Reaper than I am of a Presbyterian on Mother's Day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Will Ferrell/Queens of the Stone Age (#30.19)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Tiemblo

An extremely thought provoking movie

Kevin Spacey stars as David Gale, a life long campaigner against the death penalty finds himself on death row after being found guilty of the rape and murder of a fellow anti-execution campaigner. Kate Winslet is the reporter who interviews Gale during his last three days and she is convinced of his guilt and need to be executed, but as she interviews Gale she begins to question his guilt.

This was a great story very well told without deteriorating into a 'execution is wrong' lecture. And as usual, Kevin Spacey's performance is fantastic. Because of the twists and the amount of after-thought it provoked, I give 'The Life of David Gale' 8/10.