The Life of David Gale Movie Review 2003

David Gale (Spacey) is an anti-death penalty activist awaiting his execution after being convicted for the rape and murder of his collegue Constance (Linney, in the film's only worthy performance). Told in flashback to hard-boiled reporter Bitsey (Winslet), his story plays out from his fall from respected philosophy professor to boorish drunk after an ill-advised dalliance with a student turns into a rape accusation. Pick your poison with this one. If you want social commentary, the heavy-handed diatribes and speechifying will assault you while you wait for the murder mystery-thriller elements to insult your intelligence with their telegraphed clues and convoluted, implausible plots and red herrings. Even more of a spectacular failure at blending the two genres than "Mississippi Burning."

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 130 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Death Row, Front Page, Mystery & Suspense, Men in Prison, Flashback, Interviews, Texas

Screenplay

Charles Randolph

Cast

Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Matt Craven, Rhona Mitra, Leon Rippy, Jim Beaver

Cinematography

Michael Seresin

Director

Alan Parker

Music

Alex Parker, Jake Parker

Other

David MacMillan, Gerry Hambling, Renee Ehrlich Kalfus, Geoffrey Kirkland

Producer

Alan Parker, Nicolas Cage, Saturn Films, Dirty Hands, Universal Pictures