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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE
The Life of David Gale

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The Life of David Gale (2003)

20%
15%
69%
N/A
N/A
N/A
20 %
Reviews Counted: 152 Fresh: 30  Rotten:122 Average Rating: 4.2/10
 
Consensus: Instead of offering a convincing argument against the death penalty, this implausible, convoluted thriller pounds the viewer over the head with its message. Instead of offering a convincing argument against the death penalty, this implausible, convoluted thriller pounds the viewer over the head with its message. more
 
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 11 mins
Theatrical Release: Feb 21, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $19,593,740
Synopsis:
Gale (Kevin Spacey) is a Texas professor and anti-death penalty activist who, ironically enough, winds up on death row for the rape and murder of a colleague. Kate Winslet plays Bitsey Bloom, the brave journalist who sets out to tell to his story. In the days leading up to his execution, Gale... [More]
Gale (Kevin Spacey) is a Texas professor and anti-death penalty activist who, ironically enough, winds up on death row for the rape and murder of a colleague. Kate Winslet plays Bitsey Bloom, the brave journalist who sets out to tell to his story. In the days leading up to his execution, Gale fills her in on his life via flashbacks, which include political debates, lectures, sex with a student, rape allegations, alcoholism, divorce, and despair. As the hour of his doom approaches, Bitsey becomes convinced that Gale is the victim of a shadowy political conspiracy and races against the clock to prove his innocence. Director Alan Parker (MISSISSIPPI BURNING) manages to deliver a strong anti-capital punishment message alongside enough twists, turns and shocking moments to keep viewers perched at the edges of their seats. Winslet and Spacey are both riveting in the leads, but its Laura Linney as Gale's alleged victim--a fellow anti-capital punishment activist and close friend--who makes the biggest impression. Gabriel Mann also scores points in a sympathetic role as Bitsey's intern. Nicholas Cage served as the film's producer. The musical score is by Parker's two sons, Jake and Alex. [Less]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney, Kate Winslet, Gabriel Mann, Leon Rippy

Director: Alan Parker
Screenwriter: Charles Randolph
Producer: Nicolas Cage, Alan Parker, Moritz Borman, Guy East
Composer: Alex Parker, Jake Parker

DVD Info

Release:

Jun 29, 2004

[DVD Details]

D-VHS Features:

  • Note: D-VHS hardware required
  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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06/24/06 04:27 AM
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
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12/06/05 07:32 PM
Film Threat
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12/06/05 07:32 PM
Film Threat
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09/26/05 03:15 AM
Onion AV Club
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The filmmakers work so hard to bewilder and to preach that they give us no opportunity to think clearly about the serious life-and-death issues that the film claims to address.

Full Review | Comment
01/15/05 10:21 PM
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
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Como suspense, o filme não desaponta. Porém, a ambiguidade moral de seus ‘heróis’ acaba por transmitir uma mensagem oposta àquela que o filme pretende defender.

| Comment
06/04/04 09:44 PM
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
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Full Review | Comment
03/16/04 05:11 PM
Jamie Gillies
Apollo Guide
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01/07/04 05:03 PM
Liz Beardsworth
Empire Magazine
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... [Alan] Parker lures you into the theater, but then you sit down and all he has waiting for you is a whoopee cushion.

Full Review | Comment
01/06/04 08:25 AM
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
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In arguing that calmly and deliberately taking a life can never be justified... it ends up arguing just the opposite. It’s bad drama and worse politics.

Full Review | Comment
01/06/04 06:24 AM
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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In spite of my own feelings about the death penalty issue, I felt an overwhelming urge to strap this movie to a table and administer some punishment myself.

Full Review | Comment
12/05/03 08:06 AM
Mike Pinsky
Daily-Reviews
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11/11/03 05:03 PM
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
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The film is so expertly crafted that it becomes an effective thriller. It is not, however, an indictment of the death penalty.

Full Review | Comment
08/01/03 12:40 PM
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal
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It isn't long before we yearn to see David Gale as the poster-boy for deserved capital punishment.

Full Review | Comment
07/16/03 10:44 PM
Mike Sage
Peterborough This Week
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LThe Life of David Gale goes quietly into that good night during the doldrums of February, when studios discard their noble failures. . .

Full Review | Comment
06/05/03 09:49 AM
Todd Gilchrist
FilmStew.com
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I appear to be alone in my adoration of this strong film...

Full Review | Comment
05/30/03 08:03 AM
Emily Blunt
Blunt Review
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Dead Man Walking if written by Charlie Kaufman.

Full Review | Comment
05/28/03 11:16 AM
Stephen Himes
Film Snobs
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05/20/03 05:05 PM
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
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. When all is said and done, The Life of David Gale is thus only worth about $8.50 on a cheap Tuesday. .

Full Review | Comment
05/18/03 07:18 PM
Shannon J. Harvey
Sunday Times (Australia)
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'A pesar de las infundadas críticas en su contra, Alan Parker logra un trabajo estupendamente llevado a la pantalla al que vale mucho la pena echarle un vistazo'

Full Review | Comment
05/12/03 03:34 PM
Jorge Avila Andrade
Moviola
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Related Forums

REEL_REVIEWER
THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE - Anti-'Capital Punishment' thriller is preaching to the choir
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/23/05


REEL_REVIEWER
THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE - Anti-'Capital Punishment' thriller is preaching to the choir
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/23/05


REEL_REVIEWER
THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE - Anti-'Capital Punishment' thriller is preaching to the choir
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/23/05


REEL_REVIEWER
THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE - Anti-'Capital Punishment' thriller is preaching to the choir
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/23/05


someone please help me, I didn't understand....
by: tammyjason 12/18/04
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• The Life of David Gale at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Life of David Gale at IGN
• The Life of David Gale at AskMen
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