Kate Winslet, Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney

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

Flixster Users

83% liked it

20,962 ratings

Critics

20% liked it

152 critics

R, 2 hrs. 10 min.

Directed by: Alan Parker

Release Date: February 21, 2003

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DVD Release Date: July 22, 2003

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Stats: 3,136 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,136)


  • August 17, 2009
    "I am sure the filmmakers believe their film is against the death penalty. I believe it supports it and hopes to discredit the opponents of the penalty as unprincipled fraudsters." one of the critics reviews there... the critics are so wrong about it. *SPOILERS* the reason laura ...( read more)linneys character killed herself was because she was already dying of leukemia and thought it was better to go quickly than slowly and also decided to make a point. the reason kevin spaceys character essentially commited suicide also was because he'd lost his wife and son by cheating on his wife. his character also decided to make a point. critics are dopes! always enjoy watching winslet and spacey act. alan parker makes another heavily emotive reel
  • January 3, 2009
    A little pushy, a little preachy, and loaded with socio-political bias.
  • January 21, 2008
    Destined to comercial failure in the US and to be attacked and trashed by critics from the moment it was written (20% on RT?), but also the kind of film that I'm glad someone wrote. It was never supposed to be loved, on the contrary, but it did shove a couple of truths in a lot o...( read more)f people's faces, which is never confortable. The film's far from perfect, but, besides being sublemely acted (Spacey, Winslet and Linney are all in top form) it is a decent film that did its job of shaking up some consciences. And, in the end, as a thriller - despite its implausibilities - it's really a pretty darn good film.
  • November 14, 2007
    Directed by: Alan Parker.
    Starring: Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Matt Craven.

    Many of the top critics hated this film and to be honest, I held off trying to hire it because of some of there comments. I thought it be time to finally see th...( read more)e film. This is a prime example of a problematic film, one where it is flawed, messy and has to many unnecessary moments, but one that also has major potential and shows a lot of brilliance.

    The story follows David Gale, a smart minded anti-death penalty activist who seems to have everything, a strong role as a university professor and he has a wife and a beautiful kid who he loves so dearly. When he is accused of raping an expelled student and murdering a fellow activist member, he has days before he is sentenced to death. He calls upon journalist Bitsy Bloom, someone who is not only brilliant at what she does but has also had time behind bars, he meets with her to deliver the true story of his life before his meet with death. Its great to see that the film pulls away the fiction from the film and plays like it is all real, even though the character is made up. What pulls the film down though with the script is how messy and flawed it is. For the first hour it is really by the numbers, going through the tripe we all have grown to know scaringly well. The strong message of death penalty is really bought across with too much push that we are bombarded with too many unnecessary facts and it doesn't help when we really just wants a compelling viewing experience rather than Current Events 101 shoved down our throats, especially when it isn't compelling as it could and should be. The editing was too much, taking the 'facts' of the screenplay and jumping from each line to the next, making it even that more irratating....and not to mention the cuts to words written on paper and the strange camera angles by director Alan Parker.

    Thats the problems said, because behind all of these, theres a strong film wanting to get out. You have moments of tense atmosphere and one hell of an interesting and surprisingly shocking end and the movie is helped to be carried by a very strong, controlled and tense performance by my favourite actor Kevin Spacey and a convincing performance from Kate Winslet.

    At the end of the all that, I won't be watching the film again and I'd probably forget it before long. It has moments that are disturbing and tense, it carries two strong performances and has a very intense and shocking ending, but the screenplay is also messy, by the numbers and has too many facts thrown at us to make any point of the message convincing....and the terrible editing doesn't help. As Richard Roeper said, 'A dazzling mess'.
  • October 28, 2007
    Interesting commentary on the death penalty, but some of the film-making techniques (repeatedly having us read what emotions we should feel, rather than actually evoking those emotions) made me crazy.
  • October 29, 2009
    I really don't know why this movie did not get the necessary critic acclamation it deserves....as usual kevin out does his acting skills..and this story line is beyond powerful people....if you looking for a good story that will keep your mind racing..not knowing who is right or ...( read more)wrong...then this is a must see..coz the end..I gurantee is worth it!







    Super BRILL!! Needed to win an oscar..I eman really...why did they let it slide...as usual..Kevin put up a fab performance
  • October 7, 2009
    Gale is a popular, intellectually respected university lecturer who is charged with Constance's murder. Both had been active in a pressure group, fighting to repeal the death penalty. Since his arrest, he has remained silent, until now, four days before his execution.
  • October 5, 2009
    Despite of not being against capital punishment, this movie entertained me a great deal. The suspense element was of top-notch & there are enough twists until the very end of the movie. IMO, it's definitely a must watch for any mystery/suspense movie lover.
  • September 26, 2009
    If only he didn't get drunk with that college chick instead during the time.
  • September 17, 2009
    Strong performances from Spacey and Winslet are, unfortunately not enough to breathe sufficient life into this one. It?s a long way off the mark, thanks to a very complex plot, which, it has to be said, is not entirely original, nor altogether that realistic.

Critic Reviews


April 22, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

It would take an intellect far superior to mine to explain the rationale -- or, for that matter, the release -- of David Gale. full review

February 21, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

For the most part, David Gale just feels cluttered and artificial. full review

February 21, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

By the end, it reveals itself as too pat, too absurd and -- as a polemic against capital punishment -- philosophically self- defeating. full review

February 21, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A convoluted mystery that thinks it's way smarter than it is. full review

February 21, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I am sure the filmmakers believe their film is against the death penalty. I believe it supports it and hopes to discredit the opponents of the penalty as unprincipled fraudsters. full review

February 21, 2003
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Does Kevin Spacey have a weird secret? Um, yeah, as always. But this death-penalty fable is so overwrought, no one will care. full review

February 20, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Parker uses the same overbearing touch in David Gale that he did in Angela's Ashes and Mississippi Burning. full review

View more The Life of David Gale reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • MorpheusOne
    February 22, 2008
    "Somebody Has To Shoot The Picture", which has yet to be added to Flixter and I have contacted them like a dozen times to add this movie, appears to be a much better and much more compelling than The Life Of David Gale, but I can not definitively say that & will not at least until I see this film.

    Whether you are against the death penalty or not, if you found The Life Of David Gale & the subject matter interesting & treated with respect, or perhaps if you are at the other end of the spectrum & you feel that this movie sucked & the subject matter was treated with great disrespect, regardless, see "Somebody Has To Shoot The Picture"!!!

    Find out more about it here! - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100659/fullcredits#cast
  • binky013
    November 23, 2006
    Man, I hate to Winslet waste her chances on this kind of thing. Come on, Kate, you're sitting in the catbird seat. Pick your projects with care.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Life of David Gale Trivia


  • In which film is Kevin Spacey on death row?   Answer »
  • This actress has heard The Life of David Gale, befriended JM Barrie and found out that her mind was perfectly spotless - who is she?   Answer »
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  • Which Actress Was: -Rose DeWitt Bukater In Titanic -Clementine Kruczynski In Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind -Sylvia Llewelyn Davies In Finding Neverland -Tula In Romance And Cigarettes -Bitsey Bloom In The Life Of David Gale  Answer »

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