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Kevin Spacey (American Beauty) plays David Gale, a brilliant but hard-drinking anti-death penalty crusader on death row for a rape and murder that he claims he didn't commit. The victim of the crime is Gale's close friend and anti-death penalty colleague (Laura Linney,You Can Count On Me), so Gale argues that he's been set up to discredit the cause. Committed journalist Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet,Titanic) takes it upon herself to figure the whole thing out--and so we follow her through a ridiculous plot full of supposedly shocking twists that are telegraphed far in advance and make very little sense when they arrive. The overwritten script tries to cover too many hot-button issues and gives Spacey way too many showy scenes where he gets to be passionate and caring, which is creepier than his psychopath roles inThe Usual SuspectsandSeven.--Bret Fetzer
The labyrinth of Death Row If you're looking to see a different sort of Death Row movie, this one is for you. Most DR films deal with the psychology of waiting around to die. This one does cover this issue, but goes well beyond that. It's a DR movie that almost plays out like a murder mystery.
Kevin Spacey turns in a wonderful performance of a professor @ the university of Texas who ends up landing in Death Row for murder 1. It is fitting that the film takes place in TX as it is the "center of gravity" insofar as the Death Penalty is concerned. People on both sides of the issue are very outspoken in TX, perhaps more than any other state in the union.
People who have a morbid fascination with DR flicks (like me!) will love this movie. Those who enjoy murder mysteries will also like to give this one a viewing. Be forewarned, however: it is gripping.
Wow, totally blown away. Thankyou Alan Parker* Under-The-Radar film that I put off watching for awhile, and finally, almost grudgingly watched. You think it's a journey into the mind of a seriel-killer or something, no. It's actually a brilliant movie as well as a 'taut' thriller.
Not what I expected at ALL. And it's just a Blow-you-away (with a brain) movie. We're lucky that solid people like Alan Parker don't care about political crap and just do what they love to do, make a good effing movie that makes you think a little. And even though it's totally gone by un-noticed, I'm glad he did it. And thankyou to the writer who gave a special gift in the writing.
Extremely well written by Charles Randolph (?-I think that's his last name) who brought a realistic acedemia feel to the Professor and brilliance to The Life of David Gale.
I don't want to give anything away, seriously just go rent it, buy it, or whatever, just see it. You won't be disappointed.
Movie rhythm off kilter I was confused by the ending.
We begin with Kate Winslet and her partner flying to Texas reponding to a request for a personal interview with the condemned David Gale. As Gale tells his story, you automatically determine he's innocent; therefore, the movie becomes all about who framed him and for what reason? Can Kate Winslet get the evidence to the public in time before David Gale is executed? Finding out whodunnit is almost too easy since Gale shows no urgency in trying to escape his fate. Nonetheless, the movie throws in useless red herrings, ineffectively trying to be unpredictable and poorly meshing the suspense with the film's "Scooby Doo" mystery feel. This messes up the movie rhythm entirely. Part mystery, part suspense, part human interest and part politcal...too many agendas in one film.
I guess I was expecting something profound and shocking like "Silence of the Lambs". But it was not.
