MOVIE - THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE - Review Rating $$$ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - Kevin Spacey (David Gale), Kate Winslet (Bitsy), Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Matt Craven, Rhona Mitra, Leon Rippy & Jim Beaver.
Director - Alan Parker (Angel Heart, Mississippi Burning, Angela's Ashes, The Commitments)
The fictional story of an opponent of the death penalty ending up on death row in Texas for a crime he did not commit.
The Life of David Gale wears its politics on its sleeve. Unfortunately, the cloth from which the sleeve is made from is not the best quality. First time screenwriter, Charles Randolph, a former philosophy professor, wrings all life out of an interesting premise. The very serious subject of the merits of the death penalty is undermined by the highly contrived story line.
The script is so bad that some of Hollywood's biggest talents can't earn a stay of execution for the film. Kevin Spacey, in particular, can't seem to make up his mind how to portray Gale. The end result is not only unconvincing but unsympathetic too. The one bright spot is the performance of Kate Winslet.
David Gale, the philosophy professor, warns his students about being careful of what they wish for. He argues that a life measured by the number of toys you have is an empty life because things desired, once obtained, are no longer desirable. The Life of David Gale makes this point only too well. Once seen you may wish you hadn't bothered going in the first place.
FULL REVIEW OF THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS
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