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The Life of David Gale (2003)

7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 60,410 users   Metascore: 31/100
Reviews: 404 user | 133 critic | 36 from Metacritic.com

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

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Title: The Life of David Gale (2003)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Barbara Kreuster
Constance Jones ...
Reporter A.J. Roberts
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Lee Ritchey ...
Joe Mullarkey
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Motel Waitress
Cindy Waite ...
Margie
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Jesse De Luna ...
Supervising Guard
Vernon Grote ...
Door Guard
...
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Storyline

Dr. David Gale, an advocate of eliminating the death penalty, is accused of rape and murder. Once convicted, he ends up on death row in Texas himself, telling his story to a reporter through a series of flashbacks. Written by Jason Smith

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The crime is clear. The truth is not.

Genres:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images, nudity, language and sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

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Language:

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Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Das Leben des David Gale  »

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$252,944 (Spain) (6 June 2003)

Gross:

$205,747 (South Africa) (13 June 2003)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Matt Craven did his own driving for the chase scene. See more »

Goofs

Towards the end of the film, Sharon Gale, David's wife, receives the silver suitcase with the post card from Berlin in it. The postcard was mailed from San Francisco to Texas but has no postmark on it in the upper right hand corner as it should. See more »

Quotes

David Gale: We spend our whole life trying to stop death. Eating, inventing, loving, praying, fighting, killing. But what do we really know about death? Just that nobody comes back. Then there comes a point - a moment - in life when your mind outlives its desires, its obsessions, when your habits survive your dreams, and when your losses... Maybe death is a gift. You wonder. All I can tell you is that by this time tomorrow I'll be dead. I know when. I just cannot say why. You have 24 hours to find out.
See more »

Connections

Features Wagon Train (1957) See more »

Soundtracks

"Tiemblo"
(A.T. Molina Remix) (1999)
Written by Elvis Crespo
Performed by Elvis Crespo
Courtesy of Sony Discos, Inc.
Under License from Sony Discos, Inc.
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
See more »

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User Reviews

 
An extremely thought provoking movie
18 October 2004 | by (Townsville, Australia) – See all my reviews

Kevin Spacey stars as David Gale, a life long campaigner against the death penalty finds himself on death row after being found guilty of the rape and murder of a fellow anti-execution campaigner. Kate Winslet is the reporter who interviews Gale during his last three days and she is convinced of his guilt and need to be executed, but as she interviews Gale she begins to question his guilt.

This was a great story very well told without deteriorating into a 'execution is wrong' lecture. And as usual, Kevin Spacey's performance is fantastic. Because of the twists and the amount of after-thought it provoked, I give 'The Life of David Gale' 8/10.


83 of 120 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Did Gale intend for it to end like it did? AllyWheels
Why did Roger Ebert trash this movie? foundgoat
So Gale basically committed...... jami1331
pointless movie sunny49
Is this movie pro- or anti- death penalty? ts_flanders
what I dont get is... nor21
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