The Life of David Gale (2003)

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

Director:

Alan Parker

Writer:

Charles Randolph

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Winslet	...	Bitsey Bloom
Cleo King	...	Barbara Kreuster
Constance Jones	...	Reporter A.J. Roberts
Kevin Spacey	...	David Gale
Laura Linney	...	Constance Harraway
Lee Ritchey	...	Joe Mullarkey
Gabriel Mann	...	Zack Stemmons
Matt Craven	...	Dusty Wright
Brandy Little	...	Motel Waitress
Cindy Waite	...	Margie
Jim Beaver	...	Duke Grover
Leon Rippy	...	Braxton Belyeu
Jesse De Luna	...	Supervising Guard
Vernon Grote	...	Door Guard
Rhona Mitra	...	Berlin

Storyline

When anti-death-penalty activist David Gale is convicted and condemned to death for the murder of a colleague, reporter Bitsey Bloom sets out to learn the story behind Gale's crime. What she finds challenges her belief in Gale's guilt and, finally, in the justice system.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | rape | female rear nudity | committing suicide while naked | charged with rape | 

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Taglines:

The crime is clear. The truth is not.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images, nudity, language and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA Germany UK Spain

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Leben des David Gale

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,117,225, 23 February 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$19,593,740, 30 March 2003

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,971,092, 6 November 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Intermedia Films, Dirty Hands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roger Ebert gave zero stars for this movie in his review, writing it: "Spacey and Parker are honorable men. Why did they go to Texas and make this silly movie? The last shot made me want to throw something at the screen--maybe Spacey and Parker."

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Goofs

At the end when Kate Winslet receives the Fed Ex box she opens it easily from the end. Fed Ex boxes have pull tabs that you pull to open, and if you decide you want to open the box at the end it is not as easy as she made it look.

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Quotes

Berlin: There once was a girl named Berlin. Who wanted it now and again. Not "now and again". But Now! And again and again and again.

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Connections

Referenced in Cult Legends and Rising Stars: Cult Legends: Joe Estevez (2013)

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Soundtracks

Richest One
(1993)
Written by Bill Carter
Performed by Toni Price
Courtesy of Antone's Records / Texas Music Group

User Reviews

Smart story-telling with twists, great acting yet shoddy tempo

Twisting and turning, this film uses great actors and direction for an interesting story: is David Gale, staunch opponent of the death penalty, guilty of rape and murder? Kate Winslet plays a journalist who is to interview Gale three days prior to his execution on the fourth. One follows Gale's story as he tells it, and it wavers from heart-wrenching to horrid, exciting to sluggish. Is the man guilty or innocent? Will the journalist unveil anything? And who's the cowboy? I really liked the film, much because of Alan Parker's special sense of pathos, but also because of the very good acting and radiant story. If it weren't for the shoddy sense of tempo, I'd say this film would deserve a place next to "The Usual Suspects", in a weird way.