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

Alan Parker's two sons, Alexander Parker and Jake Parker composed the incidental music for the film. His younger son, Alex, composed and performed the end credits track.

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Goofs

After Gale puts his son to bed he feeds his fish. Before he feeds them you can see food floating down from a previous take.

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Quotes

David Gale: They wanted me to die, knowing the key to my freedom was out there somewhere!

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Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

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Soundtracks

La Peña Huasteca
(2001)
Written by Rafael Samperio, Willy Samperio
Performed by Correo Aereo
Courtesy of Correo Aereo

User Reviews

Illogical, Nauseating and Morally Reprehensible

If this was an "anti-death penalty" film then the filmmakers failed miserably. The characters who "prove" the inherent fallacy of the death penalty are portrayed as unscrupulous liars who conspire and manipulate the legal system by means of a staged rape/murder and a snuff tape of their friend committing suicide. In addition, the negative stereotypes in the film are abundant: The "activists" come across as over-zealous fanatics (and one martyr), the supporters of the death penalty are only portrayed as Bible-quoting rednecks, the politicians, lawyers and judges are self-serving liars that could have come out of a made-for-TV movie, etc. There is also a cowboy/left-wing extremist who lives in a dilapidated shack where he listens to opera and acts out the elaborate plans of the aforementioned conspirators. And, of course, the selfless martyrs who so cleverly beat the system to prove their valiant political cause decided to swindle half a millions dollars from a news magazine. Hmmmmm...

I don't know who made this dubious piece of junk, but my overwhelming intuition is that the director must have been one nasty, mean-spirited, nihilistic individual.