The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...for six years. Convicted of the sadistic rape and murder of his friend and colleague, it is just three days before his execution and all appeals and stays are exhausted. In return for a payment of half a million dollars, he grants his first interviews – one two hour session for each of the three days – to "kiddie porn" investigative journalist Bitsey Bloom. Gale had been a successful college professor and – in a supreme irony - a committed campaigner ...
...had ruined Gale's career. Although the student dropped the charges eventually, mud had stuck as it always sticks. Gale's wife left him, taking their young son - and light of Gale's life - with her. He lost his job and sunk into depression and the bottle. When his friend, ex-colleague and fellow campaigner, Constance, was found raped and asphyxiated, Gale's name, unsurprisingly, fitted the frame. What he has to say to Bloom casts more than a reasonable ...

jillmurphy 23.03.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...father and active opponent of the death penalty. When he is found guilty of the rape and murder of a fellow campaigner, he is sentenced to death. In the final days before his execution, he contacts a public affairs magazine and offers his story to a young journalist, named Bitsy Bloom, whose work he has read and previously admired. He grants her three two-hour interviews, one on each of the days prior to his execution. Initially, he advises her that ...
...story, but as the interviews progress, Bitsy finds herself drawn into the man’s life story, and he ultimately requests that she he help him clear his name. But with few clues, little evidence and a distinct lack of time, is Bitsy up to the task? The truth is out there – but it may not be quite what Bitsy was expecting. Powerful, evocative and intriguing, The Life of David Gale is a lengthy and yet very absorbing piece of cinema. Initially, I expected ...

LostWitness 20.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

Entering the world of film reviews, the following is my review of the Film “The Life of David Gale” which is on general release from 14 March 2003, and which I saw this evening at UCI Clydebank. Now many seasoned opinion writers will probably have more than one good idea about how to get admitted to movies for free and in advance of the launch date. However, to save writing a whole separate review on the subject, my quick tip is to log on to www.firstmovies.com, ...
...come up and await the invitations to drop into your inbox. All you then have to do is take a print of the email to the cinema, watch the film and provide a response to a quick email the following day. What could be easier? Back to the movie. “The Life of David Gale” is set primarily in Texas. Kevin Spacey plays Gale, and he is a gifted and passionate Academic, Author and Professor at a Texas university. He is also an avid campaigner to abolish the ...

helencbradshaw 05.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

Pardon the silly play on rhymes, but really, what else can I say? Sorry to bring the good vibes in Galedom to a crashing halt, but Ciao works because people like me are prepared to be unpopular. A warning. This review does not exactly contain spoilers. HOWEVER!!!! At the end I'm listing certain questions (read: gaping holes) the film raised in a separate bit. YOU WILL BE GIVEN WARNING TO LOOK AWAY. LOTS of warning. But I'm telling you now as well ...
...Right, onto the film. STORY: Philosophy Professor David Gale is having a bit of a time of it, to say the least. A vixenish minx of a student seduces him and then cries rape, ruining his career even though she then withdraws the charges. His other big obsession, as a member of the death penalty abolitionist group, Deathwatch, is also falling apart, when he is humiliated on TV by a strident Texan governor and told to steer clear of the organisation ...

ruth_cole 28.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...believed. How it balances the issues involved, and how thrilling it actually is, you will hopefully learn from the following. Kevin Spacey plays the title character, who is actually only fourth in the end credits scroll-up. David Gale is a professor of philosophy with a winning way with the students, and a side-line in being an active campaigner against the death penalty across America. He's a bit less effective at that, however - we see him on ...
...also has a fondness for the bottle, for reasons we soon see. The film opens with the latest news to make David Gale an even bigger name across America - the fact that his last appeal has been turned down, and in four days' time, he will be executed for a rape and murder of a friend and colleague. Yes, Gale has gone from Kevin Spacey's usual short beige anorak (why do all his films feature him in a short beige anorak?!) to wearing one of those exclusive ...

theediscerning 14.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

This film begins with the ending but I won't tell you what happens. We are introduced to Kate Winslet's character, Bitsy Bloom she recently did a very good article on children's porn. David Gale obviously read it because he wanted her to do a story on her before his death, he wanted the world to know his life story and to be remembered and portrayed in a good way. She is the only journalist getting to go, it's exclusive. So we then see Bitsy travelling ...
...more questions are answered and the more she finds out about David. Kevin Spacey is David Gale and he is really good at the part, He has taught philosophy and has a good way of teaching, very friendly not so strict. The students seem to have a good time in their lesson and also participate and make jokes. We then see one student who later we find out is called Berlin come in late. The bell rings then Berlin is talking to David saying that she will ...

ms19 29.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...Punishment by death. Abolished in the UK in 1965 for all crimes but treason. However, is retained in many other countries including USA, France and USSR. In 1972 the US Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, a cruel and unusual punishment, but decided in 1976 that this was not so in all circumstances. It was therefore reintroduced in some states (approx. 37 States). Many states believe it is pure justice – just treatment and fairness, an eye ...
...What is your view on the subject? Do you have one? Or do you think that you don’t need one due to the fact that you don’t live in a state/country that conducts it? Whether or not you are for or against capital punishment, it happens despite the opinions of the people. State governors feel the system works in spite of the various studies which have shown that states which instill the capital punishment laws have many more murders and punishable-by-death ...

MissOpinion 16.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

The film opens in a prison with the community liaison officer speaking on the phone. He is explaining to the caller the difference between European justice and Texas justice. A topical point this as it nicely sums up George W Bush's take on foreign policy. As a little aside George W was once govenor of Texas, and as such responsible for penal policy. Several small references are made to this through the course of the film. We are then introduced ...
...Winslet) and her sidekick, as the prison officer takes them through the dos and don'ts of visiting a prisoner on death row. It turns out that they are visiting the eponymous subject of the film David Gale (the always excellent Kevin Spacey). In a mixture of flashback and live action David Gale's story and Bitsey's investigation to try and clear his name unfold. Over the course of the film David goes from respected philosophy Professor and anti capital ...

gshughes 13.03.2003 (14.03.2003) · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

This is one of the most gripping and entertaining masterpieces I have ever seen. On one hand it can be reviewed as a stimulating, on the edge of your seat thriller while it also has to be recognised as a film attempting to portray a liberal and moral message. It's one that cannot be missed! THE ACTORS/ACTORESSES Kate Winslet - Also starred in Titanic, Hideous Kinky, Enigma and in the forthcoming Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Described ...
...in it, fabulous! She plays the role of Bitsy Bloon, jounalist investigating the Story of David Gale. Kevin Spacey - Also starred in American Beauty, The Shipping News and K-Pax. Not your typical Hollywood hunk but nontheless this actor has acheieved 2 Oscars and 1 Bafta award, quite a success. He plays David Gale, the man accused of the murder and rape of his colleague and friend. Laura Linney - Also starred in The House of Mirth, Primal Fear and ...

s_jones_2003 18.03.2004 (23.04.2004) · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...just too irresistable to ignore. The Life of David Gale, for me, is one of these. An edgy thriller about a man on death row with just days before his last meal? With Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet (whom i have loved since Titanic and American Beauty)? It sounded too good to be true. But then came the bad reviews...'Spacey could play this role in his sleep', 'Winslet is the saving grace of a horrific film' and that put me off slightly. But not too ...
...I went to the cinema with my sister, waited until the lights went down, and from the atmospheric start, with a frantic Winslet running through the countryside after her car breaks down (very clever technique of showing some of the end, you thinking you know what's going to happen and then surprising you after all) I was hooked. Mesmerised. I simply couldn't tear my eyes and my mind away from the screen. As the story unfolded i didn't think about ...

franproc 17.06.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...Kevin Spacey is David Gale, the professor and a main character, a heading death-penalty competitor who finds himself on Texas' death row after being convicted of the rape and murder of a woman (Laura Linney). With only days remaining until his execution, Gale agrees to talk with Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet), a magazine journalist with a reputation of chasing the truth, as well as for protecting the identities and rights of her interviewed subjects. ...
...Gale, by an activist of the same cause as D. Gale. Film never completely reveals the logical reason for the set up. At first, Gale seems a fascinating, a brilliant academic and political idealist, head of the philosophy department at Texas University. On the other hand, he's an alcoholic who looks up to the advances of a sexy student (Rhona Mitra) looking for a better grade, ending up jobless and accused of rape. But when we discover videotape evidence ...

barefoot777 25.06.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

The Life of David Gale is definately worth seeing. It's thought provoking, beautiful to watch, well acted and suspenseful. The plot is this: David Gale (Kevin Spacey), an anti-death penalty activist is on death row for the rape and murder of a fellow activist. (An earlier "trouble", which brought about his personal and professional downfall, got him Death Row instead of Life). Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet)is the NEWSMagazine reporter granted 3 interviews ...
...he may tell her. As the interviews progress, however, it becomes increasingly likely that he WAS framed. Can Bitsey save him in time? OK, word of advice. Avoid ANYONE who even hints at telling you how this ends!! I mean it. It'll ruin the ending for you. And this movie is ultimately all about the ending. So, walk out of the room, close the browser window, cover your ears and sing a little tune. Do whatever you have to. David Gale does lose everything ...

misnomer17 10.08.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

The Life of David Gale isn't a new film, it was released in 2003. Directed by Alan Parker, who was also responsible for "Angela's Ashes", Mississippi Burning and The Commitments, this film is well directed and filmed and I was not surprised at how much I enjoyed the film. The Life of David Gale was nominated for 2 awards - one at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2003 and one at the Political Film Festival in 2004. I am stunned that the film ...
...with a scene from near the end of the movie with Bitsy Bloom, journalist, played by Kate Winslet, running frantically down a dusty track gripping a video tape. She is clearly distressed. This scene grabs your attention from the first few minutes - it definitely had me under its spell! As the plot unfolds, you are introduced to David Gale, a university professor, played by Kevin Spacey, who is heavily involved in a project named "Death Watch" which ...

weaholt 03.09.2006 (06.09.2006) · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

Since the day i first watched American Beauty ive become an avid Kevin Spacey fan. Every film of his that i watch seems to have an amazing storyline with a great twist at the end. So naturally when this film came out i was the first to go and see it! As usual i wasnt disappointed and it has now become one of my favourite films with Spacey in. Spacey plays a man who has been on death row for 6 years for the brutal murder of his close friend. Three ...
...race against time to discover the truth about what happened and whether he really is guilty. Its quite a fast paced film with Winslet having only 3days to find the truth and no-one believing her. As she begins to discover what really happened that night both she and the audience get the chance to decide whether we belive he is innocent or as guilty as the rest do. The acting in this film is brilliant with Spacey playing the accused man convincingly, ...

bec55 22.02.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)

...wasn't very well publicised at the time of release and to be honest the title put me off, made it seem like a boring old death row movie in the line of 'Monsters ball' and 'The green mile' Is isnt possible to say very much about this film without spoiling a suprise or two but basically it is based around the story of David Gale; a man on death row for murdering fellow member of 'death watch' a group who (ironically)campaign against the death penalty ...
...prove his innocence. The life of David Gale has a stunningly well written script full of twists and turns. This is actually not a true story which i was quite shocked by as it seems so likely that Gale could be a real man. Unfortunately i found that because you know what happens after the first viewing its not that great to watch over and over again. Spacey is fantastic i found myself sitting up in my seat ( trying to avoid using the edge of the ...

kirstyxxx69 29.01.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Life Of David Gale (DVD)