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SummaryDavid Gale (Spacey) is a man who has tried to live by his principles, but in a bizarre twist of fate, this devoted father, popular professor and respected death penalty opponent finds himself on Death Row for the rape and murder of a fellow activist (Linney). He decides to confide in a reporter (Winslet) who quickly realizes that a man's life is ... Read More

Directed By:Alan Parker

Written By:Charles Randolph

The Life of David Gale

Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
31
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
11% Positive
4 Reviews
47% Mixed
17 Reviews
42% Negative
15 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
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  • Negative Reviews
75
ReelViews
The picture is neither flawless nor foolproof, but it's smart and tight enough to keep audiences off-balance and entertained for the running length.
50
Charlotte Observer
Randolph and Parker play fair with us, setting up a motive early and clearly. Yet whether you buy the motive or find it far-fetched, it almost immediately tells you who's responsible for the death.
User score
Generally Favorable
61% Positive
59 Ratings
28% Mixed
27 Ratings
10% Negative
10 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Jan 21, 2026
10
famfacat
The brutal machinery of an ultimate sacrifice: A 5.0-star "sensational" surge of rhythmic human distrust.2011 (5.0)I watched "The Life of David Gale" in 2011, and it delivered a visceral "revelation" that solidified its position as a definitive 5.0-star pillar in my archive. This film **** the fourth wall of typical legal dramas by plunging me into a high-tension abyss of moral ambiguity and "raw" human desperation. The narrative rhythm was far from "stagnant"; instead, it offered a "chewy" and sophisticated exploration of belief systems and the "pathetic" flaws within the justice system, leading to an emotional payoff that left me in a state of absolute "hororong." Seeing the "vivid" transformation of an activist into a martyr provided a "sensational" rhythmic shock that resonated with my deepest appreciation for stories that expose the "raw" complexity of the human soul. The 95% preservation of my memory is dominated by the high-tension countdown to the execution and the visceral "revelation" of the final tape, creating a permanent, "raw" scar of existential dread on my soul. Unlike the "1.0-star traumas" of my record, this masterpiece possessed a rebellious and "vivid" soul that challenged my perceptions of truth and sacrifice. It stands as a powerful 5.0-star testament to the "raw" power of convictions and the "sensational" rhythm of a perfectly executed twist—a high-tension encounter with "human distrust" that remains one of the most "vividly" haunting memories of my 2011 archive.
Sep 9, 2010
10
RONGIU
Sorry for the translation, in mechanical. The news: "Abuse a child and then kill." For "his" father and "his" mother open the doors of "non-sense of Life." I, as a reaction manifest emotional reading or hearing this news? Anger, rage, anger, disgust, contempt and then? And then return to "my" peaceful world, shut off "the others and their problems. "One more news, unfortunately." There is only one name to give to my attitude. Indifference. It 'a very serious illness, experts say. Symptoms: Do not want to understand, not wanting to speak, not wanting to participate in drama to make an informed choice. The "never happen to me" is the motto of indifference. Is not a film to change the "certainty" of people. One film, if done well, can help you reflect, perhaps to illuminate the shadows still unexplored. Discussions, debates, meetings, research, well-being. The target is centered. Falls into error, I think, who think that "The Life of David Gale" is a film for the Texans, or other states, far from it. Texas does not need these films. Why? Becouse this people familiar with the offenses that can lead you to lethal injection. It is, however, a punch in the stomach for the rest of the globe, this drama lives it only indirectly. Think, is not fiction stage for the parties involved, who live "intus et in cute" the execution of a sentence, most often immutable. Time adversary, inquisitorial, indictment, the bench, reading the verdict, death row, employees injection, printing, Forum for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and so on. It 's a tragedy without end, even turns into tragedy when curtain time and alternate judges as much on the trial. So what about the victims on the attackers. The Life of David Gale, in my opinion, a good movie. Is in the dialogues that I see so much sap. Are endless dialogues to release particles of emotional intensity, giving strength and character to most of the work. Philosopher and rookie screenwriter Charles Randolph gives to Alan Parker, director, a strong screenplay. The film is a work with content suitable for persons who want to think, reflect, ask questions, put a strain on their beliefs. Who wants to do, sit in a chair, will not be disappointed. Spacey (philosophy professor) and Laura Linney (Constance) are people "triadic" - body, mind, spirit, are committed to a very noble goal. Fight for "life" of those condemned to death. Question: - The film's characters are presented as the fanatical extremists of an idea, a proposal or as a people full of passion, transport for that idea? This is important, I think the difference is substantial advantage or disadvantage of static or dynamic of the film, it does not deserve, I believe, hasty judgments. Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet), a young but established journalist is asked by David Gale, sentenced to death three days before the execution to hear his story. During the three meetings the journalist did not "only limited to listening," onset of action. A story to follow with a final not so obvious. P.S. Personally privilege the person who asks questions and I have many reservations for who is considered the holder of certainties. I prefer the question mark (?) That exclamation mark (!). Good Ciak!
50
USA Today
Soon, the audience feels its own sense of despair -- for a movie that might have worked but didn't.
40
Salon
Becomes more and more preposterous with each scene -- it's almost like performance art.
30
Dallas Observer
Some of this stuff should give you some good laughs. Unfortunately, the film's not a comedy, and once the conservative-bashing wears off, the alleged thriller elements kick in. Too bad that for you, the viewer, there's still another hour to go.
0
Wall Street Journal
Unlike "Dead Man Walking" and many honorable dramas before it, "David Gale" has nothing coherent to say about capital punishment, or anything else. It's a dead film lurching.
See All 36 Critic Reviews
Apr 19, 2021
8
DogeGamer2015
Es un drama legal que impacta y sorprende con la trama; además, las actuaciones de Kate Winslet y Kevin Spacey son excelentes.
Jan 21, 2024
6
drlowdon
David Gale, a former professor and anti-capital punishment activist, finds himself on death row having been convicted of murder. With only a few days until his execution, a journalist is given access to hear his story. The Life of David Gale has too many, often slightly implausible, twists and turns for it’s own good but the central performances from Kate Winslet and Kevin Spacey (If you can get past his recent off-screen issues) do just enough to keep the movie from completely collapsing under its own weight.
Jul 6, 2011
5
Bones
the first few minutes of the film are very bearable, and you can see the movie is being supported by actors who are very good at what they do and a nice director. the movie brings so many questions and doesn't answer them, sometimes it's not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case - it's very bad. you feel like it wants to be a very exciting thriller but it fails exactly when it gets to the last scene, after you see it it seems like they wanted to grab everyone's attention and make the film memorable - didn't work on me. not worth watching - next
Mar 30, 2021
3
geewah
This long winded, over melodramatic flick does more damage than good for the cause it's trying to shine a light on. And the ending. My god what was that all about.
Nov 7, 2020
2
KenR
At the outset, this looked as if it might offer some initial entertainment but that ended very early on - following one perverse scene after another. Grotty writing combined with Alan Parker’s morose direction tried to manipulate our emotions - to prove that some people with a cause will commit almost any crime to win points their way. This certainly won’t help the Anti-Death Penalty or **** causes or much of any other cause - as most of the participant’s actions (on both sides) are presented as moronic, dishonest, vulgar and self-serving. This movie takes a typically ‘modern’ Hollywood approach, in all departments, and fails to connect with any real honesty or believability, instead, aiming for sensationalized crudeness. Performances varying from fairly good to by the numbers doesn’t help. The easily pleased will get caught up - but from the look of the box office returns, there weren’t many of those either.
See All 11 User Reviews
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  • Universal Pictures
  • Intermedia Films
  • Dirty Hands Productions
  • Mikona Productions GmbH & Co. KG
  • Saturn Films
Feb 21, 2003
2 h 10 m
R
The crime is clear. The truth is not.
Berlin International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Political Film Society, USA
• 1 Nomination
Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA)
• 1 Nomination
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