The Life of David Gale

R

Released Feb 21, 2003

2 hr. 10 min.

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

19%

157 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

David Gale (Kevin Spacey) is a man who has tried hard 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 fellow activist Constance Hallaway (Laura Linney). With only three days before his scheduled execution, Gale agrees to give reporter Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) the exclusive interview she's been chasing.

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Critics Consensus

Instead of offering a convincing argument against the death penalty, this implausible, convoluted thriller pounds the viewer over the head with its message.

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Crystal S

Kevin Spacey gives life to this amazing storyline, it made me wonder how often innocent people are found guilty.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

Full Review

inta k

very good movie, interesting plot

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

David A

Great story, great cast and keeps you guessing until the end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

Full Review

Alec B

Yeah, the final twist is truly awful (something you can see coming a mile away but then think, "No, No, there's just no way it would end that way" and then it does) however, the rest of the movie isn't much better. It is the stuff of cheap and trashy melodrama with the added unearned smugness of trying to say something important.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

DangerousDave 1

Thought provoking. Could be better.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Jess H

Absolutely love this movie. very gripping with a fab twist! I feel the movie is very underrated sadly, Its a movie I always recommend to people, when it ends it causes debates on the topical issue.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

Full Review

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Alan Parker

Director

Kevin Spacey

David Gale

Kate Winslet

Elizabeth "Bitsey" Bloom

Laura Linney

Constance Harraway

Gabriel Mann

Zack

Matt Craven

Dusty

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

An overripe melodrama -- a time waster.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Liz Moody

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Jan 7, 2004

Full Review

David Edelstein

Slate

It would take an intellect far superior to mine to explain the rationale -- or, for that matter, the release -- of David Gale.

Apr 22, 2003

Full Review

Glenn Dunks

Junkee

...one of the most offensively cheap and concocted 'twist' endings of all time

Rated: D

Jan 13, 2014

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Feb 18, 2013

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Manages to offend the same people it seeks to defend with the most ridiculous and nonsensical endings that I've ever seen.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

David Gale (Kevin Spacey) is a man who has tried hard 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 fellow activist Constance Hallaway (Laura Linney). With only three days before his scheduled execution, Gale agrees to give reporter Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) the exclusive interview she's been chasing.

Director: Alan Parker
Executive Producer: Moritz Borman, Guy East, Nigel Sinclair
Screenwriter: Charles Randolph
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: InterMedia Film Equities Ltd., Saturn Films
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Violent Images)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.6M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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