Wonderful character development!

How sad is this?

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This film struck me as one written with an anti-death penalty agenda. The point of the film is to demonstrate that a person was executed for a murder he did not commit. It fails miserably. As far as I know, rape is not usually a capital offense, however murder often is. Thus, he is really being executed for murder. The first twist is that the woman actually committed suicide, and we are supposed to think "Oh, so he really is innocent" right? Well that is wrong. Because later we find that he actually was there. Yes she taped and strangled herself, BUT he was present all along. In my book and I am 99.999% sure, in the eyes of the law, that does make you guilty. Accessory to suicide is the same as accessory to murder, and the most likely outcome is that a jury would find (as I do) that coldly standing there watching that woman struggle and die is far more heinous than an unhinged psycho acting out in his psychosis.Bottom line, he was not executed for a crime he did not commit. In fact he was executed for something less evil than what he really did. He added a $500k swindle to the deal to give money to his family.AND He led Bitsy to believe that she was responsible for his execution because she could not save him in time. Adding insult to injury, he reveals to her "Nah! I really was there the whole time. Don't tell anyone though, because I'm supposed to be innocent", like that is supposed to make her feel better.The only way she would feel better is by realizing he really did deserve to die. He watched that woman struggle, when obviously she had changed her mind and he let her die anyway, and on top of that, made Bitsy feel responsible for an innocent man's execution. She is supposed to feel better because he lied to her and used her? She will feel better because he was executed as he well should have been.The greatest tragedy of all: Read the reviews. None of the supporters here realize at all that they just proved their own point invalid. Somehow the death penalty is wrong, but murder and suicide is okay, as long as it supports the left agenda?

The most distressing movie I have ever seen. I would guarantee that this is the one movie that you wouldn't forget for a long time. Though the entire movie is wrapped up in a melancholic tone, there is something that sticks one to watch this movie till the very end. There are moments that give you hope in the plot, but it was the ending that makes you shell shock. I rate this movie high for the unique experience it offers. This is a very serious movie and is not at all recommended for those highly inclined to predictable happy ending regular movies. But the experience this one offers is worth a try.

The Life of David Gale (2003): Dir: Alan Parker / Cast: Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Rhona Mitra: Ineffective display of a life full of regret and misery at the hands of a bad decision. Kevin Spacey plays a professor and an opponent of the death penalty whose marriage and job are jeopardized upon sexual activity with a student at a drunken party. Drowning in alcohol with no chance to see his son he finds comfort in a terminally ill activist played by Laura Linney. Kate Winslet plays a journalist sent to interview Gale upon his final week before a lethal injection sentence for murder. His story dictates much of the narrative through flashbacks. Alan Parker is a terrific director who has dealt with death and gloom in superior films such as Midnight Express. In edition to this he is a master director of musicals such as Fame and Pink Floyd: The Wall. Effective setup with numerous plot twists but third act is corrupt in its handling of the message. Asides from a terrific director, it has two strong performances. Spacey delivers a sympathetic performance as he details his story, and Linney steals scenes as an activists but the result of their dilemma plays like a cheap corrupt plot twist. Winslet is seen as a prop who sets out to find answers but it is all for nothing with its cheap payoff. Its theme regarding the death penalty fails to materialize due to its lifeless thriller elements. Score: 5 / 10

Having read many of the reviews, I fail to understand how so many can view this as a bad movie. I thought this was a thought provoking movie and certainly a lot better than what a lot of people are saying about it. Outstanding performances by Kate Winlset and Kevin Spacey. The story revolves around a Professor who is on death row for the rape and murder of a colleague. Kevin Spacey plays this role excellently. Kate Winslet is a reporter who is given the chance by Spacey to tell his story. I do not wish to spoil the ending for anyone who decides to watch this movie so suffice to say, to get this movie will need to watch it from the beginning and keep track of what is happening. Some things will happen early in the movie that don't seem to be important yet the end up being critical.