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Full Review
"The Life of David Gale" (Universal) is a deeply cynical, politically charged thriller about an outspoken college professor and adamant capital punishment abolitionist (Kevin Spacey) who faces execution for the brutal torture and murder of his colleague and fellow activist (Laura Linney). Directed by Alan Parker, the film's hackneyed narrative and sanctimonious tone make viewing it akin to cruel and unusual punishment.David Gale (Spacey) will be put to death by the state of Texas in three days. Erudite and social-minded, Gale now finds himself in the same unenviable position as the inmates whose cause he has long championed. His unabashed criticism of the system, as well as the sensational nature of the crime, has made Gale's case a cause celebre with the media.
Enter Elizabeth "Bitsey" Bloom (Kate Winslet), a brash young journalist from New York with a penchant for lost causes. Sent to cover the execution, she is granted exclusive access to Gale, who sees in her crusader instincts a valuable tool in uncovering the truth behind the accusations.
Through a series of one-on-one interview sessions with him, she begins to peel away the veils, revealing a self-destructive, downward-spiraling path, wrought with a failed marriage, sexual indiscretions and alcoholism which led Gale from his lofty tenured perch to death row.
Yet despite the evidence linking him to the homicide, enigmatic, anonymous clues -- such as an explicit videotape of the crime -- surface, which seems to indicate otherwise. Unconvinced of Gale's guilt, Bloom's suspicions drive her to pursue the elusive truth wherever it leads.
The film's tagline states, "The crime is clear. The path is not." Unfortunately, neither is the intent of the filmmaker. "The Life of David Gale" is an awkward amalgam of two distinct movies: one, an engrossing, investigative thriller; the other, a political sermon. The result is a hodgepodge, denying audiences the ability to ponder the moral ramifications of the latter, or to get caught up in the thriller aspects of the former.
Most disturbing is the film's pervasive cynicism. This film is unlike "Dead Man Walking" which, though dealing with an equally grisly crime, offered a balanced, life-affirming message consistent with the traditional Catholic teaching of forgiveness. "David Gale," with its twisted resolution, presents viewers with a bleak landscape devoid of hope or redemption. The bizarre climax not only runs counter to the ethics that served as the basis of Gale's philosophical convictions, but flies in the face of the basic Christian concept of human dignity while glossing over issues of euthanasia with an end-justifies-the-means mentality.
While not without moments of genuine suspense, much of the story is mired by the filmmakers' blatant proselytizing. As scripted by Charles Randolph, Gale's dialogue frequently digresses to political diatribes, serving no narrative purpose beyond offering a soapbox to promote personal views on the highly sensitive issue of capital punishment. Such treatment undermines what otherwise could have been a compelling, thought-provoking drama. Nowhere is this more evident than during a scene in which the liberal Gale locks horns with the film's conservative George W. Bush-like governor.
By contrast, other films dealing with the death penalty, such as 2001's "Monster's Ball" or the aforementioned "Dead Man Walking," made strong statements without sacrificing complex characters or well-developed stories.
Due to a graphic depiction of a murder with nudity, a few sexual encounters, and recurring crude language and profanities, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.
Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.