As tension builds with Iraq, it seems as though heated debates inspired by global controversy are cropping up everywhere. Despite the incessant arguments between friends or even those camped out on State Street, many find themselves craving a different topic to argue.
One can rekindle the equally disheartening domestic dispute over capital punishment by screening “The Life of David Gale.” Quite different from other movies dealing with the weighty topic, director Alan Parker attempts to intertwine mystery and suspense to win over viewers.
The movie consists of a series of flashbacks that reveal David Gale’s (Kevin Spacey, “Seven”) history. The flashbacks begin when Gale appoints a stale journalist with an attitude, Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet, “Titanic”), to interview him as he waits to be executed on death row.
During the interviews, Gale reflects on the life he led as a philosophy professor at a Texas university, a family man who adored his so and as one of the leading activists against capitol punishment in a state that possesses the largest execution rate of inmates on death row in the country.
The audience is hooked by Spacey’s masterful acting. His ability to create a multidimensional character never falters in the film, while co-star Winslet seems to fall flat with a mediocre American accent and an over-dramatized portrayal of a clichéd character.
As the two delve into Gale’s past, the chemistry between them conflicts with the audience’s power to connect emotionally with Gale, or with Bloom, for that matter. However, viewers are able to connect with Gale during flashbacks, because Winslet is not present.
How Gale came to arrive on death row is the main question of the film. Was he framed by his conservative adversaries, or did he in fact kill his beloved co-worker Constance Hallaway (Laura Linney, “The Mothman Prophecies”)?
Gale’s past, leading up to his final days consists of back-stabbing students, a struggle with alcoholism, the loss of his family and a death sentence for killing one of his dearest friends. The audience views Gale’s misfortunes and wonders how he could ever be convicted of such an egregious crime.
This question keeps the audience on the edge of their seats but takes away from the overall message of the film. Though the anti-death-penalty message is prevalent, the film tends to focus more on the misfortunes of Gale and should not be used as a means to sway the viewer one way or the other.
Not surprisingly, Bloom becomes emotionally attached to Gale over the course of the interviews and finds herself trying to uncover the mystery.
Bloom and her intern Zack (Gabriel Mann, “The Bourne Identity”) fumble through all the facts of Gale’s case in an attempt to pardon him before his execution day. The detective duo also does quite a bit of traveling in their rented car, which inconveniently or, rather, conveniently, flashes the “check engine” light, a tired attempt at foreshadowing and creating heightened anxiety.
The anticipation and mystery also seem to serve as an easy means by which to manipulate the audience into sympathizing with the protagonist’s anti-death-penalty plight. As the worry swells in the final hours before Gale’s execution, the movie chooses the path often followed, leading to a predictable and not-so-enchanting ending.
Although it can be argued either that this is a political film or that it is simply a suspense movie with a controversial backdrop, “David Gale” unavoidably ignites debate when audiences leave the theater.
If construed as a political movie that attempts to coerce the public into hopping on the anti-death-penalty bandwagon, it fails to show any sort of evidence worth considering as even possible.
If seen as a movie made purely for entertainment, it disappoints the viewer with nothing new and interesting, even though it does feature a cast of distinguished actors.
Grade: C
