Syracuse, NY –Death row* was the name of the infamous record label founded by Suge Knight and Dr. Dre. It’s also the name of a song by Judas Priest. In “The Life of David Gale,” death row is what David Gale is on.
Academy Award winning actor and Old Vic director Kevin Spacey plays Gale, a University of Austin college professor and anti-capital punishment (death row) activist. Laura Linney plays Constance Harraway, an activist and friend of Gale’s. After being accused of rape, Gale lost his job, wife and kid. Dejected and alone, Harraway took him in. Everything was hunky-dory until Gale was framed for murdering Harraway. Journalist Bitsey Bloom, played by Kate Winslet, was called to write Gale’s story as he sat on death row.
Despite dismal reviews, I thought the film was pretty entertaining. Spacey and Winslet had some strong performances. Seeing Spacey behind bars reminded me of when he played John Doe in David Fincher’s “Se7en.” Spacey was eerily calm and calculated (in “Se7en” more than “Gale”). As the film climaxes, Winslet was a bit melodramatic. Otherwise, she was poised through most of the film. Linney was also very good. There is one scene, after another prisoner was executed, where she really shows off her acting chops. This New York native can really turn it on. The same could not be said about director Alan Parker, editor Gerry Hambling or Alex and Jake Parker, in charge of the music.
Every time a car scene was shown, the music never fit. It was too uplifting, ethereal. Every time a transition to a flashback was made, some distracting windmill effect was used. A straight cut would have sufficed.
The story was the foundation of this film. “The Life of David Gale” was a thrilling who done it that featured a solid cast and riveting ending. A lot of critics got caught up with all the death row noise and politics. Don’t get distracted by the din.
- east coast paper boy
*Death Row Records, to be exact.
Tags: 2010, 7, capital punishment, david fincher, death row, death row records, din, dr. dre, editor, england, ethereal, film, gerry hambling, john doe, judas priest, kate winslet, kevin spacey, laura linney, london, movie review, music, new york, ny, old vic, se7en, seven, suge knight, syracuse, the life of david gale, uk, university of austin, who done it
