The criminal-political drama with the ambiguous title “The Life of David Gale”, the trailer of which only immerses the viewer for 2 minutes in the shocking and frightening atmosphere of the film, is imbued with injustice and tragedy.
Best Alan Parker Movie
The British director Alan Parker is known to a wide audience for his paintings, through which the motif of upholding human dignity in the battle with various injustices of society and the established system runs through the red thread: Mississippi on Fire, Midnight Express, Come Come to See Paradise, Ptah and others. Parker released “The Life of David Gale,” reviews rained down immediately and unanimously reiterated that the director had proved that his productions were realistic and dynamic, which are extremely rare in modern Hollywood. The author’s unique style of the director noticeably distinguishes him among colleagues, not a single gram of pretense, everything is in moderation and everything is natural.
Roll call with the Silence of the Lambs
“The Life of David Gale”, reviews of moviegoers as evidence, also tells the story of David Gale, who became a victim because of his beliefs and attempts to resist the prevailing foundations. The whole picture is based on the meetings of the prisoner on charges of killing the protagonist with the reporter Beatsy, and events from the life of a suicide bomber. When viewing, one involuntarily arises a feeling of association with the cult film Silence of the Lambs, in which the newcomer Clariss Sterling comprehends the merciless realities of life under the strict guidance of the maniac cannibal Lector. At the same time, watching the beginning of the film "The Life of David Gale", the trailer in particular, the viewer ambiguously perceives the main character Gale, who can hardly be called a maniac. Although something is alarming in his appearance, which is later explained by the deep depression of the movie hero, he lost almost everything.
The cast is the key to success
Before giving the main character to Kevin Spacey, director Alan Parker considered the ever-sad Nicolas Cage and the fatal handsome George Clooney as candidates. Would he benefit from this or lose the film “The Life of David Gale” - critics' reviews would show right after watching. But most moviegoers agree that not one of the eminent actors could live and convey to the audience David Gale in the same way as the mysterious Kevin Spacey did. It has a gloomy mystery, inner strength, attractive magic. Indeed, even when the actor just sits silently in the frame, the viewer, despite the distance, feels all the thoughts and emotions of the hero. It is worth noting the male supporting actors - Gabriel Mann, who managed to get used to the role perfectly, and Matt Craven (Dusty Wright), who fearlessly drove the car during the cool chase scene, not inferior to professional stuntmen.
Ladies are not inferior
Starring Nicole Kidman saw Alan Parker in the lead female role, but the capricious actress flatly refused to take part in the filming. And the film "The Life of David Gale" received a spectacular Kate Winslet as a front-line actress. She anxiously lived the story of her character Bitsy Bloom, a rather young journalist, but already managed to gain a scandalous reputation. Kate incredibly emotionally played a reporter, trying to get to the truth in all ways. Throughout the timing of the picture, it seems that you feel all the shades of the emotions of her character, but you still can not understand if she will be able to prevent a fatal mistake. Looking through the picture “The Life of David Gale”, reviews of the audience, you often come across laudatory odes about Laura Linney, who introduced the character of an activist in the social movement opposing the death penalty.
The plot, almost without spoiler
So, the film “The Life of David Gale” begins with the fact that the main character is immediately positioned as a scoundrel, a rapist killer who received a death sentence and is now waiting for his execution. Rather, the first frames show the viewer the boundless field of the state of Texas, a woman running along the road with a video cassette in her hands and ignoring her, a passing truck. This is how acquaintance with the main character, Bloom, who is allowed to visit Gail for the last four days and who must take the last interview from the convict, takes place. David tells the girl how, as a university professor, he was engaged in advocacy efforts aimed at abolishing the death penalty in the glorious state of Texas. Soon the man was fired because of the “setup” of student Burlin, who accused the professor of sexual harassment and rape.
Trouble like a snowball
Because of this, the hero’s wife goes to another, the ideological associates of the Death Guard organization shun David, and he begins to abuse alcohol. All his misfortunes grow like a snowball, and now he is behind bars on charges of the brutal murder of his faithful workmate Constance Herraway, with whom he fought side by side for a long time with Governor Hardin, an ardent supporter of extreme penalties. But Betsy is opposed to David and is not at all sure that he was the victim of political games because of his views and beliefs.
That's where the "dog is buried"
The film "The Life of David Gale" can rightly be attributed to the category of "films with an unexpected ending." After all, the climax completely refutes the entire previous two-hour timing, forcing the viewer to look at the behavior from a completely different angle. But you should not expect any mysticism like The Sixth Sense, rather this decisive breakdown is like a turn of the intellectual drama Suspected Faces, in which the hero of the same Spacey turns out to be a chameleon man who can merge with the crowd as a criminal. The verdict is unambiguous - an unexpected climax will take by surprise even the most arrogant viewer, who does not even assume how vicious the mind of an individual is. Such a surprise is prepared by The Life of David Gale, whose ending makes clear hidden and explicit quotes about two different Judas scattered in time, indirect references to the works of Jorge Luis Borges “Theme of a Traitor and a Hero” and “Three Versions of Judas's Treason”. After that, Parker’s tape instantly wants to be seen again, which, no doubt, happens extremely rarely.
There is no truth. There are only points of view
“The Life of David Gale” (2003) is a really complicated and deep drama, strong and unambiguous, the essence of which is the sacrifice in the name of something great, which the heroes of this story truly believed. Despite the failure of the film at the box office, true connoisseurs of cinema will definitely like it, because the movie touches to the very core. And immediately after viewing it is impossible to utter at least one word. The film "The Life of David Gale", reviews of which are extremely contradictory, causes tears, it is breathtaking. The film makes you seriously think about the value of human life, about the appropriateness of the death penalty. Emotional tension is enhanced by brilliant musical accompaniment, especially the soundtrack “Almost Martyrs”. Music complements this masterpiece in conjunction with excellent directing, an excellent script, prescribed dialogues and amazing acting. You can safely recommend the film for viewing, such a movie can not be missed.