Directed by:
Alan ParkerScreenplay:
Charles RandolphCinematography:
Michael SeresinComposer:
Alex ParkerCast:
Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Rhona Mitra, Leon Rippy, Matt Craven, Jim Beaver, Melissa McCarthy, Julio Cedillo, Alan Parker (more)VOD (1)
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Gale (Kevin Spacey) is a Texas professor and anti-death penalty activist who, ironically enough, winds up on death row for the rape and murder of a colleague. Kate Winslet plays Bitsey Bloom, the brave journalist who sets out to tell to his story. In the days leading up to his execution, Gale fills her in on his life via flashbacks, which include political debates, lectures, sex with a student, rape allegations, alcoholism, divorce, and despair. As the hour of his doom approaches, Bitsey becomes convinced that Gale is the victim of a shadowy political conspiracy and races against the clock to prove his innocence. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (9)
A psychologically plausible, classically refined Parker's study of an event that happens to eight out of ten well oriented teachers in a lifetime, and with great performances to boot! While Spacey rocks again, and a single glance through the bars trumps Kate Winslet's performance that is as eager as a Titanic's frozen swimmer, Laura Linney's honest to goodness supporting role does here is truly breathtaking at times. The complexity and slight chaotic nature of the screenplay does hinder the oppressive and depressing atmosphere in some passages, but the very strong, unexpected ending tips the scales back to the film's favour. And after all, tell me, the eternal student Rhona Mitra teasingly spanking her ass in front of the sink, who the hell needs a clearer hint? Only David Gale and an idiot. 80%
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Something is rotten in the state of Texas. Although, in the end, this doesn’t really apply... Alan Parker chose a fascinating theme and excellent actors. And he turned them into an above-average picture where political activism is not a dirty word. Parker trips up a little over the over-transparent screenplay. When a filmmaker reveals his hand already at the half-way point of a movie, then there isn’t much point in developing on this revelation for the entire final half-hour. This isn’t a shortcoming that wrecks the movie, but it does make it difficult to sympathize fully with the characters and so the emotional experience is affected. But since this is such an above-average picture, despite the above this is certainly no time-waster. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
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For the whole two hours this film was reminding me of the perfect thriller Seven. Most of all due to the atmosphere and the locations, where it was raining almost all the time. But also due to the story, which certainly belongs among the interesting American thrillers, which shock with its storyline, but most of all with the finale. Truth be told, there are not many films like that and that is the reason why I appreciate this film so much. Also, Kevin Spacey was amazing and was perfectly complemented by Kate Winslet. And the last 35 minutes were really suspenseful, and I was on pins and needles the whole time. If not for the boring bits in the first half, I would have rated it with five stars. At the same time, I think that Seven fans should not miss this flick. It was pretty close to Seven at least with the atmosphere, and until recently, I had no idea it existed.
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This could have been such a great movie, but for me, the script is bad. The actors try their best, although Kate just bothered me here, but the script tries to be so clever that it's overly convoluted to the point where it's predictable, and more than a surprising twist, what you hear is the political agitation. This could have been very clever, but it's not.
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This film represents an interesting contribution to the discussion about the death penalty. It relies on the central acting duo of Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet, who rightfully among the best US actors, and if the film works and earns points, it is primarily due to them. The script is a bit shaky, and some details are not well thought out, such as the key to the victim's shackles or the fact that the money obtained from the publishing house is delivered to the survivors by the person who is being chased at the same time and it is in his best interest to disappear as soon as possible. The briefcase could have been easily delivered by a lawyer or someone authorized by him. However, if one overlooks these moments and focuses on the atmosphere and chemistry between the main characters, it is enough for satisfaction and four stars. All in all, it is a decent psychological drama dealing with a burning issue. By the way, DNA tests are currently being conducted in relation to older criminal cases that ended in execution, and it has been found that 5% of those executed did not commit their crime. That is an unpleasantly high number... Overall impression: 75%.
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