The Life of David Gale [WS]

Director: Alan Parker Alan Parker

Overview

"Alan Parker's thriller The Life of David Gale comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English, Spanish, and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are accessible in Spanish and French, and the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include a commentary track in which Parker discusses his pride in the project, his appreciation for the actors' hard work, his respect for the screenwriter's vision, and relates a handful of anecdotes on problems that sprang up during production. Featurettes on the making of the film, as well as on the death penalty are pedestrian at best. Deleted scenes with optional director commentary round out this solid release of a box-office dud from Universal."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/22/2003
UPC:	0025192198625
Original Release:	2003
Rating:	R
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:11:00
Sales rank:	54,222

Special Features

Feature commentary with director Alan Parker; Deleted scenes with optional director's commentary; The making-of The Life of David Gale; The music of The Life of David Gale; DVD-ROM

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kevin Spacey	David Gale
Kate Winslet	Elizabeth `Bitsey' Bloom
Laura Linney	Constance Harraway
Matt Craven	Dusty Wright
Leon Rippy	Braxton Belyeu
Gabriel Mann	Zack Stemmons
Rhona Mitra	Berlin
Jim Beaver	Duke Grover
Melissa McCarthy	Nico
Cleo King	Barbara Kreuster
Michael Crabtree	Gov. Hardin
Lee Ritchey	Joe Mullarkey
Constance Jones	Reporter A.J. Roberts
Brandy Little	Motel Waitress,Religious Woman
Cindy Waite	Margie
Jesse De Luna	Supervising Guard
Vernon Grote	Door Guard
Kimberly Tortorice	Grad Student
Katie Lott	Berlin's Classmate,Bullhorn Protester
Noah Truesdale	Jamie Gale
Larissa Wolcott	Babysitter
Chuck Cureau	Greer
Sean Hennigan	Ross
Charles Sanders	John
Michael Fontaine	TV Assistant Director
Marco Perella	TV Host
Julio Cedillo	Officer Ramirez
Christopher Meister	Officer Hasermann
Elizabeth Gast	Sharon Gale
Cliff Stephens	University President
Chris Drewy	Radio Shed Executive
Jeff Gibbs	Josh
Katina Potts	Rosie
Katherine James	Beth
James Huston	DeathWatch Chief/TV Reporter
Cindy Michelle	Constance's Doctor
Chris Warner	Hospital Orderly
Jennifer Halverson	College Girl
Maurice Moore	Belyeu's Clerk
Brenda Sendejo	Belyeu's Assistant
Julia LaShae	New Homeowner
Rick Morrow	Section 1835 Guard
Mathew Posey	Inmate Cook,Inmate Cook
Julia Kay-Laskowski	TV Soprano
Donald Braswell	TV Tenor
Jack Gould	Chaplain
Lynn Mathis	Warden
Jack Watkins	Photographer
Mark Voges	Bullhorn Protester
Katherine Willis	Bullhorn Protester
Patrick Fries	News Cameraman
Pilar Ferreiro	Barcelona Neighbor
Amparo Moreno	Sharon's Maid,Sharon's Maid
Claudia Parker	Mail Girl
Joan Gispert	Guillermo
Janis Kelly	Liu
Mark Richardson	Timur
Justin Lavender	Calaf
Barbara Petricini Buxton	TV Reporter
David Dahl	TV Reporter
Asia DeMarcos	TV Reporter
Amparo Garcia-Crow	TV Reporter
Catenya McHenry	TV Reporter
Brian Orr	TV Reporter
Kirk Sisco	TV Reporter
Cassandra L. Small	TV Reporter
Oliver Tull	TV Reporter
Michelle Valen	TV Reporter
Tanya Zieger	TV Reporter
Nick Dawson	Interviewee
Steve Flanagin	Interviewee
George Haynes	Interviewee
Kathy Lamkin	Interviewee
Evelyn Lindsey	Interviewee
T.J. McFarland	Interviewee
Constance Bridges Jones	A. J. Roberts
Mike Fontaine	TV Assistant Director
Kathrine James	Beth
Nick Ingman	Conductor
Jake Parker	Composer
Alex Parker	Composer

Technical Credits

Charles Randolph

Alan Parker	Director,Producer
Charles Randolph	Screenwriter
Moritz Borman	Executive Producer
Nicolas Cage	Producer
Doug Coleman	Stunts
Yves De Bono	Special Effects
Guy East	Executive Producer
Howard Feuer	Casting
Kerry Rossall	Stunts
Nigel Sinclair	Executive Producer
Juliet Taylor	Casting
Jack Lynch	Special Effects
Silvia Menendez-Cauche	Casting
Jo Boldin	Casting
Norm Golightly	Executive Producer
The Mill	Special Effects
Kenny Gorrell	Special Effects
John Hubbard	Casting
Julia Taylor	Casting

Editorial Reviews

This elaborately mounted, splendidly acted drama takes a clearly unambiguous anti-death penalty stance, but it doesn’t sacrifice entertainment value to do so. Unusually gripping and wryly ironic, The Life of David Gale makes no bones about its ideological bent, and while one might argue with its premise, there’s no disputing the passion with which every frame is suffused. Kevin Spacey, contributing a typically colorful performance, plays liberal activist David Gale, a crusader against capital punishment who finds himself on death row, awaiting execution for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. Skeptical journalist Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet at her best), assigned to interview Gale, becomes convinced that he’s innocent and attempts to uncover the real murderer. Laura Linney, too rarely seen in mainstream fare, is absolutely sensational as the victim, a fellow activist who harbors a tragic secret. Charles Randolph’s script teems with timeworn plot devices that are at least partially rejuvenated by director Alan Parker (The Commitments); at some points the movie plays like a fairly conventional albeit suspenseful murder mystery, while at others it plays like ham-handed social commentary. Parker never quite gets the tone right, but he makes certain that the film’s abhorrence of capital punishment shines through in virtually every scene. He stacks the deck somewhat, and several plot twists reek of hoary old melodrama, but by and large, this deeply heartfelt and histrionically ostentatious movie succeeds in grabbing its viewers by the throat and holding them riveted to their seats until the breathtaking climax unfolds. A vibrant example of "message" filmmaking, David Gale will enthrall and entertain even those viewers who disagree with its point of view.