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Who
on earth would someone like Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey
agree to participate in such a wretched, cynical, and shameless
motion picture. Well, there must have been a really big
check involved; otherwise, he had better have been forced to sign
the contract at gunpoint, because there is no excuse for such
nothingness. Oh, did I forget to mention, this is one of the
worst films of all-time?
"The Life of David Gale" stars Kevin Spacey as the title
character, an esteemed professor and anti-death penalty
abolitionist, who is accused and convicted of raping and murdering
a fellow abolitionist (Laura Linney). He, of course,
protests his innocence; he was framed. Enter magazine
reporters Bitsey (Kate Winslet) and Zack (Gabriel Mann), who are
dispatched to tell Gale's story, which he delivers in a stream of
flashbacks that seem more like flashcards. Winslet does not
know whether or not she should believe him, and Gabriel
Mann's character is so rude and sarcastic, we don't
really care about anything concerning him. This film gives
all magazine reporters a bad name.
Did
Gale do it? That is the question that haunts us
for the length of the film. Why? Not because we
are so intent on discovering the truth, but because we don't
really care. Kevin Spacey's performance is void of emotion
and completely rigid, striking down all sympathy that might arise
from the audience. Comparing this film to other Spacey
flicks, like "The Usual Suspects" and "American
Beauty", it seems like a completely different actor.
Even "K-Pax"
had a few redeeming qualities; not this film--the only redeeming
quality was when it ended.
The
film goes on and on and on, until it finally reaches the point
that every picture with this level of clichés reaches--the pivotal
scene in which the reporter must rush to get the Death Row inmate
pardoned, just seconds before he is to be executed. And,
don't forget the surprise twist ending that is suppose to send us
spinning, forcing us to see it a second time to make sure we
didn't miss anything. Remember the Clint Eastwood film
"True Crime"--this is the exact same film, only slightly
worse.
"The Life of David Gale" tries to be a powerful and
poignant film on the negatives associated with the the death
penalty, and tries to attack President Bush (who is mimicked in a
debate during the film), and tries to be much more righteous that
it really is. The end result is a useless picture, filled
with terrible performances, a dismal script, and some of the most
oddly placed cynicism and sarcasm ever. Why set out to make
a film about the death penalty when the script focuses on a
film about petty individuals and uninteresting circumstances?
The cast and crew had to know what kind of disaster they were getting
into; it just goes to prove the age-old point--money will always
take precedent over good taste. This is a truly terrible
picture, and I cannot stress that point enough. You've been
warned.
-- Billy
Ray ( 0 out of 4 pops )
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