A harsh reality is presented at the very beginning of "The Life of David Gale." The protagonist and the film's namesake is a mere four days away from being executed - and the sad irony is, he spent his life protesting the punishment that will kill him.
This is the dilemma at the heart of "The Life of David Gale." Gale (Kevin Spacey) is a professor and activist protesting capital punishment in Texas. But in a surprising turnabout of affairs, Gale is booked for rape and murder.
Events behind the crime are revealed in a series of flashbacks, told through an interview with reporter Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet).
Not that this introduces any credible element of mystery to the film. Moviegoers need not look further than the trailer to understand the predictability of the film. The first 20 minutes does not help matters either.
However, once the pace of the movie picks up, "The Life of David Gale" takes its viewers through a series of twists appropriate for this suspense drama. But the storyline develops a further layer of complexity by adding a murder mystery into the film.
Capital punishment, a contentious issue, is obviously a major element of "The Life of David Gale." But it is portrayed at a level that leaves the audience with some things to think about on the way out of the theater.
Set in Texas - the death penalty capital of America - the film hammers out its ideas and takes a few jabs at the Bible Belt. While driving out to her first interview with Gale, Bitsey says to her intern, Zack (Gabriel Mann), "You know you are in the Bible Belt when you see more churches than Starbucks."
Zack appropriately replies, "You know you are in the Bible Belt when you see more jails than churches."
Overall, the dialogue and characters of the movie are well developed and entertaining. The movie holds the audience's attention for two hours not only with suspense, but also wit and even some comedy.
But this film is not something that should be seen by anyone who sobs during "Lifetime Original Movies." The film contains graphic portrayals of death, alcoholism and sexual infidelity.
Attempts to make a drama out of a man on death row fighting for his life have resulted in films such as "Dead Man Walking" and "The Green Mile." At the same time, it cannot be stressed enough that "The Life of David Gale" goes above and beyond what can be expected from a crime flick.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
