THE CRIME IS CLEAR. THE TRUTH IS NOT.
Investigative reporter Bitsey Bloom (Kate Winslet) meets with David Gale (Kevin Spacey), an opponent of capital punishment who has now himself been sentenced to death for a murder. It’s a fairly engaging story Gale tells the reporter, but everything in this movie comes down to the acting. The three leads are all much better than the story whose revelations near the end hurt credibility; the final surprise undermines the entire character of David Gale. All in all, it’s a failure for director Alan Parker who has delivered better social-minded thrillers.
2003-U.S. 130 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Alan Parker, Nicolas Cage. Directed by Alan Parker. Screenplay: Charles Randolph. Cast: Kevin Spacey (David Gale), Kate Winslet (Bitsey Bloom), Laura Linney (Constance Harraway), Gabriel Mann, Matt Craven, Rhona Mitra… Melissa McCarthy.
Trivia: Parker’s last film. George Clooney and Nicolas Cage were reportedly considered for the part of Gale; Nicole Kidman for Bitsey.
