doug-may Review of The Life of David Gale

The Life of David Gale (2003)

a good movie that could have been great

[22 January 2003]

(warning: spoilers ahead) There was much to admire in this film. The many beautiful, monochromatic shots of overcast Texas landscapes, both rural and urban; Kevin Spacey's usual bravura acting; Laura Linney's versatility; a fine, atmospheric score that combined pop-ambient electronics with moody strings. Unfortunately, there was one fatal flaw--the completely unbelievable character, Dusty. No real opponent of the death penalty would have participated in such a ludicrous plan. While fanatics of every stripe may be all too willing to sacrifice their lives and the lives of others for a "just" cause, death penalty opponents see human lives as ends in themselves, not means to an end. In addition, Dusty took on the semblance of a deus ex machina, while remaining a complete cipher. If suspense was required, Dusty was trotted out, if an explanation was required, Dusty was trotted out, etc. And never once was Dusty allowed to speak, or reveal his motives. And what about that final bit of obvious symbolism, Linney or some Linney double singing the part of Liu in Turandot? What was that all about? Come to think of it, what was the meaning of the whole opera thing? And why didn't he fire the incompetent Texas lawyer? All in all, a good movie that could have been a very good or even great meditation on crime and punishment, given a better script.