Ruin "Life of David Gale" for me. *SPOILERS*

Cafe Society
1

I’m a huge fan of Kevin Spacey, but there is little chance I will see this movie in the theater, and, although slightly more likely I might rent it, I highly doubt it.

With that in mind, I’d like to find out the details of the plot. Here is what I have surmised so far:

Spacey plays a college (?) professor who is a highly visible anti-death penalty activist. He has been accused and convicted of murdering a co-activist, and is currently on death row. Since it couldn’t possibly have happened anytime in the prior years, it is up to a couple of reporters to investigate whether or not he is really guilty. I am assuming this happens as the clock ticks down to the execution of his sentence, because God forbid anyone would investigate it thoroughly before then. Anyway, Gale maintains his innocence, but is about to be executed because the big bad State is out to frame and kill death penalty activists. A rapid-fire investigation then ensues to save him.

That’s pretty much what I surmised from the ads. Now, I want to know what happens, without having to sit through the movie, which, I fear, would upset me to no end. Here’s my guess:

The really good looking kids find some exculpatory evidence that show Gale didn’t actually commit the murder. Because of their gutsy determination and good looks, they are able to get Gale released, only to find out he really did committ the murder!

So, if anyone has seen this movie, can you please ruin it for me and tell me the plot, etc. I’d also like any impressions you have regarding how realistic it is, or how manipulative it is. Thanks in advance for you help.

2

I haven’t seen it, but there was another thread here that discussed the movie.

If I remember correctly, the activist who died committed suicide because she was dying anyway from some disease that nobody knew about. They worked together to frame Gale as an indictment of the system, since an “innocent man” would be executed.

Based on near-unanimous panning of the movie by critics, I’d say the whole thing was extremely manipulative.

3

From various spoiler sites, here is what I’ve been able to piece together.

Gale is a college prof and anti-death penalty activist. He is convicted of the rape and murder of a fellow activist, and is sentenced to death. He maintains his innocence.

Skeptical Female Reporter is sent to interview him. She starts investigating the circumstances around the crime. Turns out the victim had leukemia. Eventually, the “missing” video tape is found, which shows that the “victim” actually committed suicde and made it look like murder. The whole thing was a deliberate conspiracy to cause David Gale to be executed for a crime he didn’t commit, and he’s in on it. You see, by participating in the conspiracy to frame himself, he makes the Ultimate Sacrifice to expose the fundamental flaw of capital punishment.

4

You guys pretty much have it, but David Gale is accused of raping an expelled Grad Student, he is at a fellow Professor/Colleage’s House at a Party (not the fellow Death Row Activist - Constance), he has been drinking and is plastered, has rough sex with the student, she asks him to rip her clothes off, bite her, give it to her hard/rough, and she scratches him.

Next day, DG is debating (Death Penalty) the Gov. of Texas during this debate the Gov asks DG for one name of a Death Row inmate executed for a crime and was innocent - the begins to think of this, and after is arrested of rape, she alleges - she recants and the charges are dropped, she leaves town, gets revenge against the Univ. But the damage is done and his life turns to S, his wife leaves/divorces him and takes their son to Spain - where the wife has been having an affair, she sells their house - he takes residence in a S-Hole Apt., he loses his teaching job and the Death Penalty Group, doesn’t want him around anymore, and becomes a full-blown Alcoholic - public drunk, almost homeless -vagrant.

The Death Penalty/Professor - Constance still is friends, and has contact with DG, dispite his life. Constance has Leukemia and is terminal, she doesn’t tell DG, she passes out and he takes her to the hospital, where he finds out. He kind of becomes her caregiver, they have Sex, she decides to kill herself, and because they have DG’s DNA, because of the alleged rape, he is the logical suspect because of the stigma. So he goes to Death Row, for raping and killing Constance. He knew the exact method she died.

Two reporters - Bitsie (Kate Winslet) and an intern come to Texas prison to get DG’s story, she has three intervies/2 hours each session. She is skeptical and thinks he did it, but he changes her mind, she goes to the house that was the crime scene twice, she finds two videos that proves he didn’t do the crime, but too late, DG is executed. The video proves an innocent man was executed for a crime he doesn’t commit, proving the death Penalty is flawed. DG, Constance and another man conspired to prove this. Another video is sent to Bitsie and shows the three are in the conspiracy. Now the public and politicians have a name of an innocent man who was executed for a crime he never committed because it was suicide.

I watched the movie, Saturday night, I also like Kevin Spacey, I hope he gets nominated for Oscar. This is a good movie, go see it, even though I gave spoilers.

5

Another contribution from someone who knows only what he reads on the spoiler sites:

The execution is actually carried out.

6

It sucked.

It really makes no logical sense on several counts.

In order to get the interview Bitsys magazine must pay $500,000 dollars to the lawyer. They bring it in cash?!?! Don’t they have cashiers checks? When Bitsy and her cub reporter get there they have trouble with their RENTAL car. Do they get a replacement? No they keep the faulty one so we can have an overly dramatic ending. There was also an anti-Texas bent through the film. Not just anti-death penalty or anti-Texas justice system but the idea that Texas is basically a second world nation. No cell phone service, crappy hotels for reporters from big international magazine, crappy rental car service, crappy restaurants, crappy dental hygine. (except for David and his anti-death penalty friends)

Then there is the final tape. Why does David send this to Bitsy? She already has a tape that shows it was suicide but now we see that DG assisted in the suicicde and it shows him putting the partial thumb print on the trash bag. Really this movie sucked.

7

The earlier thread about the movie is here.

The latest article of Roger Ebert’s Movie Answer Man spoils the ending and explains why he gave the movie zero stars. In a nutshell, it’s all about the revelation that Gale was in on the frame-up:

I’m inclined to agree. Even though I liked the movie at first (mostly because Kate Winslet did NOT arrive in time to stop the execution, that was killer) the more I think about it, the more I feel cheated by the ending. It would have been better if only Linney and the mysterious cowboy guy framed him; instead, EVERYONE was in on it, even the girl who accused David Gale of rape!!

8

I read the book and saw the movie, but . . .

I hadn’t really thought about the “Accused Rape Victim-Grad Student” to be in on it, I just thought she was humilated and left town, it happens, it would make since though.

Before I saw the last part where Bitsie watches the third tape, that shows DG, Constance and Cowboy was in on the conspiracy, I just thought DG got a thumb print on the bag she used to kill herself, maybe by helping her take out the trash. She not in good health and him being concerned, and caring about her.

I thought that her crying while they were “making love” was a turn off, who wants to have sex with someone if they’re going to cry, but I guess they are both getting laid, so go for it.

Yes, the movie had holes in it, upon giving real thought, that you guys brought up. But, I still liked it, I don’t think I wasted a couple hours at the cinema.

I always find it odd though, that a movie like this would have a reporter play detective, and she cracks/solves the case - finds the truth when the police couldn’t/wouldn’t. And the Lawyer wasn’t very passionate, trying everything to get his client off.
I guess the reporters thought they could make it through the trip with the car as it was, why didn’t she just send him to the car rental place when she was interviewing DG. And the money, instead of Cashier’s Check - that I don’t get.

9

I read the book and saw the movie, but . . .

I hadn’t really thought about the “Accused Rape Victim-Grad Student” to be in on it, I just thought she was humilated and left town, it happens, it would make since though.

Before I saw the last part where Bitsie watches the third tape, that shows DG, Constance and Cowboy was in on the conspiracy, I just thought DG got a thumb print on the bag she used to kill herself, maybe by helping her take out the trash. She not in good health and him being concerned, and caring about her.

I thought that her crying while they were “making love” was a turn off, who wants to have sex with someone if they’re going to cry, but I guess they are both getting laid, so go for it.

Yes, the movie had holes in it, upon giving real thought, that you guys brought up. But, I still liked it, I don’t think I wasted a couple hours at the cinema.

I always find it odd though, that a movie like this would have a reporter play detective, and she cracks/solves the case - finds the truth when the police couldn’t/wouldn’t. And the Lawyer wasn’t very passionate, trying everything to get his client off.
I guess the reporters thought they could make it through the trip with the car as it was, why didn’t she just send him to the car rental place when she was interviewing DG. And the money, instead of Cashier’s Check - that I don’t get.

I also wondered why his life turned to S, like that - why didn’t he just leave town and live/teach somewhere else - out of Texas.

10

I read the book and saw the movie, but it made me think . . .

I hadn’t really thought about the “Accused Rape Victim-Grad Student” to be in on it, I just thought she was humilated and left town, it happens, it would make since though.

Before I saw the last part where Bitsie watches the third tape, that shows DG, Constance and Cowboy was in on the conspiracy, I just thought DG got a thumb print on the bag she used to kill herself, maybe by helping her take out the trash. She not in good health and him being concerned, and caring about her.

I thought that her crying while they were “making love” was a turn off, who wants to have sex with someone if they’re going to cry, but I guess they are both getting laid, so go for it.

Yes, the movie had holes in it, upon giving real thought, that you guys brought up. But, I still liked it, I don’t think I wasted a couple hours at the cinema.

I always find it odd though, that a movie like this would have a reporter play detective, and she cracks/solves the case - finds the truth when the police couldn’t/wouldn’t. And the Lawyer wasn’t very passionate, trying everything to get his client off.
I guess the reporters thought they could make it through the trip with the car as it was, why didn’t she just send him to the car rental place when she was interviewing DG. And the money, instead of Cashier’s Check - that I don’t get.

I also wondered why his life turned to S, like that - why didn’t he just leave town and live/teach somewhere else - out of Texas.

And everyone turns on him - does that really happen when you are accused, but not convicted of a crime.

11

The lawyer was in on the whole thing. That’s why he didn’t try harder to get the appeal or the death penalty overturned. He was the one who sent the Cowboy to Spain with the suitcase full of cash to give to DG’s ex-wife, along with the postcard from Berlin (fake rape victim) with an apology on it. DG made sure that his wife and son knew he wasn’t guilty of raping that girl. He also made sure that they were financially set for the rest of their lives.

Also, DG sent Bitsie the final version of the videotape showing DG was in on the whole thing so Bitsie wouldn’t feel GUILTY of not stopping the execution in time.

I wouldn’t classify this movie as my favorite, but I didn’t think it was God-awful either. It did kind of make you think…

12

Yep, it happens quite a bit. Many people assume that if you are charged, you must be guilty. Hence all those interviews- “I can’t believe it, he was such a nice guy…”

13

The spoilers are accurate. I pretty fairly intensely disliked this movie, for the reason given by Ebert in his Answer Man column. The whole movie just shoots itself in the foot.