The Life of David Gale

The Life of David Gale is a 2003 thriller starring Kevin Spacey as David Gale, a Texas death row inmate, and former philosophy professor and anti-death penalty activist. Kate Winslet plays Bitsey Bloom, the reporter he requested to conduct an interview in the last week of his life, before his execution for the rape and murder of his friend, colleague, and fellow activist Constance Harraway (Laura Linney). About half of the film is a Flash Back as Gale describes the events leading up to his conviction, starting with a rape accusation by one of his students (Rhona Mitra), and claims his innocence. With the help of her intern (Gabriel Mann), Bloom must figure out what really happened and whether David Gale should or could be saved.

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Tropes used in The Life of David Gale include:

• Acquitted Too Late: Gale's allies are trying to prevent this. At least, Bitsey Bloom is, but fails. His real plan is to cause this to happen as a political act to discourage the death penalty.
• Clear Their Name: David Gale's intention with the interview. Zig Zagged in the end; his and his compatriots' actual plan is for Bloom to fail to clear his name until after his execution.
• Death Row
• The Joy of X
• Off the Record: Gale makes some comments during his interview that Bloom promises are off the record. Later, the final tape explaining the complete scheme to her is marked this way, implying that the knowledge may never reach the public.
• Thanatos Gambit: A double, in fact.