Jasmine Caruk
Period 1 APLAC
The Life of
David Gale Review
There
is often a tendency to be apathetic towards pressing issues in American
culture. The Life of David Gale examines the issue of capital punishment in
a poignant yet thrilling way that exposes controversies and leaves the audience
in deep thought. It is definitely a
classic movie that makes an important statement for everyone to hear.
A
classic movie doesn’t end when the film is over. Rather, it lingers in the viewer’s mind with a powerful message
that cannot be easily shaken. The Life of David Gale has exactly this
effect on its audience as it presents a controversial standpoint on the death
penalty. The main characters,
David Gale and Constance Harraway, are active members of Deathwatch, an
organization working to end capital punishment in Texas. Through martyrdom, they
expose a fatal flaw in the criminal justice system, ending the movie with an
unexpected double-layered twist.
By reaching a shocking level of commitment to activism, these staunch
characters leave the audience with a changed outlook on capital punishment that
defies the traditional apathetic viewpoint held by many Americans.
Classic
movies require very skilled actors to effectively portray their emotions in a
serious and convincing manner.
Kevin Spacey nails his role as David Gale, giving the audience
goosebumps as he stares into the camera just before the screen cuts to
black. Spacey has won Best Actor
and Best Supporting Actor in the Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Grammy Awards,
and more, exemplifying his adroitness in his acting (IMBd). The reporter who interviews Gale in the
movie is portrayed by Kate Winslet, a very well-known actress who has starred
in other classics like Titanic. She has also won numerous awards for
Best Supporting Actress and Best Leading Actress in the Academy Awards,
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and more (IMBd). Clearly, the cast of The
Life of David Gale is well-qualified, and this is reflected in their
performance throughout the film.
Finally,
a classic movie is one that can be watched multiple times without boredom as
classic movies are generally seen more than once. The Life of David Gale
is so nuanced that the inner-workings of the plot and its subtle
connections are more easily recognized during the second or third viewing of
the movie. By understanding the
happenings of the plot at the beginning of the film, one can enjoy it in an
entirely different way upon watching it again. For instance, one might not truly understand what Gale means
when he says, “All I can tell you is that by this time tomorrow I’ll be
dead. I know when. I just can’t say why.” But viewing it a second time, one picks
up on the words “can’t say” because of his or her knowledge that Gale actually
does know why but literally “can’t say” in order to make his plan work.
All
in all, classic movies extend beyond their finishing scenes, utilize skilled
actors, and have such creative plots that they can be watched multiple
times. The Life of David Gale embodies all of these characteristics
through its powerful stance against the death penalty, qualified and convincing
actors, and nuanced plot that leaves the audience questioning their beliefs and
hitting “play” to watch it for a second time.
Works Cited
“Kevin Spacey – Awards.” The Internet Movie Database (IMBd). IMBd,
1999. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000228/awards.
“Kate Winslet – Awards.” The Internet Movie Database (IMBd). IMBd,
1999. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000701/awards.
This is a very well written evaluation! Your criteria was clearly defined and supported and would be very helpful for someone interested in watching the film. The specific support you provided for the actor's credentials was especially persuasive in it's appeal to ethos. I would only suggest that you expand on the insights a viewer could gain from watching the movie because it may make your evaluation more emotionally persuasive. However, it's understandable that you would not want to spoil too much of the plot. Overall, your evaluation really made this film seem appealing to the audience! Great job!!
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ReplyDeleteThis is a very strong, clear argument that successfully defends your film choice. You appealed to pathos in some ways, such as drawing on how the audience will "[question] their beliefs," but you could have elaborated a little more. By providing more details of the plot, you would have been able to appeal to emotions more strongly by bringing values and ethics in. On the other hand, you established ethos very well by citing sources and explaining the awards and achievements of the actors. Additionally, your appeals to logos were evident when you brought up several reasons to back your claim. Your diction and form contributed to a very straightforward, passionate evaluation that appealed to your audience effectively. This made me want to see the film myself! The way you mentioned how one must see the film multiple times to fully take in all the "inner-workings of the plot" drew me in. Nice evaluation!
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