The Life of David Gale (2003)

I'm not ashamed to admit...I have a huge crush on Kevin Spacey. I loved him in The Usual Suspects, The Shipping News, and L.A. Confidential. But it wasn't until recently that I had the pleasure of seeing him in The Life of David Gale (2003), where he plays the lead role. It is not his most recent portrayal of a college professor, but we'll save the discussion of 21 (2008) - admittedly not his best movie - for another post...

Co-starring Laura Linney and Kate Winslet, David Gale is a professor from the University of Texas at Austin, and a well-known activist working to end the death penalty in the State of Texas. Linney plays Constance Harraway, a fellow academic/activist, who Gale is accused of murdering. Summoned by Gale to uncover the truth of the murder, Winslet plays an investigative reporter, Bitsey Bloom, and has only 4 days to prove his innocence before he is executed. Through a series of interviews with Gale, a bit of investigative journalism, and the well-timed discovery of new pieces of evidence, she begins to piece together just how Gale was involved in Harraway's death.

Bloom's assistant, played by Gabriel Mann, points out that Gale must be innocent simply because he is too intelligent to have committed a crime in such a clumsy manner. His claim is supported by the fact that Gale graduated at the top of his class at Harvard, and that he has two (yes, two!) books published. Gale's level of activism prior to his incarceration might be considered high-profile for the average academic. But through the support of his colleagues, particularly Harraway, he is portrayed as being able to balance his desire to overturn the use of capital punishment in Texas, as well as fulfill all of his professorial duties, including teaching. It is interesting to see how the role of the professor is viewed as multi-dimensional, and how his activism plays off his teaching, and vice versa.

As Gale's involvement in Harraway's death is revealed, and the scope of his actions and motivations are fully understood, the label of "genius" seems appropriate- not just in the sense of his intellectual capabilities- but in the sense of his crafty ability to manipulate the penal system to successfully overturn the death penalty policy, even at his own demise.

Watch the trailer here: