Being a supporter of the death penalty, I was worried that this was going to be a 2-hour + soapbox. Since it was set in Texas, I also expected a lot of cheap jabs. Yeah, there was the soapbox, there were some cheap jabs (none more so than the "debate" between a caricature governor), but it was a good film.
I could predict the ending a mile away (the movie goes a tad too long so it telegraphs its intentions), but it does keep your interest. Kevin Spacey is best in the flashbacks and does a nice job playing a complex character (kudos on not making him the usual sterotypical "saint" on death row--but a boo to the stereotypes of prison employees and officials). Laura Linney is quite fine, and Kate Winslet is good when she isn't being overly melodramatic (which is annoyingly often).
Alan Parker's direction works best when it's subtle. The HORRIBLE HORRIBLE segues between flashback and the present look like something out of a high school freshman film project. However, the very nice cross-cutting during the execution scene redeems that.
Now, the ending. (SPOILERS! SPOILERS!) Roger Ebert gave the film 0 stars basically because of the ending. It is predictable and sort of unrealistic (don't tell me that innocent people don't get executed--that's bunk and Gale should know it). The plot doesn't quite hold up when you examine the ending. Depending on your politics, the ending may annoy you deeply (I think liberals may find it more galling than conservatives, frankly).
I think I would have liked it better if it lived up to the title and stuck to presenting "The Life of David Gale," removed the mystery angle and concentrated more on Gale's life rather than his soon-to-be death (did anyone else wince when the Mysterious Cowboy Guy appeared or when the horary old "videotape left in the hotel room" cliche was dusted off?). The scene with Gale sitting on his old swing was more meaningful than the entire last act.
From the way this flick has been advertised, its plot is very reminiscent of Clint Eastwood's 1999 potboiler True Crime.
I saw True Crime (not a potboiler by the way, fine film) and I'll agree. The only difference is that True Crime lacks the harder political edge The Life of David Gale has (for instance, in True Crime, the warden is not a stereotype).
I did misuse the word potboiler. True Crime is a good film, and the climax was pretty tense.