Movie Review: Fracture

So, Gaspard Ulliel failed to give you that old time Hannibal itch that needed scratching. Well, you may now be able to satisfy that itch. No, this is not a a new entry in the Hannibal series, but it does feature Anthony Hopkins in a deliciously twisted role that has him facing off with the forces of good. No, it is not a horror movie, but it does deliver murder and an ingenious way of covering it up. Fracture is an effective crime thriller featuring strong performances by its two leads. It is a filled with tense drama, surprising humor, and is one of the best thrillers so far this year.

Ryan Gosling stars as Will Beachum, a sly, cocksure assistant district attorney whose impressive conviction record has allowed him to rise through the ranks in a short period of time. His rising stock has attracted the attention of a high powered private firm that brings the promise of big money and a whole new lifestyle. Before he can leave his public job behind, he has one more case to try, and it promises to be the toughest one he has faced yet, putting his future in jeopardy.

Anthony Hopkins is the defendant, Ted Crawford, an engineer of some sort with an intelligence level that is off the charts. He is in a union that is merely the semblance of a marriage, so he decides to end it. The trailers show Crawford pulling a weapon and shooting his wife in the head. What follows this event is Hopkins facing off with Beachum in a battle of wits, the old guard taking on the new guard.

This is a thriller that doesn't rely on twists and shocks. All of its shock cards are played in the marketing; the film itself follows the unfolding of the criminal case. It is a play of words, a tale of facts unfolding in a straight-up manner that allows the actors to ply their trade to sell the story.

When Hopkins and Gosling are the featured players the tale soars, but when the interaction is between Gosling and a few choice others, it falters through some poor character chemistry, in particular Gosling and Rosamund Pike, who plays Gosling's private sector boss and love interest. There is just a very poor connection between the two and their scenes together fall flat, having little impact. Likewise, I was not sold on the character of David Nunally, played by Billy Burke; his role of the adulterous detective isn't terribly strong outside of the requisite plot points that he is there to divulge. The ending isn't quite the big reveal hoped for, but I still found it to be rather satisfying.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. …

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