Those flaws could be more than enough to sink a lesser film. However, Fracture survives on the wonderful performances from the two leads, Hopkins in particular. Hopkins brings dark menace and sly humor to the role, born of a confidence in his craft. Few actors can portray the menace that he can; his mere presence on the screen is electric and commands attention. Gosling has an interesting arc himself, dealing with the ego and his drive for success, perfection, and, eventually, redemption. He does a fine job of bringing this character to life and his face-offs with Hopkins are fantastic. The movie features old smarts against an up-and-coming sharp mind. In a way it mirrors the actors in these roles, with Hopkins as the reliable old guard and Gosling as the up and coming star of the future.
The film was directed by Gregory Hoblit, who gives the film a dark feel yet doesn't try to do any crazy gymnastics, rather letting the actors carry the tense drama. The screenplay by Daniel Pyne and Glenn Gers has a nice pace and is filled with great lines, dialogue driven tension, and unexpected humor, allowing the actors to really dig in and have a little fun with it.
Overall, Fracture is a satisfying thriller that manages to succeed in spite of its flaws. It features fine performances, nice art direction, and a welcome straightforward delivery. I found it to be involving and much more enjoyable than I had expected. It is one of the better thrillers to reach cinemas so far this year.
Recommended.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Boston.com, where it will be enjoyed by even more readers.
2 - dingus
sucks