Fracture (2007)

Overall rating from 1 to 100: 73

O Masterpiece (95-100)
O Excellent (75-94)
X Good video rental (60-74)
O Merely OK (50-59)
O Pure mediocrity (30-49)
O Medusa: don’t watch (1-29)

Review by Jason Pyles / April 28, 2007

Most likely, “Fracture” probably isn’t what you were expecting. From the previews, it appears to be another “Silence of the Lambs” (1991), but it’s not.

Instead of being about freak-show monsters like Hannibal Lecter or Buffalo Bill, “Fracture” is about an exceptionally intelligent man whose wife’s infidelity has led him to devise (and attempt to execute) a brilliant murder plot. And it turns out, not so coincidentally, that the arresting officer is his wife’s lover.

As in many Hitchcock films, we are unwittingly persuaded to root for the immoral antagonist. And as with Hitchcock’s works, we have to uncomfortably reconcile our feelings later in the movie. It is wonderful to watch a film, like this, that is crafted well enough to make us lose our bearings momentarily.

“Fracture” is a murder mystery and a courtroom drama. But Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling maintain a strong screen presence throughout the movie. Gosling plays Willy Beachum, a hotshot attorney from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office who just got a promotion to his dream job in the lofty world of corporate litigation. Hopkins is Ted Crawford, the cunning genius behind Crawford Aeronautics. And he’s a man of means.

Gosling portrays charm, charisma and arrogance with his character. Hopkins also demonstrates charm and confidence, and the cold, calculating, manipulation of a mastermind. The premise is adequate, but the reason to see this movie is the performances.

On his way out the door to his new job, Beachum is invited to prosecute one final case that should be a cinch. But Crawford, who chooses to represent himself, has devious designs in store for the young lawyer and his wife’s lover.

Ultimately, “Fracture” is a little too slick for its own good. In its concluding complexity, “Fracture” becomes ambiguous and difficult to follow — even for the most attentive moviegoers, like myself. After all, I always take notes.

The movie interestingly floats for too long on a simple plot point: finding the weapon. Then “Fracture” ramps up the complications. But it would be infinitely better if the writers’ good ideas were evenly dispersed for our easier digestion.

Even so, at the end of the day, I can still recommend “Fracture,” but I’d wait until it is released for video rental.

Directed by Gregory Hoblit
Anthony Hopkins / Ryan Gosling / Billy Burke
112 min. Drama / Mystery
MPAA: R (for language and some violent content)

Copyright 2007.
JP0087 : 375