The Review

Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Mosaic

Media Credit: Courtesy of New Line Cinema [Click to enlarge]

"Fracture"
New Line Cinema
Rating: 3 stars (out of 4)

In an articulate delivery, "Fracture" moves a step beyond the typical courtroom movie, building a framework that engages and highlights the superb acting of Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. The two share an undiscovered chemistry brought to life through a battle of wits.

Ted Crawford (Hopkins) is a wealthy aeronautical engineer in Los Angeles whose job involves detecting imperfections. He soon discovers his wife is having an affair. So what is the most logical thing to do about it? For Ted, shooting her in the head in broad daylight might do the trick. Even admitting to being guilty after she slips into a coma seems right in his mind.

This is not as simple as it seems. Just as Ted's profession involves detecting imperfection, his murder could involve nothing less.

The court case is launched with a young ambitious lawyer, Willy Beachum (Gosling), called on to prove Ted guilty. So when Ted asks to defend himself, Willy sees an opportunity to jumpstart his career. What seems like an easy case at first rather defies the boundaries of law, leaving no evidence to suggest that Ted is guilty. Additionally, Ted reveals that the detective assigned to his case, Rob Nunally (Billy Burke), has been sleeping with his wife prior to the shooting.

Willy struggles to find any evidence, while torn between advancing his career and maintaining his morality. But Ted is smart enough to not make it that easy, "Ole' Sport." So, the two launch into a complex series of mind games.

The film is well-balanced, weaving an intricate plot while not cheating the audience. Gregory Hoblit illuminates his best cinematography, creating a landscape of color, mood, and detail. Symbolic imagery and high-priced, post-modern sets, accentuate the scenes, compiling a vibrant and interesting picture.

The screenplay devotes itself to bringing the best out of its characters, doing so half-handedly. This occurance may be because Ted Crawford has a slight resemblance to Dr. Hannibal Lecter, but with less psychosis and more charm. Or that Hopkins' mastery of the killer paves the way for his success in this case. Either way, the role is different than Lecter's and fits more along the lines of Hopkins' 1985 thriller, "Guilty Conscience."

The film also marks one step closer to an Oscar for Gosling after his loss in "Half Nelson." He is becoming more and more recognizable and marture as an actor.

"Fracture" highlights the things that make a good mystery: clever writing that handles its subject realistically, admirable acting that punctuates the storyline and a surprise ending that has Hitchcock written all over it.

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