"Fracture"

A recent release on DVD by one of my favorite actors has just come out, and I just finally caught it. I was on vacation, and what luck, the movie they were showing on the plan flight was “Fracture.”

Anthony Hopkins is one of the most brilliant actors of our age, and some how, time after time, he brings to life any character thrown at him, with a sense of presence, style, and professionalism that is just unreal at times.

Director Gregory Hoblit casts Anthony, as a well to do structural engineer (Ted Crawford), who is very meticulous to say the least. Ted’s wife is having an affair with someone, and in his contained rage, Ted plans the perfect murder.

With a signed confession, and the murder weapon the case seems to be an open and shut door, so the D.A. allows a young, up and coming deputy attorney Willy Beachum (played by Ryan Gosling) to do the prosecuting on the case. Little does Willy know that Ted’s perfect murder is about to start taking shape. Ted decides that he will be his own lawyer in court, which makes it look as though it will be just that much more of a slam dunk case, but as Ted’s plan unfolds, Willy realizes that he has his hands full, as piece by piece of the prosecutions case gets blown out of the water.

This cat and mouse game between Will and Ted continues throughout the movie in and builds to a great ending which of course I will not go into. Let’s just say that Anthony is fantastic. He seems to borrow this kind of unshakable attitude he used in “Silence Of The Lambs” and just has you in his grip from scene one, and does not let go. I have to also give Ryan his due as the young upstart deputy attorney. He plays the character well, and makes the confrontational scenes with Anthony very interesting.

This murder mystery, is very watchable from all aspects. The movie has a very good look to it. The scenes are well put together, and planned out. In particular of course, are the court room scenes. Very palatable! The story line, while not completely original, is fresh and different enough to pass as it’s on entity which in this day and age of repeats, remakes, and re-do’s in Hollywood is a big time bonus. There are several nice twists, and turns as the movie rolls on to its big finale, so the film does keep you interested from front to back, even though a few scenes may actually seem slow at times.

“Fracture” is a definite worth while rental or even purchase. If you like a good suspense movie, or if you are any kind of Anthony Hopkins fan at all, this is a must see.

My rating for this movie 8.00 out of 10.00