Fracture Review

I didn't know what to expect when Netflix sent me Fracture. I had not heard of the movie and knew nothing of the story. It turns out that Fracture is a strong legal thriller with excellent performances, particularly from Anthony Hopkins.

Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant aeronautical engineer who builds elaborate ball-rolling machines as a hobby. He has learned that his trophy wife Jennifer (Embeth Davidtz) is having an affair with a hunky cop (Billy Burke), so Ted devises a plan to incapacitate his wife and beat the charges. Ted pleads not guilty and insists on the fastest possible trial, drawing hot-shot Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling) as the deputy district attorney. Beachum has his sights focused on a high-paying corporate law job, with a little left over for his dazzling lawyer girlfriend (Rosamund Pike). Therefore, Willy is not really paying attention to Ted Crawford's case right at the point he should be.

Will Ted Crawford get off? Will Willy get his high-paying job? What will Ted do next?

I enjoyed Fracture. Anthony Hopkins is always good and he was brutally cold as the crafty defendant in Fracture. When he's on screen, it's hard to turn away. It was also fun seeing Willy Beachum visualize his glorious future, blinding him to the present. Ryan Gosling was completely believable as a young district attorney who doesn't know when he's in over his head. The other supporting players were believable too, although the women's roles were mostly as eye candy.

Fracture is a good legal thriller with strong performances. You can see the ending coming from 30 minutes away but it's always satisfying when a nasty killer gets collared. And no one plays a nasty killer as well as Anthony Hopkins.

I recommend Fracture.