FRACTURE

"I shot my wife"

Willy Beachum (Gosling) has landed himself a big money position as one of the most prestigious law firms in Los Angeles but before he can move into his plush new office he has try one last case for the district attorney's office. The case seems to be cut and dry, with a signed confession and the murder weapon found but when the accused, Ted Crawford (Hopkins), decides to defend himself against the charge of murdering his wife, the trail quickly becomes one that could define Willy's career or finish it.

Twisting and turning courtroom dramas have been a storyline favourite of many a Hollywood movie but is the jury still out on 'Fracture'?

The courtroom has always been a fascination for screenwriters since the advent of the talking movie. A judge, a jury, attorneys, witnesses, the victim and the defendant are a play on life that is governed by the manipulation and knowledge of the law. 'Fracture' uses all of these plot points and runs with them but the problem is that the evidence is very easy to follow.

With any courtroom thriller, the crime itself has to draw you into the story. This one is intriguing from the off. A rich aeronautic engineer catches his young wife in an affair and proceeds to shoot her in the head as retribution. Not leaving his house and with no else entering, the police and district attorney's office see it as an open and shut case for the leaving star of their office. Before he gets to leave for his big money job in civil law, Willy Beachum basically needs to oversee Ted Crawford's arraignment but when the accused changes his plea to not guilty and wants to defend himself, the final case might just be one that defines his career or ruins it. This is when the intrigue begins and a battle of wills between Beachum and Crawford starts.

With the pieces on the table, it is just a matter of putting them together and for the most part you will be guessing where the pieces go but if you pay attention you will be able to put it together extremely quickly. The more observant viewer will be able to figure out exactly how Ted Crawford plans to get away with murder with the first ten minutes but there is still much to enjoy along the way.

That enjoyment comes from the performances of Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins. Ryan Gosling is quickly becoming brilliant character actor. In the same mould as the greats like Pacino, De Niro and more recently Edward Norton, he becomes a character and grabs you attention on screen. Playing up and coming, slightly cocky Willy Beachum, he gets chance to show what he can do playing a more personable character than we are used to but he makes a good leading man. The problem is however he is playing opposite one of the great screen actors, Anthony Hopkins. As Ted Crawford, he eats up the screen, becoming his most menacing and mesmerising. This is the actor on the top of his game and really having fun with the character, drawing you into the story and captivating you throughout. Add to this, good performances from the always-excellent David Strathairn, the talented and extremely beautiful Rosamund Pike and added support from Embeth Davidtz, Cliff Curtis and Billy Burke.

'Fracture' is a courtroom drama and thriller that might be slightly too easy to figure out but is entertaining enough to keep you enthralled. With a scene stealing performance from Anthony Hopkins and another testament to the upcoming talents of Ryan Gosling, this is a movie that is guilty of giving too much away but not guilty enough of spoiling your enjoyment.

Deleted and alternative scenes
Alternative endings
Trailer

Presumed Innocent

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2007