I will be spoiling a great deal of this film simply because a big part of this story revolves around a trick which I figured out very early on. Out of respect to the people making the film I will not simply reveal this trick but I will be describing this movie in detail enough to merit a major spoiler warning here.
In the trailer of Fracture the basic plot is revealed. Anthony Hopkins plays some rich guy who is arrested for shooting his wife. Ryan Gosling plays the District Attorney who quickly learns that his air-tight case turns out to be much more challenging than expected.
Obsessed with making fascinating pinball contraptions and without much exposition, successful airplane hanger businessman Hopkins catches his wife cheating on him, confronts her when she returns home, then shoots her.
Never leaving his house after the shooting, he surrenders, complete with signed confession. A major problem surfaces, however, when questions arise and they can't find the gun that shot his wife. Witnesses were present to see he never left the house. No amount of searching turns up the gun and after a series of legal maneuvers, Hopkins certainly appears to be able to get away with it... or does he?
Sometimes people, often small children, will see a magician do a trick, but by chance they can immediately figure it out.
Unfortunately, the issue with the gun was such with me. Like immediately. As soon as the question was raised, I figured out what happened.
I was *hoping* for the writer to present my thought-up solution and then dispel it. To my disappointment, however, it turned out to be the case all along and so my attention turned to other elements. Unfortunately, without that "hook", I was disappointed with what I saw (and didn't see).
After his legendary role as a hyper intelligent serial killer, Anthony Hopkins, when playing a criminal, is now typecast as a super genius able to out-think the police at every turn. He does not disappoint here. He does flesh out his character while making the character distinctive from other characters he's played....
But now I must turn my attention to movie legend and superstar Ryan Gosling. Welp, I'm alone in the world because, yet again, I just don't understand why he's so vaunted as this great actor and screen presence.
Gosling plays this hyper talented, tremendously ambitious, super intelligent, irresistibly sexy (but not dating anyone) assistant district attorney being offered a great private-sector position in a top law firm all while playing the same character he has played in every other movie he's been in.
And I didn't believe any of it. I don't know if it was the writing, or that the character was re-written to accommodate Gosling's limited range, but once you drift off the main plot, this story and dialogue is more like an episode of "Law and Order" that Dick Wolf cranked out in an afternoon than a subplot in any John Grisham novel.
While the film boasts a lush film score, Hollywood-quality cinematography which often impresses, fine location filming and expertly lit interiors, etc they can't distract one off of a completely unbelievable relationship between Gosling's character and prospective boss played by Rosamund ("Gone Girl") Pike who CAN act and be believable when the situation is realistic and she has the right words to say.
After knowing him for less than 2 weeks, Pike's character starts having sex with her (prospective) employee Gosling (who gets to show his "guns" - sexy man!). BUT... she must still impress the partners and justify Gosling's lack of commitment due to his obsession with Hopkins, and his refusal to leave his old DA job. Needless to say, this whole "having sex with the boss" situation has not aged well through the years (even when this film was made!), especially considering how they're LAWYERS in LOS ANGELES but he's a guy so it's OK?
They've known each other literally for 2 weeks and she invites him to THANKSGIVING DINNER with the family? Hon, it's going on 15 days - it's time we start setting a date and pick out wedding invitation envelopes!?? ...BUT DON'T DISAPPOINT MY BOSS!
RETURNING to the main story, they're still searching for the gun. They SAY they can't find the gun but CURIOUSLY it was decided not to show them REALLY searching for it (as opposed to just looking in drawers?). Seriously. Remember the car in the French Connection? Here, they're looking for something SMALLER. "Sorry, but we looked everywhere!" REALLY?
The bit of business with the gun is finally addressed with some added elements enough to keep me watching to the end.
TO ITS CREDIT, the film comes up with a LEGAL twist that was NOT stupid to resolve the story.
NOT BAD, but way below expectations for me.
If you find Ryan Gosling a better actor than I do, you should check this out on a streaming service you already pay for.
SHOUT OUT to two MAINSTAY supporting actors, David Strathairn
as DA Joe Lobruto and Bob Gunton as Judge Gardner. These two guys have been in what? A THOUSAND movies? They've ALWAYS delivered.
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