The interaction between prosecutor and defendant is an interesting one - works- even more so when the defendant is just screwing with everyone. "Fracture" has all the appeal of an episode of "Law & Order" with the added combined star power of Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins.
Assistant District Attorney Willy Beachum (Gosling) has one foot out the door of the D.A. office on his way to a cushy corporate office job when a new case falls into his lap. Powerful, rich businessman Ted Crawford (Hopkins) just shot his wife in the head. He admits to this, hands over the murder weapon, signs a confession and happily heads to prison. He even plans on representing himself at trial.
But he's just turning the screws. The case that Beachum thinks is going to be a slamdunk starts to fall apart in an instance. The murder weapon doesn't match, the arresting officer had relations with the victim and Crawford is just playing games. He's enjoying the whole situation because it's looking up for him, while Beachum's rising star starts to plummet back to Earth.
With a 97 percent win recor, Beachum won't let go of the case even though he's risking it all just to get Crawford. The old man may be clever, but he's too smug. Beachum wants to win the case so a psychotic killer won't get away scot-free.
As far as murder mysteries go, "Fracture" is superb. The script leans heavily on Gosling and Hopkins' witty banter and the comedy within their words. It's charmingly funny, rather than scary or dramatic.
To have Crawford sitting behind bars during his arraignment telling the judge that he wants to keep Beachum on the case because he likes him is a funny situation that is slightly creepy. And if you want someone who can still be amiable while being creepy, Hopkins is the actor to pull it off.
Gosling, coming off his Oscar-nominated role in "Half Nelson," isn't too shabby either. Beachum is a guy just trying to move on with his life, but he's also one that has convictions. He's got a good ol' Southern boy feel to him. The way he responds to Crawford, as both frustrated and amused, works for his believability. One can only hope that all A.D.A.'s would be as thorough and as determined as Beachum.
However, "Fracture" does have some tenuous points. If an audience member knows a little too much about the law, it's not hard to figure out the ending halfway through the movie. But it's still a movie that will keep your attention.
The main point of the film, actually, is that everything and everyone has its weak point. It's conveyed through the plot itself, the title and storylines. But Crawford says it best in a story he tells Beachum about his time living on a farm sorting eggs. He was to look at each egg and find the ones that had flaws. He found over 300. Now these two characters were both looking for the flaws, in the case and in each other, to see who would break first.
Powerful writing and music only accompany the wonderful acting of "Fracture." Don't ruin it by trying to figure out the mystery, just watch and enjoy.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
