Movies: Fracture

Although it might look like some sort of psychological thriller, "Fracture" is really a movie about criminal law, or more specifically, about criminal procedure. You can see more about the premise in the trailer, but suffice it to say that the movie effectively portrays the trials and travails of a prosecutor (especially the temptation to misuse the power).

There's some interesting performances here. Anthony Hopkins has pretty much got the "calculated psychopathic killer" down pat by this point in his career, so he slips into this one easily (he has an accent, but it's slightly dodgy). Ryan Gosling, who plays the arrogant prosecutor trying to put Hopkins away, manages to hold his own.

Unfortunately, the plot requires too many coincidences and stretches of the imagination to accept. First of all, if someone is shot in the head with a GLOCK .45, and they don't get medical attention immediately, they usually die. Second of all, a judgment of acquittal is rarely granted, especially with all the circumstantial evidence pinning the defendant, and only the defendant, to the scene of the crime. Every time something like this crops up, it kills your suspension of disbelief.

And here's a little inside joke, one that only one person in the world will understand: "Gee, it looks like Ryan Gosling's character's relationship with Anthony Hopkins' character has...FRACTURED!"

Rating: 6/10