Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins pull off a spectacular and convincing performance in Gregory Hoblit's drama "Fracture." With the base of Daniel Pyne and Glenn Gers' mind boggling script, the two actors portray an unimaginable thriller story.
Ranking second in its opening weekend at the box office this weekend, Hoblit's "Fracture" awes and amazes audiences nationwide. The uncanny relationship between the defendant of an attempted murder case and a lawyer hoping to go corporate forms the basis of this twisted and compelling cat-mouse story.
Full of nooks and crannies, the story twists and turns to make the audience think instead of presenting it with hard facts about bullets and blood. Hoblit's directing and incorporation of shot angles truly is remarkable.
Ryan Gosling stars as Willy Beachum, a public defender who is trying to hit it big and rake in the money by switching over to corporate law. For his last case as a public defender, Willy tries to prosecute Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) for the attempted murder of his wife Jennifer.
But Willy does not know what kind of twisted game he is getting himself into. When arrested for murder, Ted attests to killing his wife, who he knew was having an affair with Detective Rob Nunally (Billy Burke), his arrestor. Ted is no fool and has planned the perfect murder. In fact, he even chooses to refuse a public lawyer and instead defends himself.
Hopkins was cast well as the vindictive and vengeful husband. Most well known for his performance in "Hannibal" (2001) as Dr. Lecter, Hopkins has an aura like no other. His dispositions and mannerisms reflect those of a realistic and tactful killer and deceitful man. Disguised behind a fa?§ade of a cultured and wealthy engineer, Hopkins perfectly portrays a typical businessman-turned-nutcase.
Gosling, in the same way, does a good job portraying the little man trying to make a big name for himself. His acting as the stereotypical public defender that has one foot out the door already and wants to move on with his life to bigger and better things is very believable. Unlike his role in "The Notebook" (2004), Gosling plays a sharp intellectual lawyer rather than a hopeless romantic. This more academic role seems very natural. His performance and portrayal of Willy Beachum is unforced and makes the audience think that Gosling might be a bit like Beachum in person.
Pyne and Gers' script is perhaps the most enthralling aspect of this dramatic thriller. The implementation of Hopkins' almost-perfect murder leads the audience to ask thought-provoking questions, all of which are explained towards the end of the movie. Even more exciting is how Beachum discovers what really happened in Ted's own house, the scene of the alleged crime.
The scenes involving Hopkins and Gosling emphasize their cat and mouse relationship. In addition, the screenplay perfectly accentuates each actor's strengths. In the scene where Gosling returns the defendant's papers to Hopkins, Hopkins manages to accurately portray Ted's reaction to Beachum's somber and unsympathetic response. Written into the script or perhaps interpreted by the actors, the scene comes off just as it should: pensive and almost taunting.
Hoblit has directed other such films like "Hart's War" (2002), a drama and war movie, and "Frequency" (2000), a science fiction thriller, neither of which were as successful as "Fracture" at the box office. Unlike "Fracture," his other work was not based upon scripts this compelling and complicated. Hoblit has made the right choice in filming such a story.
All in all, top performances by well known actors like Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins are what have made "Fracture" soar to the top. Coupled with the excellent script and well-done directing of Gregory Hoblit, "Fracture" pulls off a shattering performance.
