by Karyn L. Beach

I really enjoyed Fracture. Nobody does intelligent evil as well as Anthony Hopkins. And this time around his co-star Ryan Gosling (fresh off his Best Actor nominated role for his performance in Half Nelson) matches him with his cocky bravado and arrogance.

Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is an engineer with a beautiful younger wife (Embeth Davidtz). When he uncovers that she's having an affair, he shoots her; leaving her in a coma. It should be an open-and-shut case of attempted murder. They were the only two in the house. He shot her. He remained in the house until police and a hostage negotiator arrive and he promptly confessed. Body. Gun. Confession. So, when the attempted murder case lands on the desk of prosecutor Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling) it seems easy enough. And right now, Willy is looking for easy. He's a hot shot young D.A. with a 97% winning record. He's leaving the District Attorney's office for a posh job with a big corporate law firm. More money. More prestige and an incredibly hot boss (Rosamund Pike). What more could a guy ask for!

Then everything begins to fall apart. The gun isn't the right gun. The confession gets dropped and all of the sudden the case that seemed like a slam dunk is beginning to look more like an airball. Soon, it's not only the case but Beachum's reputation and his new bright future on the line. Beachum can't walk away and Crawford knows he has the upper hand.

People are saying that Hopkins is doing another Hannibal Lecter. And I can see that to a point but he underplays himself a little bit more than he did in that film. Whereas Lecter was flamboyant and over-the-top, Hopkins plays Crawford as another psychopathic genius but without the unasashed pleasure that Lecter had for his crimes.

Gosling is equally as good as the kid who has to win. He can't walk away even when he knows what it might cost him if he loses. Crawford counts on that bravoado and Beachum unwittingly plays right into his hand. In the hands of lesser actors, this would not have been as nearly as enjoyable to watch.

While I've heard some people complain that they saw the ending coming a mile away, it worked for me and I think it will work for the majority of the moviegoing audience.