Fracture

'œFracture is like a knockoff pair of designer jeans,' said Robert Butler in The Kansas City Star. 'œIt's good for one wearing, then falls apart during its first spin in the washer.' Though the film seems sleek and well crafted in the theater, all its twists and turns become nonsense once you hit the parking lot. At least director Gregory Hoblit is stealing from himself'”the plot machinations that don't rehash The Silence of the Lambs are taken from Hoblit's own Primal Fear. Anthony Hopkins plays the Lecter-like Ted Crawford, a genius aeronautical engineer whose seamless constructions include plans for murders. He kills his wife and confesses to the crime, but to the dismay of young prosecutor Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling), the case is far from open-and-shut. That's when Fracture gets good, said Kevin Crust in the Los Angeles Times. It's great fun to 'œsoak up the actorly tête-à -tête that pits wily veteran Anthony Hopkins against young gun Ryan Gosling.' Hopkins relishes yet another evil role, smirking his way through the film. But it's Gosling who ends up on top, said Jan Stuart in Newsday. The up-and-comer is 'œthe real deal,' and his performance heats up as his character's insecurity begins to show through. This kid will earn an Oscar or two before the decade is out.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up