Fractured

There are some movies that just are. They are not good, they are not bad, they are not overly ambitious but they are made well enough, with talented enough people, yet they make no lasting impression. Fracture (2007) is one of these movies. It has a great cast, a well polished look, and an intriguing enough plot, but no real depth. It is a courtroom thriller and nothing else. 

Fracture is helmed by director Gregory Hoblit (nothing of any significance to note here) who takes an intriguing script and films just the words. With such great talent as Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins attached, I would have hoped someone would have said lets give these characters a little more depth. Maybe the idea was that these actors would just bring that extra level through there acting. They did the best they could and did make the film much more watch-able, but they still were not able to save it.

The plot is certainly intriguing even if it is not plausible. It surrounds Goslings Willy Beachum a young and successful attorney who is looking to move up in the world from his state held position. He is granted this opportunity early on when he is hired at a big time law firm but before he can start the new position all he has to do is finish up a cut and dry case. Wrong. It's never cut and dry when you face a murderous Anthony Hopkins. So, clever Anthony toys with Gosling throughout the film as Gosling attempts to find out the truth. 

Unfortunately the movie didn't spend enough time on the intriguing moments that the script presents, it ignores character and concentrates too much on plot. I wanted to know more about Goslings desire to win this case rather than take on a great new job and girlfriend. Speaking of the girlfriend, this is a plot point that fell flat and served no real purpose. I also wanted to know what about the "game" Hopkins character enjoyed so much. Had Hopkins character Ted Crawford done this before, or is it as simple as he enjoys games displayed through the continuous shots of his marble tracks.  

All and all Fracture wasn't horrible, it was well made, and not entirely boring, but I couldn't help but feeling that these talented people could have spent this money on a better product.

**1/2