Fracture (2007)

"I shot my wife... prove it."

Directed by Gregory Hoblit
Produced by Charles Weinstock
Screenplay by Daniel Pyne, Glenn Gers
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz, Billy Burke, Cliff Curtis, Fiona Shaw, Bob Gunton
Music by Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna
Cinematography: Kramer Morgenthau
Edited by David Rosenbloom
Production company: Castle Rock, Weinstock Entertainment, M7 Filmproduktion
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Release date: 11 April 2007 (United States)
Running time: 113 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $45,000,000
Box office: $91,354,215

"Fracture" is a mystery crime drama film directed by Gregory Hoblit. It tells the story of Theodore "Ted" Crawford who is accused of attempted murder on his wife Jennifer. He gets locked in a battle of wits with a young assistant district attorney - William "Willy" Beachum. After Ted is freed on a technicality, the D.A. sets out on an obsessive mission to prove his guilt. Will Willy cope with this task or he must forget about his breath-taking career?

Cast

• Anthony Hopkins as Theodore "Ted" Crawford
• Ryan Gosling as William "Willy" Beachum
• David Strathairn as District Attorney Joe Lobruto
• Rosamund Pike as Nikki Gardner
• Embeth Davidtz as Jennifer Crawford
• Billy Burke as Lt. Rob Nunally
• Cliff Curtis as Detective Flores
• Fiona Shaw as Judge Robinson
• Bob Gunton as Judge Frank Gardner
• Josh Stamberg as Norman Foster
• Xander Berkeley as Judge Moran
• Zoe Kazan as Mona

The director of the film is Gregory Hoblit. His other outstanding pictures are "Primal Fear", and "Hart's War". Scenes for "Fracture" were shot on location in Encino, California at the Sherman residence (Noeline Ave, Encino, CA), a ranch home designed by Peter Tolkin Architecture. Producer Hawk Koch said, "My challenge was to make our film look like a 60 or 70–million dollar film and not spend anywhere near that kind of money. I'm proud that we could make a rich-looking movie, work decent hours and do it for a good price. We owe thanks to our D.P., Kramer Morgenthau, who can light fast and made every scene look exquisite. He's going to have a name as one of the best in the business for a long time to come".

The main role is performed by inimitable Anthony Hopkins. His characters are also believable especially antagonists. So his Ted also turned out a calm and composed murderer with a sense of humour. Anthony Hopkins' presenting makes a spectator scare and take an interest in Theodore Crawford. Ryan Gosling as William "Willy" Beachum seems vain and audacious as he needs to be. Therefore keeping an eye on him is really curious particularly during his battle of wits with a clever murderer.

Advantages

• Anthony Hopkins as Theodore "Ted" Crawford
• Ryan Gosling as William "Willy" Beachum
• Rosamund Pike as Nikki Gardner
• The inteersting plot

Disadvantages

• Characters aren't black or white and that makes glad

"Strangenesses"

• Where are proofs?

Clue Moments

• The shot

Break a law and be free? No problems if you know loopholes in it. It's possible to make everything this way that a law will be on one's side. Sounds incredible but it's so.

A battle of wits. It's always interesting to know how will the game turn out. Miscalculations, mistakes, unpredictable twists. All of these takes a breath away. And almost everyone puts oneself in character's place and thinks: "What would I do in that case?" 

Soundtracks

1. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - The Rube
2. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - Mrs. Smith
3. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - You're Home Early
4. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - Beachum
5. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - Objection
6. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - Call Me Later
7. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - I Didn't Know Her Last Name
8. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - Bedside Vigil
9. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - This Is Where To Find Me
10. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - I Haven't Decided Yet
11. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - Suicide
12. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - I Decide When It Gets Pulled
13. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - A Certain Kind Of Strength
14. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - I Got The Bullet
15. Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna - New Trial

Quotations

* * *

Ted Crawford: Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

* * *

Judge Pincus: I appreciate your concern for the dignity of the court 007, Unfortunately, the man is a tax-paying citizen and entitled by our constitution to try and manipulate the legal system like everybody else.

* * *

Ted Crawford: And the look on his face, oh. He was trying to get her back to life. And I was pissing myself laughing. Because I took both the bastards out with one bullet.

* * *

Ted Crawford: Knowledge is pain.

* * *

Willy Beachum: Is it safe to say that the person who inflicted this wound intended to kill?

* * *

Ted Crawford: You know, my grandfather was an egg farmer.
Willy Beachum: This isn't going to be about your, uh, "rough childhood," is it?
Ted Crawford: No, I used to candle eggs at his farm. Do you know what that is? You hold an egg up to the light of a candle and you look for imperfections. The first time I did it he told me to put all the eggs that were cracked or flawed into a bucket for the bakery. And he came back an hour later, and there were 300 eggs in the bakery bucket. He asked me what the hell I was doing. I found a flaw in every single one of them - you know, thin places in the shell; fine, hairline cracks. You look closely enough, you'll find that everything has a weak spot where it can break, sooner or later.
Willy Beachum: You looking for mine?
Ted Crawford: I've already found yours.
Willy Beachum: What is it?
Ted Crawford: You're a winner, Willy.
Willy Beachum: Yeah.

* * *

Willy Beachum: I'm not going to play any games with you.
Ted Crawford: I'm afraid you have to old sport.

* * *

Lt. Robert Nunally: Your wife? Is she OK?
Ted Crawford: I don't think she is. I shot her.

* * *

Lt. Robert Nunally: I warned you about him.
Willy Beachum: You warned me he was smart. You didn't warn me you were stupid.

* * *

Willy Beachum: I don't think the gun grew little gun legs and walked out of the house. It's in here somewhere, find it.

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 8/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Acting: 8/10

Originality: 7/10
Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10