Thursday, August 9, 2007

Fracture DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Anthony Hopkins’ Convoluted Courtroom Drama Due on DVD

Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is the CEO of the successful aeronautical firm which bears his name. The multi-millionaire drives a six-figure sports car and lives in a hilltop mansion overlooking Los Angeles with a trophy wife (Embeth Davidtz) half his age whom he absolutely adores.
However, that thin line between love and hate evaporates soon after he discovers that she’s been conducting a steamy affair with a hunky, young homicide detective (Billy Burke). Instead of confronting them about the illicit liaison, Ted sets about carefully concocting an elaborate plan for revenge.
Then, he shoots his spouse in the head and rather than try to cover up the crime, he simply waits for the police to arrive and matter-of-factly admits the dastardly deed to the investigating officer, who happens to be her shocked lover, Detective Nunally.
Crawford is carted off to jail for what appears to be an open-and-shut case, especially since he decides to represent himself. However, Nunally never informed prosecutor Willy Beacham (Ryan Gosling) about his relationship with Mrs. Crawford who was left comatose in a vegetative state with the bullet still embedded in her brain.
Because the cops could never find the murder weapon, the state’s case comes apart at the seams when the defendant makes an undisputed accusation that his confession had been beaten out of him by an officer who had been secretly sleeping with his wife. This ethical quandary sits at the center of Fracture, a convoluted courtroom drama which unfortunately relies on ridiculous interpretations of the law which fly in the face of fundamental notion about jurisprudence.
As an attorney, perhaps I should have excused myself rather than review a movie which manages to make a mockery of the legal system. Regardless, Fracture is, indeed, a fractured feature which establishes itself as a taut psychological thriller early on only to undercut an intriguing premise with comical 11th hour courtroom antics comparable to the vaudeville act of Pigmeat Markham.
“Here come de judge!”

Fair (1 star)
Rated R for profanity and violence.
Running time: 112 minutes
Studio: New Line Home Video
DVD Extras: Two alternate endings, deleted scenes, alternate scenes and a theatrical trailer.

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