Review of Fracture (2007) by Bernard P — 30 Jul 2009

There is not very much to like about FRACTURE, nor do I see the necessity to do so, even though the great Anthony Hopkins is starring in it. One can never avoid all puns, so here it goes: this film is a somewhat fractured flick that in actuality has a fair plot.

The problem with that is the story of this motion picture has, indeed, been done a great number of times, as most of Hollywood's wonders. MAN ON THE EIFEL TOWER with Franchot Tone and Charles Laughton(1949) and WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION with Tyrone Powers and Charles Laughton(1957) come to mind.

These are movies in which, from the outset, one cannot be entirely certain about the murder suspect, who, it appears, takes his own sweet time to lead the investigators of the flagitious crime by their noses until-something happens.

Either the police, the D.A. or the killer get caught in their own machinations. The denouement is always predictable. In my estimation, none of the players deserve special mention, with the exception of Billy Burke, who gives a very controlled performance; his dark good looks should propel him into superstardom.

Hopkins, on the other hand, is far too old to scare chickens, never mind a theater audience. Even he ought to acknowledge that Hannibal Lecter, that rapacious, terrifying creature, was in the very prime of his life, and then apply that fact to himself.

One cannot turn back the clock and recapture one's youth, no matter how hard one may try. Hopkins was good as grandpa Zorro though(sic).