Film lovers are buzzing about a gripping psychological thriller on Netflix, which sees the legendary Anthony Hopkins deliver a performance as a character who’s chillingly “evil and despicable”, with some viewers convinced he outdoes his role as Hannibal Lecter. The 2007 flick Fracture features Hopkins as Ted Crawford, a rich and successful aeronautical engineer hailing from Ireland but residing in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife, Jennifer.
Upon discovering his wife’s affair with police detective Robert Nunally, he calmly confronts her before shooting her in the head, leaving her for dead in their plush home. He meticulously moves her body, discharges four shots from his gun, collects the spent casings, burns the outfit he wore while committing the grisly act, and then scrubs away any trace of gunshot residue from his hands.
The case still appears rather straightforward – Ted doesn’t flee from the scene of the crime, there’s no hint of another culprit, and he calmly awaits detective Robert Nunally’s arrival at his home, insisting on speaking with only him.
After a tense negotiation with Nunally in which they both agree to disarm, Ted admits to the crime, confessing to the dumbfounded officer that he simply “snapped” and shot his wife. However, there’s much more to Ted than meets the eye.
The moment Robert realises it’s Jennifer who has been shot, he is consumed by fury and assaults Ted – playing right into the trap Ted had set.
Ryan Gosling portrays the district attorney assigned to prosecute the case, eyeing it as an easy final victory before leaving the public service for a posh corporate law firm where individually decorated offices, dapper suits and lavish cocktail parties are the norm.
His cavalier approach to the case piques the interest of Ted, who engages in a strategic game of cat-and-mouse with the young lawyer, having meticulously orchestrated the crime with a series of inconsistencies to avoid conviction.
It turns out that Ted’s licensed firearm, removed from the crime scene and taken into evidence, isn’t actually the weapon that shot Jennifer, and his confession is dismissed after he shockingly reveals in court that detective Nunally was having an affair with his wife.
Gosling’s character undergoes a dramatic transformation, evolving from an arrogant, self-assured victor to a desperate empath, hell-bent on securing justice against a cunning, intelligent and manipulative killer.
Anthony Hopkins’ depiction of Ted is chillingly brilliant – he exudes danger yet maintains a demeanor so serene and composed that it verges on sociopathic.
Despite Gosling’s William ‘Willy’ Beachum seeing right through him, Ted has cleverly engineered the evidence to fail, making it impossible for Willy to prosecute him.
Both leading actors deliver stellar performances, with Hopkins’ ruthless Ted being compared by some Netflix fans to the infamous cannibalistic murderer, Dr Hannibal Lecter.
On Reddit’s ‘underrated movies’ forum, a Netflix enthusiast shared: “People always praise Anthony Hopkins for his villainous roles in Silence [of the Lambs] and Westworld, but nothing compares to how evil and despicable he is in Fracture.
“Hopkins’ character is completely out of control with zero redeeming qualities.” They continued: “The movie itself? A really good lawyering drama/thriller.
“Ryan Gosling probably gives his most charming and effortless performance ever in it, playing a smug superstar lawyer who has just been handed a prosecution of nightmares.”
Adding to the discussion, another user said: “All of the pre-planning/premeditation by Hopkins was amazing. His ‘lackadaisical’ attitude in the courtroom made him a smug a**hole. Love this movie.”
Elsewhere on the platform, further praise came as one fan added: “I love this movie! One of the best thrillers in a long time! Anthony Hopkins is one of the most amazing actors ever! Definitely worth watching if you haven’t seen it!”