The 2007 American-German thriller “Fracture” was directed by director Gregory Hoblit, starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Despite conflicting ratings from critics, the film received an IMDb rating of 7.20 and endorsement by the audience. The spectator almost from the first minutes of timing took the side of evil and remained on it until the final credits. The genre of the film "Fracture" is a psychological thriller. At the same time, fans of the genre were somewhat disappointed with the excessive moral and ethical correctness of the narrative of the work of Gregory Hoblit.
Short storyline
Unlike the legendary antagonist Hannibal Lector, in the film "Fracture" (2007), the hero of E. Hopkins is absolutely normal from the medical point of view, but painfully jealous. Catching his wife with her lover, he did not make stupid scenes, and uttering a couple of phrases at parting, he simply shot her in the face. This is a unique combination of composure and hot temper, for which the viewer loves the key character “Silence of the Lambs”. Perhaps that is why often Jonathan Demme’s masterpiece is considered to be a movie similar to “Fracture”.
A woman after a point-blank shot does not die, but falls into a coma. The failed killer arrested at the crime scene red-handed, goes to trial. The prosecutor is a zealous careerist (Ryan Gosling), seeking convictions in 95% of cases.
Intellectual versus winner
The plot and denouement of the film "Fracture" seems very predictable. However, there it was. The arrogant accuser, deceived by the meek appearance of the suspect, soon comes to his senses. The murder weapon - that same gun - is nowhere to be found. The Hopkins character refuses a lawyer and turns the lawsuit into a natural farce. And although the hero of Ryan Gosling is not inclined to play games, he still has to.
Further development of events demonstrates the entire arsenal of original ideas of the creators. The name of the film “Fracture” (2007) is more accurately translated as “Crack”. It is explained by the Taoist parable that the hero of Hopkins tells as a warning to his young adversary. It illustrates the structure of the world in general and the human psyche in particular.
When watching, the viewer will remember a lot of films similar to Fracture. All of them belong to the psychotriller genre.
Cinema about smart and smart
A list of films similar to Fracture opens with a movie based on breaking familiar patterns. The Thriller "Disappeared" was directed by one of the most talented visionaries of our time - David Fincher. In the film, one can clearly see the way out of the genre framework, the director gracefully manipulates all kinds of clichés, laying down hitherto unknown story trails. When describing the plot, it is extremely difficult to resist spoilers, because the picture is striking in the richness of social, interpersonal and individual problems. The filigree work of the director, coupled with brilliant acting, turns the film "Disappeared" (2014) into the flagship of the genre, which I want to review repeatedly.
In the center of the story is a married couple of Nick and Amy Dunn, whose day of the fifth anniversary of the wedding turns into a real nightmare. Returning from a run, Nick discovers the doors of the house wide open, drops of blood in the living room, signs of struggle and the disappearance of the missus. Naturally, he immediately becomes the main suspect, because his alibi is doubtful, and it turns out that the couple Dunn was not a happy family. And Nick himself is sure that Amy’s disappearance hides something more than a family quarrel or even murder. So modestly, but without spoileriness, we can characterize the plot of the film "Disappeared" (2014). Project rating IMDb: 8.10.
Love and Criminal Triangle
In the second position on the list is Andrew Davis’s tape “The Perfect Kill” (1998). In the center of the story is an influential businessman Stephen Taylor (Michael Douglas), learning about the betrayal of his young wife Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow). Unable to accept what happened, he comes up with a plan for her "ideal" murder, but in the process of its implementation unforeseen circumstances arise. Based on these facts and genre politics, the picture can be attributed to films similar to Fracture.
In his thriller, director Andrew Davis exploits the impressive image of Douglas, who is not the first to transform into a wealthy businessman from New York. It will be a surprise for the viewer to learn that the main character is driven not so much by resentment, jealousy and thirst for love, as by cold calculation and mercantile considerations.
In “The Perfect Kill” (1998), Michael Douglas plays confidently and expertly, albeit without much psychological depth. Compared to this actor, the other colleagues look inexpressive. The script has a lot of plot inconsistencies and unmasked cliches. The picture is declared by the creators as a thriller, but there are few episodes that cause nervous tension. In addition, the story is sullenly serious. Movie rating IMDb: 6.50.
Litigation
Further in the ranking of films similar to “Fracture”, is the work of the director Brad Furman “Lincoln for a lawyer” (2011). In this solid thriller, starring Matthew McConaughey plays Mick Heller, a sensitive-hearted lawyer who accepts clients in his own car. At a certain point, the director dramatically changes the style of narration. Heller’s last case, during which he undertakes to defend the infamous Louis Roulet, turns out to be a tangled ball of all kinds of criminal tricks.
Elements of drama and thriller are interwoven into a detective intrinsic intrigue, which turns an exciting action into a story overloaded with details. The undoubted success of the creators is considered to be the images of key characters. Ryan Philip is brilliant as a vicious oligarch, McConaughey, recently seen in a few mediocre comedies, is magnificent as a dramatic actor. Their game is more valuable than the confused circumstances in which their characters are put by a screenwriter and director. As a result, the rating of the tape is IMDb: 7.30.
Double life
Psychological thriller “Who are you, Mr. Brooks?” (2007) is not the last item on this list. In it, Kevin Costner appears in the image of an ideal citizen, a family man, leading the double life of a killer maniac. The serial killer is known to the public for several common features of his atrocities, in ordinary life a successful businessman, a caring spouse and a loving father. Behind strict glasses and an elegant bow-tie it is impossible to discern a person who calmly deals with unfortunate victims.
This detective thriller made by Bruce A. Evans is simply excellent: unconventional, smart, intriguing and exciting. What will happen will be incomprehensible to the very end. The director managed to avoid cliches throughout the timing, and the ending is so discouraging and unexpected that it is difficult to refrain from delight. Therefore, the ratings of the tape and the rating are decent - IMDb: 7.30.
Scrupulous business
It’s worthwhile to mention the 1957 detective thriller Billy Wilder’s detective thriller on this list. The film adaptation of the work of the same name by Agatha Christie with the highest IMDb rating: 8.40 at one time received 6 nominations for the Oscar. The main roles in the film were played by Charles Lawton, Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power, for whom the film was the last appearance on the screen. Due to shaky health, doctors forbid brilliant lawyer Wilfried Robarts to take criminal cases. But he is interested in the almost hopeless case of Leonard Voul, accused of killing the noble and wealthy lady Emily French. The fact is that the lawyer was closely acquainted with the deceased and knew that in the event of her death, according to a recently changed will, the entire inheritance would go to Voula. However, the investigation considers this fact a motive for the murder. The only witness to the defense is the spouse of the accused, Christina Voul, so the hope of an acquittal is almost unjustified, and the matter is vague. But Wilfried, ignoring the instructions of the doctors, takes on this scrupulous process.
Revenge the system
The idea of revenge, on which the narrative of the thriller “Law-abiding Citizen”, which is included in this list, is built, is not different in innovation, in contrast to its implementation. The events in the project of the director F. Gary Gray begin on one of the quiet evenings, when scum burst into the house of a decent and modest engineer Shelton, kill his daughter and rape his wife. One of the attackers is sentenced to death, the second after the deal with the court, organized by prosecutor Rice, is released. Ten years pass, Shelton, disillusioned with the justice system, is embarking on a personal retaliation plan. He goes to prison and from there executes reprisal. Despite the uneven rhythm of the narrative and a somewhat rollicking script, the thriller earned an IMDb rating of 7.40. The picture looks in one breath, although some plot twists cause sincere bewilderment.
Dangerous rivalry
Another film about revenge and the imperfection of the judicial system on this list is the brainchild of Joel Schumacher's “Time to Kill” (1996). In the story, the father of a 10-year-old dark-skinned girl brutally raped by white scum, driven to despair, arranges for lynching. He point-blank shoots rapists released on bail. A man is sentenced to death. This case attracts the attention of a young lawyer Jake, he undertakes to defend the defendant. The case is complicated by the intervention of representatives of the Ku Klux Klan. Having secured the support of a talented law student, the lawyer intends to win the process, despite the impending threat.
Judicial drama
The success of the movie Primal Fear (IMDb: 7.70) was largely unexpected. The plot focuses on a young man accused of killing a Chicago archbishop. Denying his involvement in the crime, despite the evidence, he convinces the lawyer of his innocence. During the trial, lawyer Martin Weil and prosecutor Janet Winable collide, who are also former lovers.
One can try to explain the success of the project by the presence of starring Richard Gere as the performer and the presence of scandalous motives regarding a sex offense. But the main achievement of the picture, especially in comparison with a number of pictures about “sentenced, going to death”, is considered to be a sudden plot twist that encourages you to remember the finals of cult tapes, such as “Silence of the Lambs”, “Ordinary Suspects” and the masterpiece “Seven,” not without dark irony. Either criminals wiser on the screen, or lawyers and investigators stupidly stupid ...
Recommended for viewing
Viewers who liked the psychological thriller “Fracture” can safely recommend the following pictures, besides the ones stated, to watch:
- "Detective" directed by Kenneth Branagh, in which one trap hides the other, and Michael Kane and Jude Law act out a magnificent confrontation;
- Silence of the Lambs, directed by Jonathan Demme about Hannibal Lector, an outstanding psychiatrist and surgeon with a true nature of a maniac and cannibal;
- “Some Good Guys” by Rob Rainer;
- “In the event of a murder, type“ M ”” by the unrivaled Alfred Hitchcock;
- Reasonable Doubt, directed by Peter Hyams.