Fracture Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
If you look close enough, you'll find everyone has a weak spot.
I shot my wife.
J'ai tué ma femme. Prouvez-le. (I killed my wife. Prove it.) [France]
I shot my wife...prove it.
Wealthy, brilliant, and meticulous Ted Crawford, a structural engineer in Los Angeles, shoots his wife and entraps her lover. He signs a confession; at the arraignment, he asserts his rights to represent himself and asks the court to move immediately to trial. The prosecutor is Willy Beachum, a hotshot who's soon to join a fancy civil-law firm, told by everyone it's an open and shut case. Crawford sees Beachum's weakness, the hairline fracture of his character: Willy's a winner. The engineer sets in motion a clockwork crime with all the objects moving in predictable ways.
| Anthony Hopkins | Ted Crawford |
| Ryan Gosling | Willy Beachum |
| David Strathairn | Joe Lobruto |
| Rosamund Pike | Nikki Gardner |
| Embeth Davidtz | Jennifer Crawford |
| Billy Burke | Rob Nunally |
| Cliff Curtis | Detective Flores |
| Fiona Shaw | Judge Robinson |
| Bob Gunton | Judge Gardner |
| Josh Stamberg | Norman Foster |
| Xander Berkeley | Judge Moran |
| Zoe Kazan | Mona |
| Judith Scott | Resident |
| Gary Cervantes | Ciro |
| Petrea Burchard | Dr. Marion Kang |
| Gregory Hoblit |
6.80 out of 10 (3180 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Best Movie I've Seen All Year
posted on 28 Aug 2009This is the best film that I have seen all year. It has a brilliant plot and a wonderful cast. For instance in this film Ryan Gosling displays his brilliant acting chops. Gosling along with Hopkins make a brilliant match. Their characters go one-on-one with each other in this cat and mouse game. I enjoyed the dialogue between Gosling and Hopkins.The script was well-written for this film. I also enjoyed all of the other performances in the film. With supporting actors like Rosamund Pike and David Strathairn it is easy to see why this is such a great movie. This is one role that I immensely enjoyed seeing Hopkins in. I would gladly see this film again.
Contrived and ridiculous
posted on 26 Aug 2009Anthony Hopkins is a great actor but he apparently is not a great judge of scripts. Fracture is so contrived it makes an old Perry Mason TV show look brilliant by comparison. The film starts out good (even if you accept Hopkins is married to a woman who could be his granddaughter)and seems like it might even be fun. At least Hopkins seems to be having fun, but this is not The World's Fastest Indian where the fun goes with the story. This is supposed to be about a murder. In any case, Hopkins beats the young D.A. in a game of wits so easily one wonders how dumb you have to be to serve as a D.A. in Los Angeles. Then there are tortuous scenes, full of convoluted reasoning and twisted logic, where this mentally-challenged young man figures out a way to "catch" Hopkins. The denouement is -- again -- so contrived as to make one long for the days of deus ex machina. And if you want real torture watch the so-called alternate endings on the DVD. They clearly demonstrate this movie never had any chance of succeeding. Besides which, a good attorney would easily get Hopkins off again. The only reason I gave this mess 3 stars if because of Hopkins in the first 40 minutes or so. The rest of the film is a drag for everyone involved.
One guy asks another guy repeatedly "Where's the gun? Where's the gun?" for two hours. And that's it.
posted on 16 Aug 2009You will like this film if: You're not bored easily and don't mind wasting time without getting much out of it. Seriously, BORROW this movie, DO NOT spend any money as it will most likely annoy most of you when you probably hate it. Really, just in case.You will hate this film if: You like progression and a rich story.I'm amazed at people using such words to describe this film like "Tense and effective." "A cut above your average courtroom thriller thanks to a smart script and electrifying performances." Electrified to death by the scart lead, as it flies out, refusing to continue perhaps? I expect this film's rating to decrease a lot over time. It doesn't take much to grip me with intensity, but I was bored within half an hour, and soooo angry when nothing had actually happened by the end. The gist is that someone wants to find a murder weapon. He looks for it a lot. Here and there. And there. He asks about it. He looks some more. He asks someone else about it, and even has one long, boring conversation about it twice in the film. Tedium soon set in.. There's too much concentration on the individual characters and a story with potential is ruined by a lack of ability to follow through. You can't JUST have rich characters who only say "Where's the gun????!". If there was a twist or mind blowing ending, maybe it would be better, but there isn't, you don't find out anything new.By the end, little is accomplished and I even laughed aloud. All of us agreed we felt an underlying anger and boredom. My friend even apologised for putting it on at her house after she'd rented it. I don't watch many courtroom dramas. Some are OK but seriously here, nothing happens. It says "mind games" as a plot link on the IMDb page, there weren't enough games for me to make this an interesting psychological thriller. Besides evading police prosecution is supposed to be harder than that these days isn't it?! The performances aren't electrifying... they're average, verging on vacuous. The script isn't smart, it's boring. And ugh, I just remembered Gosling's projection of character, I hated it, he was fake and too big for his tiny boots. I wanted to punch the screen whenever he was on. Just soooo annoying! I know a lot of people love Hopkins even still when he can't seem to move on from you know what, and I know a lot of people perceive slow and boring as epic, tense and moving, but this one's too much of a risk. If you usually like this sort of thing and still want to watch it after reading all this, please, borrow it.
Not worth the time
posted on 12 Aug 2009When you view this kind of movie, most of the thrill is to see how the bad guy genius have planned the murder. When I finished this movie, I really felt betrayed. Either they have cut away important information, on how Hopkins character could know exactly in which order the policemen would arrive, and how they would behave, or he was taking a big, not especially bright, chance, and that makes the whole plot totally worthless. The actors where quite good, and the filming was OK, but really, such things doesn't really matter in this genre. Overall I would rate this as a very weak movie, and its really only enjoyable for the hardcore fans of Hopkins.
Very Nice
posted on 08 Aug 2009This is an OK movie. It is rather nice. With only one big exception - it drags a little at times. The actors' ensemble of Ryan Gosling as a hot young enthusiastic lawyer and Mr. Anthiny Hopkins as a merciless wife murderer is awesome, as well as the plot itself. But then, after the wife is murdered and the trial starts, the movie begins to drag and go so slowly that sometimes you have to force yourself to watch it, as you know, it will be better later on. It does get better, though. The love story with the participant of great Rosamund Pike does help a lot, too. And then you learn how the hero of Gosling will manage to prove that that was the man who killed his wife and why. The movie is OK. It is slow. But still, it is very good.
Loved this one
posted on 04 Aug 2009While I'm personally more of an action freak, I really loved this one. Sir Anthony Hopkins is great as the smart old guy, on top of his game here. Although you expect a twist in the end it blows you away with it's creeping smartness. My girlfriend couldn't believe how everything was planned out.Also very good: the young Ryan Gosling and the blonde girl of Doom and James Bond: Die another Day fame. They played intriguing characters and did good jobs. Not much to say about direction, never dragged and the music was very comfortable. I can clearly recommend this to everyone who like thrilling stories with twists and great characters. I think it's even better the second time around when you do know all the tricks and who plays whom.
Fracture (2007) ***
posted on 02 Aug 2009A young prosecutor (Ryan Gosling) tries to climb the ladder of success by getting involved in a case surrounding a conniving defendant (Anthony Hopkins) and the attempted murder of his wife, whom he shot after she was spotted having an affair with a man revealed to be the arresting officer at the scene. Hopkins decides to represent himself which leads to many tricks pulled out from under his sleeve, and which could ruin Gosling's career, and the arresting officer's life. It's marvelous the way Hopkins and Gosling play together, with Hopkins always one step ahead of him, kind of reminding me of the Hannibal Lecter/Jodie Foster relationship in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, in a way. It's an interesting yarn, and I think that I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did if not for Anthony Hopkins in the part of the cleverly calculating shooter.
watchable ONLY due to Hopkins and Gosling's respective performances
posted on 27 Jul 2009This story of a man who kills his adulterous wife and the young upstart lawyer who hopes to send him away to jail is an utterly preposterous courtroom drama/ cat & mouse game that stretches credibility to it's limits what a cliché-ridden storyline that is expected by story & screenplay writer Daniel Pyne (who gave us such cinematic travesties as "Sum of all Fears", and the awful Manchurian Candidate remake), is saved slightly by stellar performances by both Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Both are great given the semi-retarded material they're given. If not for them, I would never have sat through this whole movie as it was too much of an assault on pure logic as it was. Put these two together in a film that's actually worthy of their respective talents and you'll have a bonafide guaranteed hit on your hands.My Grade: D+DVD Extras (R1): 5 deleted scenes; 2 alternative endings; Theatrical trailer; And trailers for The Golden Compass, The Number 23, Micheal Clayton, Dangerous Days: the making of Blade Runner, & Jekyll (a BBC TV show)
double jeopardy
posted on 27 Jul 2009I have a real problem with this movie's ending. Doesn't Double Jeopardy actually apply? He was "acquitted" when tried for attempted murder. After his wife's death, how can he be tried for murder when he's already been acquitted of attempting to do so. The bullet taken from the dead woman's body doesn't prove anything because there's no firm -- beyond a reasonable doubt -- evidence that Crawford actually did the shooting. The only evidence is Crawford's comments to Beachump toward the end of the movie. Was that indeed taped as it appeared to be? Is that what nails Crawford and lands him back in court? Maybe so...but still it seems it's a case of double jeopardy. Crawford was acquitted of the attempted murder.
Mildly effective but disappointing overall
posted on 23 Jul 2009This movie pulled us into the classic trap: that of the "bait-and switch". Based on the trailer, we were getting a very clever movie, with two intelligent protagonists: a brilliant killer and an equally smart cop. Throughout the movie, the twists and turns kept escalating as the two were caught up in an struggle to determine if the killer would go to jail or not.Unfortunately, they must have showed the wrong trailer. This movie did not "play games" with anybody - except with audience, by having the audacity to pretend that it was original and well-written. This movie was formulaic, with only minor twists and a stunningly anti-climatic explanation for the real twist. If you're really almost out of movies, then renting this movie would pass a mildly diverting if completely forgettable two hours. Just don't expect a "Sixth Sense." Or even a "Se7en".
Hopkins And Gosling Holding Up A Weak Story
posted on 19 Jul 2009I will always try to see anything with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling in it, their names at the top of the billing for Fractured guaranteed me plunking down ticket money. Although in this case I used an earned pass at the Regal Cinema.I did enjoy the playing of both of these guys in a very improbable tale of a man who kills his wife and then is arrested for the murder in what seems an open and shut case.And for the audience it is open and shut because we know right at the beginning Hopkins did it. The story is how he manipulates the system and the people working in it for his own ends.Hopkins's wife is having an affair with homicide detective Billy Burke and we know that also right at the beginning. Unfortunately the problem in this film is that the plot is predicated on Hopkins KNOWING that Billy Burke will be the investigating detective on the scene when the crime is called in. Still Hopkins and Ryan Gosling as the preoccupied District Attorney who is looking to make a career move and not giving the Hopkins case the attention it deserves turn in a pair of fine performances. My favorite in the film however is Billy Burke as the tragic detective in the story.Recommended for fans of Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling.
Or Columbo goes on a summer sabbatical...
posted on 17 Jul 2009The problem with something as perfectly realised as Columbo is that when people remake it they're making a rod for their own back. In keeping with the theme of Fracture I offer into evidence, er, Fracture - a Columbo episode in all but name in which Anthony Hopkins takes on the mantle of many before him as the intelligent but arrogant affluent would-be murderer who, in a opening 20 minutes that could have been extracted from almost any Peter Falk outing, plods around, putting the finishing touches to his plan before the carefully thought out execution. Hopkins, an aeronautical engineer and self-made man of means, punishes his wife for having affair with a bullet to the brain. Rough justice you might think and at this point it would be Falk's cue to awkwardly meander into Hopkin's abode, establish his guilt in anything between 5 and 50 seconds and then spend the rest of the movie unravelling the killer's many mistakes before presenting them to him in time for the end credits.Whether Falk was unavailable is never explained, not even a note to say that the lieutenant in Europe seeing relatives. Instead at the point where the entertaining bout of class war fare would commence we meet self-inflated (not literally you understand), cock sure prosecutor Ryan Gosling. Ryan's so full of himself he should be registering as morbidly obese but in the event we find him ready to accept a new high salaried job. With a signed confession from Hopkins his final case with his public office firm should be open and shut. In case we're bored with his ego and the inevitable pride before a fall elephant trap into which Gosling is walking, head in the clouds - there's pretty Rosamund Pike to look at. She's Gosling's new boss elect and she's ready and willing and show him the parts of the law that he can't read about in the public library. So hes arrogant, slow talking, as charismatic as top soil and just as interesting to look at but thank goodness, hes a man of humble origins and as such this sets up the dynamic familiar to fans of Falk whereby the two can clash is a suitably dramatic fashion - one the debonair socialite, the other aspirational and determined to wipe the $250,000 a year smile off Lecter's crumpled face.This isn't quite as promising as it sounds because enjoyable though Fracture is, there's precious few surprises. That's because unlike its televisual progenitor that pretends to show you everything but keeps its best cards hidden for the final reveal, this one gives you too much information too early and thus saps any suspense from the remaining running time. We're never as impressed by Hopkins plan as he is because we've got a fairly good idea of what hes done long before the dim witted Gosling. Perhaps its savings the best for last you're left to wonder and like the glass eyed template, there is of course a twist which will wrong foot the homicidal mastermind but once again, not far from the finish, the screenwriter wrong foots himself and tips the audience off so that when Gosling delivers the final blow, we've been aware of it for the previous 15 minutes. That, as Hitchcock would have said, is bad technique but thats not to write off Fracture because its a breezy, occasionally absorbing courtroom potboiler. Hopkins has a lot of fun toying with the runtish Gosling like a kitten with a toy mouse and the interplay between the two is entertainingly soiled with testosterone. Its that banter and the look on Hopkins face when the hole in his plot is revealed to him that stays with you, long after the implausible contrivances and the gaping Falk shaped gap in the narrative has faded in the mind faster than the blood from Mrs Hopkins face. If Gosling had just had the guts to say "just one more thing sir" it'd have been marvelous. Instead just, er, worth a shot. If you know what I mean.
Arrogance
posted on 13 Jul 2009Some criminals tempt their fate by thinking they are above the law. Such is the case of Ted Crawford, a wealthy man who discovers his wife Jennifer is cheating on him. His ego is badly wounded, so as a way to show this woman a lesson, he plans what he thinks will be the perfect crime. Ted is under the impression he will get away with murder by putting his scheme to work.What Ted Crawford didn't take into consideration, would misfire because an opponent that turns out to be a sore loser himself. As a matter of fact, Willy Beachum, the up and coming assistant D.A., has an impeccable record of 97% convictions of the cases he has tried. The reason Crawford has zeroed in on him is because he is unaware of who he is fighting against.The fact that Jennifer never dies after she was shot, but she remain in a coma for quite some time, makes a serious case against her husband. She could probably stay in that vegetable state forever, given the right treatment, making it bad for Ted Crawford. Unfortunately for Crawford, he makes a few mistakes along the way, something that Beachum picks up and will use against the millionaire."Fracture" is an interesting film the way it was directed by Gregory Hoblit. It is based on a screenplay by Daniel Pyne and Glenn Gers. It is a drama and a court thriller. Kramer Morgenthau, the cinematographer, did a nice job in the film combining all the glittering places, and even photographing the Walt Disney Concert Hall in all its splendor, as well as some excellent night scenes of the city. Mr. Hoblit's direction keep the movie going at a good pace, although the plot can be confusing if one doesn't follow it closely.Anthony Hopkins plays Ted Crawford, the master planner who knows a bit too much for his own good. His arrogance will get the best of him. He is always a welcome presence in any film. We can't say we are fans of Ryan Gosling, as an actor, although we might be a minority. With the exception of "Half Nelson", he is a hard actor to warm up to, as it is the case with his Beachum. Maybe it was Mr. Hoblit's direction, but Mr.Gosling never gives the impression he is the winning lawyer one has been led to believe he is. Others in the film include Embeth Davidtz, who deserves much better. Rosemunde Pike who plays Nikki, the ambitious woman supervising Beachum, is not totally convincing. David Strathairn and Billy Burke are good. Fiona Shaw an excellent actress, has nothing to play as the presiding judge, which is a shame."Fracture" is entertaining thanks to Mr. Hoblit.
A very cool, well-made thriller - but let down a bit by the end.
posted on 03 Jul 2009Fracture is really good value for money. Effectively a courtroom drama, the writing and performances takes this to another level and makes it tense and creepy.Anthony Hopkins is just brilliant in this movie. He improves with age. His reactions are controlled but powerful, conveying whole emotions with tiny movements of his eyes or lips - even a sense of true evil which (to my mind) he never achieved in Silence of the Lambs. His work since that film has been getting better and better and I'd pay to watch him clip his toenails. Luckily this film gives him terrific stuff to get his teeth into, and he takes a role which might have been hammy and gives it real menace. Ryan Gosling is wonderfully cast as the cocky young lawyer who is taken down a peg or two by Hopkins' character. The way he shifts through overt confidence to raw desperation is truly great, and it was nice to see a movie that didn't chicken out of some harsh realities that others might have caved in to.Kudos to the director for allowing his actors to underplay their parts. They were well-written enough to be less-is-more and even minor characters have a sense of their own place in the world which is too infrequently seen. Cliff Curtis as the detective under pressure and Billy Burke as the hostage negotiator shine in smaller roles. The only exception is Rosamund Pike as Nikki Gardner, who comes off as a device when she falls for Gosling indiscriminately and then risks her career by going out on a limb for him.In a way, the plot is not worth the two outstanding central performances. The script is original and darkly humorous in places, and the writers have an ear for dialogue that is fresh and not over-played, but the twist ending is poor, predictable, and not worthy of the brilliance of Hopkins' character. It's the only reason this didn't get an '8' rating from me. Despite that, there's so much else to enjoy in Fracture, that I'd heartily recommend it to any movie-goer, whatever their film preferences.
There were many holes in this movie
posted on 29 Jun 2009The audience is never let in to how the illicit affair started. It seems right off the bat absurd that a police detective would have an affair with a débutante. I feel the audience needs to know this. Also , Anthony Hopkins character is very smart and wily in this picture, surely he would cover his tracks not to be careless and get caught outside of the double jeopardy law. I also felt that Anthony Hopkins was a lovable sort of character in this movie. I found myself liking him and hating the cop that had the affair with his wife. I do not believe it was the intention of the film to portray these characters that way.In fact I am going on the limb and believing the film wanted you to dislike Hopkins character and to like the cops character ,especially since they kept the cops family out of it....thus no emotional retribution . The acting was fairly well but, I must admit that it was nothing to write home about. I thought the movie was entertaining and an average movie at best. I saw it on cable so its all good but its not worth shelling money out for.
good and the screenplay was outstanding
posted on 19 Jun 2009excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master piece.excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master piece. piece. piece. piece. piece.excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master piece.excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the masterexcellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the masterexcellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master piece. piece. piece.excellent and the screenplay was outstanding. Thanks for the master piece.
terrible movie
posted on 17 Jun 2009Terrible acting. Gosling chews gum all movie in his best fake Matthew Macconohey (sp) imitation.main problem: How come Hopkins' character retrieves his gun from the prison after being jailed??! are you telling me that if you get arrested and you have a gun with you, they impound it and give it back to you along with your watch and pen when you get out of jail??!total crap. This is not possible. How can they make movies like this with huge holes in the script and still get famous actors to sign on them? It doesn't make sense that he gets arrested, and then simply gets his gun back in a bag after being released, all the time when the cops are looking for the murder weapon, even if this was not the one used in the murder. Guns are not like watches or pens. Plus it was too much of a coincidence that Hopkins' gun and Nunnaly's gun are the same kind.
A Nutshell Review: Fracture
posted on 15 Jun 2009If you were salivating at the prospect of Ryan Gosling and Rosamund Pike getting hot and heavy under the sheets as suggested by the trailer, well, just so you know, all those uber sexy scenes got snipped off. Not that it's the work of the local film censors, as it's passed clean without cuts here, and watching the film transition between the scenes, it's gone without a hint of a bad edit. Somehow it's good to rid of the distractions to focus on the much touted cat and mouse game between Sir Anthony Hopkins' character and Gosling's, vis-a-vis a face off between a multi-award winning actor, and a young up and coming rising star.Anthony Hopkins' Ted Crawford seemed very much like Hannibal Lecter, no matter how anyone, even Hopkins, tries to disprove the notion. Perhaps it's after the recent dismal and disappointing Hannibal Rising, that audiences would do just anything to suspend disbelief and imagine it to be Lecter's return to the big screen done right, with that glint in the eye and the wry smile. I won't be surprised that someone in the crowd would have half expected Crawford to eat his wife after shooting her in the head. And Hopkins would have to showcase his acting chops once again, having done so with his Hannibal going up against the likes of luminaries like Judie Foster, Julianne Moore, Edward Norton, and now, Ryan Gosling.Gosling too had his fair share of playing a character obsessed with committing the perfect murder. In 2002's Murder by Numbers, he and peer Ben Chaplin did just that, and had to contend with Sandra Bullock's detective. Here, Gosling crosses over to the DA's office, his Willy Beachum a high flying scheming legal eagle who can't wait to spread his wings and soar over to the private sector for the fatter paycheck. Given his successes and reputation for wins, he takes on the State versus Ted Crawford case, in what is believed to be a simple open-and-shut legal suit, with signed confessions and what not, only to have his arrogance serve his downfall, and his redemption at eating the humble pie. As the old Chinese proverb says, "the older ginger is hotter".Courtroom dramas are nothing new to director Gregory Hoblit, having helmed films like Primal Fear and Hart's War. However, those who are expecting sparks to fly between defendant and prosecutor in the courtroom will be a tad disappointed. Hopkins and Gosling spend too little time together sharing the same scene and playing off each other's energies, and perhaps rightly so, otherwise everyone will be thinking it's yet another Hannibal tale. The spotlight is firmly set on Gosling, as we see him struggle against being soundly beaten by his adversary, and the fight against succumbing to temptation (OK, so he gave in and did it with his boss, but that we don't really see. So...). His Beachum is all about the seeking of redemption, in doing what's right, to try and put things right, nevermind if the result doesn't turn out the way it should be.There are a number of themes put forth in Fracture, some of which are topical, even to our own city state. Things like the lure of the private sector and that distinct smell of money, the imminent departure of the civil servant etc. What I thought was intriguing enough is the entire perversion of justice, laws, and the exploitation of loopholes which Crawford milks to perfection, that technically one can really walk away from a crime if you do your sums right.Those who are alert might find the revelation a bit wanting, and it's a full circle kinda lesson learnt about being overconfident leaning towards arrogance. It sets up the fall perfectly, but becomes anti-climatic given the dogged need for closure and doing so in too quick a time and coincidence. Then again, you might also consider that perhaps this is the most politically correct, face saving way to settle a stand off between a veteran, and a promising star.
Great Murder Mystery... FINALLY!!!
posted on 05 Jun 2009This was a well written and well acted movie that kept me guessing throughout the whole story! Anthony Hopkins character is, well, likable and you can understand his reasons why he did it (no spoilers, that 'act' happens in the first 5 minutes of the movie!) and Ryan Gosling's character is a highly ambitious prosecuting attorney taking a last case before he leaves for the private sector.My only 'fault' with this movie is the relationship with Gosling's character and with his soon to be boss Rosamund Pike's character. It serves little purpose to move the story along and there is a bit of choppiness with their meeting and hopping in the sack! I thought it was a thrown in part for the movie that serves no purpose. They could have left it out altogether and got to the end and said what they were wanting to say! Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery and my true barometer is my wife... if she goes to sleep during a movie (this happens often) then it is usually a so-so flick; not this time, she was glued and awake throughout!
Why?
posted on 28 Aug 2009Why oh why are movies like these made??? Would love to speak to the screenwriters on this one. There are so many plot holes . The biggest and unexplained one is how in the world did the Hopkins character KNOW that the Detective his wife was having an affair with would be the ONE TO COME TO THE HOME THAT NIGHT??? The stupidity of it all. That's just for starters. When the detective kills himself why didn't he shoot Hopkins first, then himself? He had nothing to lose!!! Also the switch in the gun was ludicrous. Surely that would have been noticed in time that the gun wasn't the detectives. And how exactly did Hopkins know what kind of gun the detective had. You expect some films to have some minor implausibilities, but not so MANY. There are lots more stupid things in this movie, but to go on would take months!!! I'd like to ask the screen writers what they were thinking...OR WERE THEY THINKING? I realize not many of these kinds of films make much sense, but this one makes NO sense.