Movie #216 - Fracture

Fracture
2007 - Rated R - 1 hr 53 min
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz, Billy Burke

I can never remember this movie by its title, so when I saw it on the wall I didn't know if I'd seen it already.  But as soon as I started watching it, it all came back.  Maybe the title just doens't fit, that's why my brain doesn't make the association.

Anyway, this one's great.  Anthony Hopkins is a jilted husband who wants revenge on his wife and her lover.  He sets up what he thinks is the perfect crime, then sets up the perfect acquittal  by representing himself in court again Ryan Gosling and proving the evidence to be invalid again and again.  But as with any good movie, in the end, he gets what's coming to him...the fun is in watching to see where he missteps.

It's smart and clever, the kind of cerebral intrigue that's nice to see from Hollywood once in a while. Hopkins is great, no surprise, but Gosling holds his own against him.  Well done all around.

Movie #180 - The Emperor's Club

The Emperor's Club
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 48 min
Director: Michael Hoffman
Starring: Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, Joel Gretsch, Jesse Eisenberg

Watching this movie with a Latin teacher is an experience. Watching this movie with a Latin teacher who brings it into class to watch with he kids once a year is an even funnier experience.  In my house, this movie's kind of a big deal.

Kevin Kline plays a popular ancient history/Latin teacher in the early 70s at an all-boys boarding school.  The story talks about one class in particular, where the rebel son of a Senator shakes the foundation of what he believes as a teacher.  He goes out on a limb for this kid, only to be stabbed in the back.  Twenty-five years later, a reunion with the class shakes him up even more, but he somehow finds the peace he needs.  Vague, I know, but I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't seen it.

Kline is awesome, per usual, and his Latin pronounciation is spot-on (says Mike), so that's good.  It's fun to see little Jesse Eisenberg, who's now nominated for an Oscar (for The Social Network), so go him.

Love this movie - which gets me all irritated with this punk-ass kid every time I watch it.  I can understand why Mike shows it to his students year in and year out.