Chronological date: Saturday 070421 / Psychological date: Sunday 070422 - Lunch; "Fracture"; Check book balancing / tax return

I had lunch at Macaroni's; my usual small loaf of freshly-baked bread, salmon and asparagus, sweet tea and a dessert of apples, walnuts and ice cream. 3.5 stars. I did wonder why there were not more customers. (Out - Saturday - 20070421 - 1219: .$28.40 - Bank Debit Card)

Ryan Goosling in "Fracture" Larger image

Ryan Goosling in "Fracture" Larger image

I'd read a couple of intriguing reviews of "Fracture", so I thought this would be a good time to see it.

I first hit Northpark which is nearby, but it had already started. Not my favorite theater by the way."Tacky" would be an understatement. Several of the theaters are wider than they are deep. So even if you're on the back bow, you still get seasick.

Next was the new Malco which is a really very nice place. "Fracture" was starting in ten minutes: perfect. (In - Saturday - 20070421: $5.50 - Cash)

It's very attractive with even have a fountain in the lobby. A cyber cafe. And cool Jazzy background music from XM Satellite Radio.

They do have an odd numbering system to the screens. It goes from 1 to 5 on the right, then 6 to 9 on the left, but 10 is across next to 1. I'm not sure what the other side is like.

And for the first time in months, I was actually there BEFORE the start of the movie. But I can't say I was impressed with the trailers. None made an impression. In fact, they all seemed like "Grade B" movies, now that I think about it.

"Fracture" is a perplexing maze. And a lot of the plot hinges on legal issues that could be different in different places. The IMDB discussion boards are full of questions - legitimate questions, too.

But it's actually a character study between Ryan Goosling and Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins is such a pro that he could do a role in his sleep. Essentially, Hopkins has stage crafter the attempted murder of his wife. Then confesses at the house and at police headquarters. What Ryan soon finds out is that one of the police officers has been sleeping with the wife. Hence the confessions as the judge puts it are "fruit of the poisonous tree." The presence of the specific officer implies a degree of possible physical intimidation, and the confessions are inadmissible. .Plus although they found a gun at the crime scene, it is not the one used in the shooting.

Ryan recognizes what Hopkins has done, but what does he do in return. He manages a superb job of looking cocky, exasperated, and desperate. He literally has no evidence, and he knows it, and it shows.

Ryan is another one of those actors who deserves far more credit than he gets.

Of course, there is a trick at the ending. One that I understand literally. But I'm not sure I understand the legality.

There are some subtle humorous moments. Ryan is leaving the DA's office to move to a prestigious law firm. The new firm keeps bugging him about the decor of his new office. He's at the crime scene, and a rep from the firm is on his cell wanting to know if he wants French or English. He is by no means a sophisticate; in fact, he graduated from a state law school in the mid-west. He turns and asks one of the investigators what they would call the style of the room they're in. Without hesitation, the investigator says, "homicidal modern!"

And there's a tiny segment at the end with Hopkins again in court that is indescribable.

To back up a moment. When he shoots his wife, he then fires four additional shots through the windows. And then scattered the shell casings around. In retrospect, no one ever did ask about the extra shots. Was it to imply that he was a lousy shot, and he fired five times before hitting his wife? Sloppy police work. But then they did have a confession.

I know I've heard the word "shell casing" thousands of times, but I've never actually thought about what it was. Remember my knowledge of guns is a notch below that in the Beatles' song "Happiness is a warm gun."

After researching at the ubiquitous Wikipedia, I discovered that the casing contains the explosive that triggers the propulsion of the bullet. The bullet leaves the chamber, and the casing is discharged to the side. The markings of a shell casing are unique to the firearm. So even though they had five shell casings, none matched the gun in the house.

Late Saturday evening, I sat down with the check book ledger, the bank card receipts and the phone. Usually, I can do this fairly quickly, but this time I had trouble: I'd written down some reversed figures, 23 for 32; subtracted wrong; and wrote down the wrong info from the bank's automatic telephone transaction system. But I got it, down to the penny. I also discovered that my federal income tax refund had been deposited. Excellent service, since I mailed the return on the 12th.

A ruble here; a euro there; another kwacha; a krone; - all help to keep the high sheriff from the dooor.