Fridae

It's hard to find a smart psychological thriller from Hollywood these days � so many filmmakers choose to dumb down so their films can appeal to broader audiences. So imagine our surprise when Fracture came along.

Though not entirely believable, Fracture is still a sharp and suspenseful film that smart viewers can definitely enjoy. It stars Anthony Hopkins as a very rich engineer who kills his much-younger wife after he finds her cheating on him. He works through every step of the crime, and then calmly tells the police that he did it.

Enter Ryan Gosling, a hotshot district attorney who has never had much trouble winning a case before. But this case is different: The evidence starts to disappear, Anthony's confession is thrown out, and Anthony himself insists on representing himself in court. We know that he committed the crime, but his tracks are so well-covered that it is almost impossible to prove his guilt.

Apart from the genuinely surprising plot twists and revelations, the biggest pleasure to be had from Fracture is watching the great Anthony Hopkins (Best Actor Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs) go head-to-head with the very talented Ryan Gosling (last year's nominee for Best Actor Oscar for Half Nelson). Thrillingly, the younger actor manages to holds his own against � perhaps even surpass � the venerable thespian.

For sure, it's one of the more intelligent films you'll find in the cinemas right now.