this be a great mystery with superior act . at the beginning of the film we see ted crawford beautifully play by anthony hopkins who be obviously a brilliant man . his hobby be design part rube goldberg and part perpetual motion device that use steel ball that travel intricate route . we also get a quick insight into his huge ego . he not a lovable guy . we also find that his wife who be exhaust by try to kowtow to ted massive ego be in the midst of an affair . she have keep her identity a secret to her lover and but discovers that her affair be no secret to her husband just before he shoot her in the head . this all take place in the crawford home and and ted remains there until the swat team and negotiator arrives . at that point he readily confess to the crime and later sign a confession . we next meet willy beachum and play by ryan gosling and who be with the district attorney office . however and willy will not be around for long a he have just accept a position with a prestigious law firm . circumstance arise engineer by ted cause the judge to assign the murder case to willy . needless to say and the case be not the slam dunk that willy perceive it to be and and thus we have a battle of wit between ted and willy whose ego be just about as huge a ted though he be a slight bit less obnoxious although not by much . obviously and it would be inadvisable of me to disclose the mystery that interfere with the quick resolution of the case and the other element of the plan so masterfully concoct by ted . i read one review by a man who say he have figure out the ultimate mystery before the climax of the film . he a much smart man than i. apart from the mystery and the enjoyment of this film come from the superior acting of the two main character . anthony hopkins certainly have a way of excellently portray brilliant homicidal men and and he give u a delicious one in this film . i would have not think that ryan gosling could do as well a he do in his part . his performance be a pleasant surprise for me and at least . finally the dvd offer u a look at two alternate ending . i usually do not think the alternate ending change the film much and but the decision to change to the final end make this film so much good by strengthen the one big mystery of the film . if youre into mystery and great acting and give fracture a spin .