- Film:
- Rowan Woods
Reviewed by: David M. Brown
- Rating:
- 2
Summary:
Fragments had the potential to be great but it can’t overcome a group of characters who are divided between interesting and pointless
More DetailsAbout Fragments (2008)
Carla Davenport (Kate Beckinsale) Anne Hagen (Dakota Fanning) Dr Bruce Laraby (Guy Pearce) Charlie Archenault (Forest Whitaker) and Jimmy Jaspersen (Josh Hutcherson) are the survivors of an act of violence in a restaurant in Los Angeles. After they witnessed these atrocities their lives took a different turn and suffered some changes. No matter how hard they try to make themselves understood to by their family members these new people who were born again must follow their own path to recover and regain their trust in people. What follows is a story about people’s tragedy and hope who explore the notion of ephemeral life such as flying birds.
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning, Jeanne Tripplehorn
Directed by: Rowan Woods
Runtime: 100 minutes
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDBReview: Fragments
Gun crime is a worldwide crisis and I recall a time when the use of guns in the UK was unthinkable but now drive by shootings are not uncommon, society is far less safer than it used to be and things sadly don’t look like changing anytime soon. In Rowan Woods’ Fragments a group of people are left picking up the pieces after witnessing a shooting in a diner. Dramas like this are often worthwhile experiences when they’re done right but is this one?
It’s an ordinary day when a group of people are in a diner and a man walks in and suddenly opens fire on random people before turning the gun on himself. Those that survive are left struggling to continue with their lives. Waitress Carla Davenport (Kate Beckinsale) begins neglecting her baby while she looks for comfort through one night stands. Anna Hagen (Dakota Fanning), who saw her father killed, becomes more popular at school but searches for answers through God. Her friend Jimmy Jaspersen (Josh Hutcherson), who also witnessed the shooting, becomes withdrawn from his friends and family. Charlie Archenault (Forest Whitaker), a compulsive gambler, suddenly finds his luck changing and he proceeds to light up the casinos winning fortune after fortune. Finally Dr Bruce Laraby (Guy Pearce), who left the diner just minutes before the shooting begins experimenting with a treatment for migraine by drugging his wife, Joan (Embeth Davidtz).
The shooting at the centre of the film is as shocking as you would expect any shooting to be. However, the cusp of the film is the impact on the characters and this is sadly where the film does have its issues. Not all the characters are particularly interesting. Carla is serving at the diner when the shooting happens and as awful as the ordeal is her reaction of trying to sleep with every man in sight while her baby lies alone crying comes across as somewhat selfish and uninteresting. Jimmy’s reaction is more authentic, complete withdrawal from everyone and everything, an understandable response. His friend Anna has more attention at school than she is used to but finding sanctuary in God seems a bit over the top, especially when she begins trying to convert Jimmy. The only decent aspect about Anna’s story is the secret she is carrying about something that happened at the diner and that is worth the wait.
Fragments is an interesting story, an important one really, but it sadly doesn’t work. Given the likes of Pearce and Whitaker are among the cast I was hopeful this would be a decent film but it is anything but. Not enough of these characters are interesting enough and while the revelations about the shooting are interesting in the end it isn’t enough to rescue the film.
Fragments had the potential to be great but it can’t overcome a group of characters who are divided between interesting and pointless. Some scenarios work well enough but most of the film fails in the end and what should be a thought-provoking drama isn’t remotely moving.
Verdict: 2/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 672 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.
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