The Number 23
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23 Reasons To See The Number 23
1. The story: A man becomes dangerously preoccupied with a mysterious tome that appears to be based on his own experiences but ends with a brutal murder that has yet to happen in real life.
2. Jim Carrey keeps topping himself and this film, featuring him as dual characters — one, as dogcatcher Walter Sparrow, and as Fingerling, a dangerous, uber-noir detective — is no exception.
3. Virginia Madsen, also playing two roles — one, as wife and mom Agatha Sparrow, and as Fabrizia, an exotic seductress — outdoes herself here.
4. The exuberant, yet unflinching and almost gleefully sadistic direction by Joel Schumacher is easily his best in 10 years. (Note: I haven't seen 2000's Tigerland.)
5. Matthew Libatique's cinematography is sleek, dark, rich and textured, lending credibility to both of The Number 23's worlds.
6. Harry Gregson-Williams' score is the ideal aural compliment to the visual style.
7. Perfect placement of the hard rock song Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge. (What a refreshing change from hearing Nine Inch Nails' Fuck You Like An Animal, which is in every other 'edgy' movie ever made since the year 1994.)
8. And speaking of animals… Animal aficionados will enjoy the creepy canine character of N.E.D. (Nasty Evil Dog - Walter's anagram for the "one that got away").
9. In most movies where someone's obsessed, they're isolated. In The Number 23, Walter's wife and son actually get caught up in helping him solve the mystery.
10. Followers of Lost will love it.
11. Conspiracy theorists will delve into it.
12. Numerology buffs will be eager to see how it all adds up.
13. Connoisseurs of comic book styled film noir will relish the slick, stylized look.
14. Devotees of horror and suspense tales will get plenty of shivers.
15. It's always nice to see Danny Huston, no matter how small the role (and I could listen to his voice all day long).
16. Wowza! Jim Carrey is sexy in his tattoos and bad-boy guise.
17. Logan Lerman as the couple's teenaged son lends an air of realism to the strangely spiraling story.
18. The gore is really gruesome and embellished, without being overdone.
19. I love movies with voice-over narration. It's so noir (and so Magnum P.I.!).
20. The editing and pacing is beyond reproach. There is never a dull moment.
21. The costumes in the "Fingerling" world are sizzling-cool (especially Danny Huston's).
22. Has a character called Suicide Blonde (but where's the rockin' INXS song?).
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson