The Number 23 (2007)

Directed by: Joel Schumacher | 95 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Logan Lerman, Danny Huston, Michelle Arthur, Patricia Belcher, Paul Butcher, Rhona Mitra, Mark Pellegrino, Lynn Collins, Corey Stoll, Ed Lauter, Troy Kotsur, Rudolph Willrich, John Fink

In numerology, the number 23 has a special meaning. And if you look at the historical facts, that’s quite understandable. For example, the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times, literary prodigy William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 and died on April 23, 1616, and the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912 (1+5+4+1+9+1+2= 23). Even for the most recent historical date, September 11, 2001, you could do such a calculation (11+9+2+1=23). Some numerologists go very far in their numbers obsession. The number 23 rules their whole life. Such is the case with Walter Sparrow, the main character in director Joel Schumacher’s film ‘The Number 23’.

Walter (Jim Carrey) lives a seemingly normal life with his wife Agatha (Virginia Madsen) and teenage son Robin (Logan Lerman) and earns a living as a dog catcher. However, his life is turned upside down when his wife gives him the second-hand book ‘The Number 23’. The book is about the obsession of the main character, Detective Fingerling (also played by Carrey), with the number 23 in its various manifestations. Walter becomes completely obsessed with the book. He discovers a terrifying resemblance between himself and Fingerling and also becomes increasingly intrigued by the number 23, which seems to recur in his own life as well. Psychologist and friend Isaac (Danny Huston) tells him that he sees the number everywhere because he wants to see it, but Walter ignores this advice and starts to believe in conspiracies and conspiracies so much that he is even capable of murder.

Joel Schumacher is a director with a mixed track record. On the one hand, he makes nice and original thrillers such as ‘Flatliners’, ‘Phone Booth’ and ‘8MM’, but on the other hand he sets disfigured products such as ‘Batman and Robin’ and ‘Batman Forever’. His films are usually in the twilight zone between flat entertainment and a serious attempt at an inspired film. The set-up is often well thought out, but nine times out of ten the execution misses the mark. Likewise in this 23rd (!) Schumacher film. To make the hype around the number 23 even bigger, the shooting of the film started on January 23, 2006 and the film was released in the US on February 23, 2007. And then it turns out that the names of protagonists Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen together also consist of 23 letters. It shouldn’t get any crazier…

Schumacher and co have failed to make ‘The Number 23’ the nerve-wracking thriller they had in mind. The story starts promisingly and the first half of the film looks good. However, as the film progresses, the cohesion disappears and ‘The Number 23’ turns into a caricature of itself. The script by debutant Fernley Phillips is far from flawless and at times even seems amateurish. For example, who reveals his most important plot twist twenty minutes before the end, only to explain all the events in great detail in the remaining time? As a result, it almost seems as if you do not consider your audience intelligent enough to put the puzzle pieces in place themselves. Schumacher also does not manage to save things, for that he simply lacks a sense of style.

What is strong about ‘The Number 23’ is the cinematography of Matthew Libatique, who previously impressed with his work for ‘Pi’ (also about numbers-obsessed figures) and ‘Requiem for a Dream’. In the film there is a dichotomy between the ‘real’ world and that of the book. The characters in the book (all played by the actors who also have a role in the ‘real’ world, by the way) live in a stylized, neo-noir-like world that is reminiscent of ‘Sin City’. The actors also put their best foot forward, although they can bring little salvation. Jim Carrey once again shows in this double role that he can do more than play the pelvic-pulling comedian, although in his very first thriller ever he does not reach the level of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘Man on the Moon’. Virginia Madsen and Danny Huston, both excellent actors, don’t really get much to do despite their dual roles, which is a shame. However, all three do what they can; It’s not their fault that the film didn’t turn out to be what it could have been.

To dismiss ‘The Number 23’ as a complete failure might be going a bit too far, but there would have been a lot more if a better script had been available. If you want to see an intelligent film about number obsessions, it is better to watch ‘Pi’ or ‘A Beautiful Mind’. And Jim Carrey should limit himself to (tragi-)comic work and leave the thriller genre to the side to avoid disappointments like this in the future.