THE NUMBER 23

THE NUMBER 23

THE NUMBER 23: B+

Very surreal and strange film but I enjoyed it. The story was a tad overcrowded and over detailed. It didn't need to be as long as what it was to accomplish its goal, and much of what was added wasn't needed. I don't know if it necessarily diluted the story, but it certainly didn't add anything to it either. 

It was a good story though. Suspenseful and I appreciated the transition between what was really happening in his own life Vs what was happening in his book and what was happening in his imagination. It could have been very confusing and difficult to distinguish one from the other, but through costuming, lighting, color, visuals, and mood, it was refreshingly easy.

Hats off to Director Joel Schumacher, who directed a very well put together film. I'll sooner trust a rattlesnake to babysit a squirrel than to ever let him near a BATMAN film again, but when it comes to psychological thrillers he gets my stamp of approval.

What I was most impressed with here was Jim Carey's performance. The "I love you so much" exchanges between him and his wife were sorta cheesy, but other than that I consider this to be one of the best performances I've ever seen Carey in. I wish Brady Huffman and I still had contact. Huffman said to me back right around the time this film came out or shortly before that he felt ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND was Carey's best performance. Not that I care to have Huffman's opinion on anything other than this, but I would like to know how he felt about Carey's performance here. I feel that this performance blew SUNSHINE's out of the water. Carey was brilliant in this role.

And not only from a structural standpoint but from a standpoint of entertainment, I enjoyed this story a lot. I appreciated it both as a writer and as a viewer.

A powerful story toys with and manipulates your emotions. We as humans preach forgiveness and act all divine and yet roll our eyes and snub our noses at the idea of a killer teaching us something about morality and right and wrong. The redemption of the main character Walter Paul Sparrow is one I appreciated.

He could have easily continued to get away with the crime he had committed and allowed an innocent man to suffer for what he had done. Yet he chose instead to take responsibility for his action.

And it was put so beautifully.

"It wasn't the happiest of endings, but it was the right one."

I enjoyed this film.