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The Number 23 (2007)
Released By: New Line Cinema   Rating: R   In Theaters: 2/23/2007
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Studio: New Line Cinema
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Joel Schumacher
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.number23movie.com/
Theatrical Release: 2/23/2007
Home Video Release: 7/24/2007
Cast: Danny Huston, Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Logan Lerman
Published ID: 430259
UPC: 794043106880, 794043131561,
Plot: Upon acquiring a mysterious book in which the number 23 seems to take on powerful cosmic significance, a once-sane man gradually becomes obsessed with the idea that the frequently recurring number may in fact hold a deadly secret in this intense mystery-thriller starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen, and directed by Joel Schumacher. Walter Sparrow (Carrey) is a middle-aged dogcatcher whose wife Agatha (Madsen) has bestowed him with an obscure mystery novel detailing the investigation launched by a tough-talking gumshoe named Fingerling (also Carrey) whose every move seems to be overshadowed by the enigmatic eponymous number. After noting a series of alarming parallels shared between the fictional detective and himself, Walter is quickly drawn in to the story as the hard-boiled private investigator murders raven-wigged moll Fabrizia (also Madsen) and pins the crime on her unsuspecting lover (Danny Huston). Back in the real world, fiction seems to merge with reality as Walter and Agatha's close friend Isaac (also Huston) begins to ingratiate himself ever deeper into the couple's relationship and Walter begins experiencing a gruesome series of visions in which he violently murders an unfaithful Agatha. His mind fast descending into a dark and violent whirlwind of madness, Walter enlists the aid of Agatha and the pair's adolescent son Robin (Logan Lerman) in seeking out the author of the mysterious tome and uncovering the sinister truth behind the so-called 23 enigma. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
nice
Added 2/8/2010

It is a thrilling movie staring Jim Carry and his odd twisted obsession with the number 23. Finding it in everything in life he drives himself to insanity only to fine the truth about the number.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Surprisingly tolerable
Added 1/30/2010

"Number 23" is a thriller starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen.

The plot revolves around a certain Walter Sparrow, who finds out that a novel his wife has given him as a birthday present seems to be about his own life! Unfortunately, the main character of the novel is a murderer with a strange obsession with the number 23. Naturally, Sparrow also develops the same obsession. As the plot thickens, it seems that a real murderer is on the loose, and that somebody very close to Sparrow himself wrote the novel. Before he goes completely insane, Sparrow has to find the real killer, reveal the author of the mysterious novel, and get rid of his paranoid obsession with 23...

I agree with many other reviewers that "Number 23" could have been much, much better. It's not the best movie around the block. Still, it's surprisingly tolerable. Also, the concept is interesting and contains several unexpected twists and turns. At first, I was annoyed by Jim Carrey, who is really a comic actor. However, he is quite good at portraying a paranoiac - at least a Hollywood stereotype paranoiac.

My main problem with "Number 23" are the loose ends and illogical situations. I didn't understand what on earth the dog named Ned has to do with the plot! Since the murder Sparrow is investigating took place 13 years earlier, it can't possibly be the same dog. Dogs don't live that long...

However, if you can swallow these kinds of inconveniences, you might nevertheless find "Number 23" interesting.

According to Wikipedia, there actually are conspiracy theorists who believe that the number 23 has esoteric significance. It does not. THE REAL SECRET NUMBER IS 666.

:-o

Kidding.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Doesn't Quite Cut It... Literally
Added 11/13/2009

A serial killer can't easily become a preschool teacher. The same can be said for an actor with a successful history in comedy, who tries to bust through that shirt and sign up for a serious role in a movie.

In other words, Jim Carry is a cool guy, but whoever decided that he should flip the lid and take on a very serious and dark role was, frankly, a stupid one. Even looking at the movie cover is ridiculous- you see the funnyman himself with numbers carved into his skin, and it looks funny. Not scary. Wrong effect for a scary movie, unless the expectations have changed.

Really, I believe this movie would have done better with a different actor in the lead role as the 23-obsessed murderer, Walter Sparrow. It's an interesting idea- dealing with the 23 enigma- and with some twinges with the plot and dialogue, it would have come over much better. But don't get me wrong- considering this is his first dramatic role, Carry did alright, I guess. It was just the fact he was so ill-fit for the movie!

And even though I didn't really like this movie for some of the ridiculous plot twists, harsh language, and dark, almost disturbing scenes, I liked it enough to make a review. I did admire some of the computer effects, like when they used it to tell the story of Fingerling, who is the main character in the book, The Number 23, in which Walter Sparrow (Carry) finds odd similarities with. I also love the Suicide Blond scene- it struck me as incredibly unique and beautiful, and the high point of the movie for me.

However, the movie was confusing, ridiculous at some points, and downright disturbing. But I'll tell you what, the day after I watched this movie, I was startled by the freakiest things.

I was riding to school, and I passed by a city bus, with 23 on the flashing numbers on its face. I thought that was pretty cool, and when I was walking into school, I even passed by a school bus- bus 23. But that was all I experienced... even then, it was weird, because I realized that the main idea of the film- what if- was the most exciting thing about it. See, those numbers would have meant nothing if I hadn't watched this the night before. So was it a coincidence, or not?

Ha- see, THAT'S why I thought this movie deserved a review, because it leaves the viewer slightly disturbed, no matter how much they love to deny it.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Skip it
Added 9/20/2009

The Number 23 was quite a disappointment; so painfully slow, it failed to catch my attention all the way until the very middle, which was when I just gave up and turned it off.
A dog catcher (slightly reminiscent of Ace Ventura) reads a book his wife gets him for his birthday about a detective who is obsessed with the number 23 and so he too becomes obsessed with that number. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
In short, the acting is all right (though nothing great, Jim Carrey is same old Jim Carrey i.e. boring), while the plot and the dialogues are below average.
Though the potential for a good movie was there it fails to take off, primarily due to the writers and the poor choice of lines and weak plot.
No masterpiece here...

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
america's critic
Added 9/12/2009

this one was a lil different im not sure but i think this was based off a comic-- with strange turns and the ending this movie was just ok jim carrey being serious---in my life its be good at what ur great at!! and its not this fire marshal bill
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
nice
Added 2/8/2010

It is a thrilling movie staring Jim Carry and his odd twisted obsession with the number 23. Finding it in everything in life he drives himself to insanity only to fine the truth about the number.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Surprisingly tolerable
Added 1/30/2010

"Number 23" is a thriller starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen.

The plot revolves around a certain Walter Sparrow, who finds out that a novel his wife has given him as a birthday present seems to be about his own life! Unfortunately, the main character of the novel is a murderer with a strange obsession with the number 23. Naturally, Sparrow also develops the same obsession. As the plot thickens, it seems that a real murderer is on the loose, and that somebody very close to Sparrow himself wrote the novel. Before he goes completely insane, Sparrow has to find the real killer, reveal the author of the mysterious novel, and get rid of his paranoid obsession with 23...

I agree with many other reviewers that "Number 23" could have been much, much better. It's not the best movie around the block. Still, it's surprisingly tolerable. Also, the concept is interesting and contains several unexpected twists and turns. At first, I was annoyed by Jim Carrey, who is really a comic actor. However, he is quite good at portraying a paranoiac - at least a Hollywood stereotype paranoiac.

My main problem with "Number 23" are the loose ends and illogical situations. I didn't understand what on earth the dog named Ned has to do with the plot! Since the murder Sparrow is investigating took place 13 years earlier, it can't possibly be the same dog. Dogs don't live that long...

However, if you can swallow these kinds of inconveniences, you might nevertheless find "Number 23" interesting.

According to Wikipedia, there actually are conspiracy theorists who believe that the number 23 has esoteric significance. It does not. THE REAL SECRET NUMBER IS 666.

:-o

Kidding.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Doesn't Quite Cut It... Literally
Added 11/13/2009

A serial killer can't easily become a preschool teacher. The same can be said for an actor with a successful history in comedy, who tries to bust through that shirt and sign up for a serious role in a movie.

In other words, Jim Carry is a cool guy, but whoever decided that he should flip the lid and take on a very serious and dark role was, frankly, a stupid one. Even looking at the movie cover is ridiculous- you see the funnyman himself with numbers carved into his skin, and it looks funny. Not scary. Wrong effect for a scary movie, unless the expectations have changed.

Really, I believe this movie would have done better with a different actor in the lead role as the 23-obsessed murderer, Walter Sparrow. It's an interesting idea- dealing with the 23 enigma- and with some twinges with the plot and dialogue, it would have come over much better. But don't get me wrong- considering this is his first dramatic role, Carry did alright, I guess. It was just the fact he was so ill-fit for the movie!

And even though I didn't really like this movie for some of the ridiculous plot twists, harsh language, and dark, almost disturbing scenes, I liked it enough to make a review. I did admire some of the computer effects, like when they used it to tell the story of Fingerling, who is the main character in the book, The Number 23, in which Walter Sparrow (Carry) finds odd similarities with. I also love the Suicide Blond scene- it struck me as incredibly unique and beautiful, and the high point of the movie for me.

However, the movie was confusing, ridiculous at some points, and downright disturbing. But I'll tell you what, the day after I watched this movie, I was startled by the freakiest things.

I was riding to school, and I passed by a city bus, with 23 on the flashing numbers on its face. I thought that was pretty cool, and when I was walking into school, I even passed by a school bus- bus 23. But that was all I experienced... even then, it was weird, because I realized that the main idea of the film- what if- was the most exciting thing about it. See, those numbers would have meant nothing if I hadn't watched this the night before. So was it a coincidence, or not?

Ha- see, THAT'S why I thought this movie deserved a review, because it leaves the viewer slightly disturbed, no matter how much they love to deny it.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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