According to Discordian belief, the number 23 is connected to all significant events. The idea fascinated me (and the poster looked cool), so I went to see the movie The Number 23, directed by Joel Schumacher.
The movie is about a middle-class nobody named Walter Sparrow (played by Jim Carrey), the dog catcher of the town, who becomes obsessed with the number 23 while reading a paperback novel. As the movie switches between the comic book-like scenes of the novel and Sparrow’s own life we see the two begin to blend as his madness deepens, damaging his relationship with his wife, confusing his son, and alienating his friends.
The world of the novel was depicted with some expertise, with strong colours and contrasts reminiscent of movie adaptions of graphic novels like 300 or Sin City. I was, frankly, dissapointed when I was ejected from this world and returned to Sparrow’s ranting about the number 23 and how much the novel is like his life.
Carrey’s gave me nothing in his performance to make me feel sympathetic or interested in his character. I just felt sorry for him and wondered when the movie would end. It’s about the only time I have felt like leaving the cinema half way through a movie. I was bored and the movie gave me no real reason to stay other than to be satisfied that the ending I expected was a cliched as I thought it would be.
Put simply, I didn’t like this movie. I probably should have gone to see The Reaping instead.
The Number 23
Writer: Fernley Phillips
Director: Joel Schumacher
Rating: 1/2 star
[...] thoughts about good cinema with her and the world. Recently, I blogged about my experience watching The Number 23. I was surprised, though, when I looked back at the post: The idea [of the number 23] fascinated me [...]
Hi Maria,
it is a pity that The Number 23 blew chunks. I’m glad you reviewed it - saves me bothering to see it before it comes out on DVD
Out of interest, did they name the book that Carrey’s character was reading?
Cheers, Andrew
the number 23 was the best movie ever and you shouldnt dis it!