The Number 23

THE NUMBER 23 (15)
D: Joel Schumacher
New Line/Contrafilm/Firm Films (Beau Flynn & Tripp Vinson)
US/Germany 2007
94 mins
 
Mystery/Thriller
 
W: Fernley Phillips
DP: Matthew Libatique
Ed: Mark Stevens
Mus: Harry Gregson-Williams
 
Jim Carrey (Walter Sparrow), Virginia Madsen (Agatha Pink-Sparrow), Logan Lerman (Robin Sparrow), Danny Huston (Isaac French)
 
On his birthday, a man receives a book from his wife which he becomes obsessed with and loses his mind trying to decipher its obscure, ambiguous meaning.
The idea behind this film is intriguing and had it been written by someone like Stephen King, it may have had more weight behind it. As is, it's very poorly executed, mainly due to Joel Schumacher's misguided direction, some major plotholes in the story and a very miscast Jim Carrey in a role that doesn't require his usual rubberface routine.
5/10

Jim Carrey in The Number 23
Jim Carrey in The Number 23