Reviews of The Number 23

Who Cares!

Posted : 2 years ago on 19 December 2007 10:57 (A review of The Number 23)

My biggest problem with this movie is, who cares!
Great film making isn't about style and cool shots, and Joel Schumacher defiantly seems to think so. For me a thriller has to work on one level, you the viewer must connect with the main character. Feel what he is feeling, go through what he is enduring. Place yourself in his shoes and experience what he is experiencing. Or else how can you as the viewer be thrilled, scared or moved.
Alfred Hitchcock is great at establishing this with his audience. Take any of the protagonists from any of his pictures, and you find yourself asking, "What would I do?" When this concept is applied to The Number 23, I don't find myself engaged in the plot enough to place myself there. I'd probably put the book down and find myself watching TV after. Not writing on walls, freaking out my family and all of the stuff Carrey did in this picture.
What we are dealing with here is eye candy. Stupid plot that carries us right through until the end, and it did exactly that. Good thing it all ties in with the main character, that this is his own personal demon and not some weird conspiracy. It makes more sense that way. It's not a boring movie, but it's defiantly not profound. Did I like it, No. Did I hate it, No. I just didn't care enough one way or the other.

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dark?

Posted : 2 years ago on 18 December 2007 10:51 (A review of The Number 23)

no matter how many tattoos they put on Carrey he is not dark and depressed. too many times it looked like he wanted to make a joke. the script is week, the writer wanted to pretend he was smart for a while and ended up reaching with boring "plot twist"

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Not all that Good

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 30 August 2007 02:31 (A review of The Number 23)

I've seen better Jim Carrey movies, MUCH better. The overall Storyline was ok, but I wish they would of put a different twist on it.

The ending was disappointing to say the least.

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The Number 23 review

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago on 19 August 2007 01:14 (A review of The Number 23)

I guess I liked this film more than most then. Maybe it's my soft spot for Jim Carrey, but I thought this was thoroughly entertaining. Contrary to other reviews, I didn't think it had a predictable outcome, or a particularly hollywood ending!

The enactments of the story were superb. It was classic, over-the-top film noir and seeing them primed me for the sensationalist elements of the story later on. It had almost a comic book feel at that point. Aside from that I think Carrey nails another serious role spectacularly. There were elements of comedy during the beginning of the film anyway, but there is surely no doubt that he can pull of serious roles now, especially after Eternal Sunshine.

Other than that this film was wonderfully atmospheric, with superb lighting and cinematography throughout, it almost goes unnoticed. And of course, it will leave you turning everything around you into 23.


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expected better

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago on 31 July 2007 12:44 (A review of The Number 23)

Animal control officer Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) is obsessed by a novel, The Number 23, which his girlfriend (Virginia Madsen) offers him for his birthday. Soon Walter believes the book was written about him, and his fascination increases.

The story was all right, although in the end, it was somewhat predictable.

While this was a highly recommended movie by many people who know my love for thrillers, I am disappointed in this recommendation. The ending is one of the stupidest, most "Hollywoodian" ending I've ever seen (so far). It's not worth spoiling, but let's just say I've seen better thrillers.

Jim Carrey doesn't show his best side in this movie, he sometimes looks as if he's about to laugh or do one of his comedy faces... (He IS NOT just a comedian, I do agree that his performances in Eternal Sunshine, and Man in the Moon, were great. I just feel that Number 23's performance was not as great as expected.)

Director Joel Schumacher on the other hand clearly shows his ability to still direct! (Incidentally Number 23 is ... his 23rd film, that is, if you count his TV productions, not just the movies.)

Love thrillers? Find something else. That's my opinion.
If you're watching just for entertainment, I suppose this is as good as anything else worth watching.


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one word: dissapointing

Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 20 July 2007 02:20 (A review of The Number 23)

previous two reviews nailed it right on the money. the style of the film was awesome, definitely some parts were almost Sin City-esque, and Jim Carrey was great in a dramatic role, which few comics seem to be able to pull off, but I clued into the 'twist' way too early, about half way thru. I even thought to myself, I bet you ******* is the writer, thinking there is no way it would be so obvious... and bam, and the twist at the end, surprise surprise, it was ******. So that, and the fact there was way too many 'what if' gaping plot holes near the end, made me really knock this film down to a 6, perhaps even a 5/10, despite it's first half that was truly great to watch.

One-time rental, I think that's what it's destined to be.

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Eh...

Posted : 2 years, 9 months ago on 28 February 2007 07:54 (A review of The Number 23)

I have to say that the ending is pretty disappointing. It's not necessarily predictable, but yeah, it's close.

I will say that it was filmed pretty cool though. Like, some parts really resembled the kind of style of Sin City which I thought was amazing.

Jim Carrey did a good job as a serious actor though, it was no 'Majestic' but it was ok.

Overall though, I've seen better, way better.

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"The Number 23" Adds Up To Being A Medio

Posted : 2 years, 9 months ago on 24 February 2007 01:57 (A review of The Number 23)

Previews looked great for "The Number 23", but it wasn't as good as expected.

It's not terrible, but it's really not as exciting as you might expect it to be. At no point are you really on the edge of your seat or anything.

Jim Carrey is decent in this role, but not so special that a lot of other actors couldn't have stepped in and given basically the same performance.

All and all, I expect some people to feel somewhat disappointed if they were really looking forward to this one.

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