THE NUMBER 23 Film Review - 9/7/07

Was very apprehensive about watching this after hearing some negative reviews. Suddenly I find out I'm wrong and will have to buy this on DVD when available. Jim Carrey puts in a blistering performance (so we have no sign of his usual grinning loon) and a slowly tortured and obsessive character trait is brought to the fore in an otherwise happily married man (with a son) and a loving wife in the shape of Virginia Madsen. After receiving a book called "The Number 23" as a birthday present things take a twist as Carrey's character gets totally obsessed in the story within a story (as do we the viewers) and goes off the deep end straight into lunacy bordering on mania as conspiracy and numerology collide. Trying to explain why the book knows so much about his life (as thing's take a further twist) psychosis starts to set in and we get drawn into the so called madness until the screws tighten and we end up with a possible killer on the loose and the book as his confession. Then things get even further involved as it's all a plot against Carrey or is it? When you don't know which way to turn and imagine just how things can get more tense another revelation screws your head totally around and then all the pieces fall into place as the shocking denouement ensues. If you can forgive the obvious coincidences (and you will do) and gloss over the slight mystic angle to the plot (you will) this chilly and creepy psychological thriller will have you deep in your seat scrunched down into a ball. Most satisfying indeed!