The Number 23 (2007)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer (WGA):

Fernley Phillips (written by)

Release Date:

23 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The truth will find you.

Plot:

Walter Sparrow becomes obsessed with a novel that he believes was written about him. As his obsession increases, more and more similarities seem to arise.

Plot Keywords:

Number 23 | Bookstore | Author | Book | Numerology

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Jim Carrey	...	Walter Sparrow / Fingerling
Virginia Madsen	...	Agatha Sparrow / Fabrizia
Logan Lerman	...	Robin Sparrow
Danny Huston	...	Isaac French / Dr. Miles Phoenix
Lynn Collins	...	Suicide Blonde / Mrs. Dobkins / Young Fingerling's Mother
Rhona Mitra	...	Laura Tollins
Michelle Arthur	...	Sybil
Mark Pellegrino	...	Kyle Flinch
Paul Butcher	...	Young Fingerling / Young Walter
David Stifel	...	Hotel Clerk
Corey Stoll	...	Sergeant Burns
Ed Lauter	...	Father Sebastian
Troy Kotsur	...	Barnaby
Walter Soo Hoo	...	Chinese Restaurant Owner
Patricia Belcher	...	Dr. Alice Mortimer
Rudolph Willrich	...	Dr. Nathaniel
John Fink	...	Young Walter's Father / Young Fingerling's Father
Julie Remala	...	Mail Clerk
Tara Karsian	...	Box Company Clerk
Kerry Hoyt	...	Suicide Blonde's Father
Jennifer Lee Grafton	...	Suicide Blonde's Mother
Tom Lenk	...	Bookstore Salesperson
Ka'ramuu Kush	...	Fingerling's Sergeant
Helen Jordan	...	Lady Walking Dog
Eddie Rouse	...	Building Super
Lesli Margherita	...	Attractive Coed
Maile Flanagan	...	Charades Friend
Bob Zmuda	...	Desk Clerk
Susan Kitchen	...	Party Goer
Coier Amerson	...	Party Goer
Michael Hurley	...	Agatha's Friend
Donna G. Earley	...	Agatha's Friend
Shannon Gayle	...	Lucinda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Alameda	...	Parcel Deliveryman (uncredited)
Bud Cort	...	Dr. Sirius Leary (uncredited)
Taylor McCluskey	...	Ex-boyfriend (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Parent	...	Patient (uncredited)
K.T. Rowe	...	The Girlfriend (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel Schumacher

Writing credits (WGA)
Fernley Phillips		(written by)

Produced by
Richard Brener	....	executive producer
Mike Drake	....	executive producer
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Linda Fields	....	associate producer (as Linda Fields Hill)
Beau Flynn	....	producer
Keith Goldberg	....	executive producer
Fernley Phillips	....	co-producer
Eli Richbourg	....	executive producer
Tripp Vinson	....	producer
Brooklyn Weaver	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Harry Gregson-Williams

Cinematography by
Matthew Libatique		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mark Stevens

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
Andrew Laws

Art Direction by
Jon Billington
David Sandefur

Set Decoration by
Daniel B. Clancy

Costume Design by
Daniel Orlandi

Makeup Department
Mishell Chandler	....	key hair stylist
Cydney Cornell	....	hair stylist: Mr. Carrey
Bill Corso	....	makeup department head
Lisa M. Cubero	....	key hair stylist (as Lisa Cubero)
Frances Mathias	....	hair department head
Ned Neidhardt	....	makeup artist
Cheryl Ann Nick	....	key makeup artist (as Cheryl Nick)

Production Management
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production
Karyn McCarthy	....	unit production manager
Sara Romilly	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Carter	....	second assistant director
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director
David Hallinan	....	first assistant director: second unit
Eli Richbourg	....	second unit director

Art Department
Aaron Billet	....	property production assistant
Colleen Broderick	....	set decorating buyer
Richard K. Buoen	....	illustrator
Anthony Carlino	....	leadman
Larry Corralez	....	painter
Bruce Di Valerio	....	construction coordinator
Howard Fannon	....	assistant props
Steve Hansen	....	property maker
Billy Hunter	....	set designer
Lance Larson	....	assistant property master
Jennifer Lewicki	....	art and set decoration coordinator
Linda Luizzi	....	set dresser
Eric Luling	....	on-set dresser
Joseph Magazenni	....	art assistant
Masako Masuda	....	set designer
William S. Maxwell III	....	set dresser
Steven B. Melton	....	property master
Luigi Mugavero	....	set dresser
Paul Mugavero	....	set dresser
John J. Passanante	....	painter
Nussbaumer Petra	....	painter
Lee Ross	....	lead scenic: reshoots
Chris Samp	....	stand-by painter
David Scott	....	graphic designer
Julie Smith	....	assistant decorator
Eric Sundahl	....	assistant art director
Jeremy Thompson	....	props production assistant

Sound Department
David Barbee	....	sound effects editor
Steve Bartkowicz	....	re-recording engineer
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
Paul Curtis	....	supervising sound editor
Cris Davis	....	sound intern
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Christopher S.P. Jones	....	second boom operator
Bradley C. Katona	....	sound effects editor
Jay Meagher	....	sound mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Hugh Murphy	....	sound effects editor
Steve Nelson	....	sound editor
Unsun Song	....	sound re-recordist
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jon Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Mike Sasgen	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Greg Astles	....	lead compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Sneha Astles	....	3D artist and digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc. (as Sneha Prabhakaran)
Darren A. Bell	....	visual effects producer: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Brent M. Bowen	....	visual effects
Steve Bowen	....	digital intermediate colorist
Thomas R. Bryant	....	visual effects editor
Kris Carson	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Dominic Cheung	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Amy Daye	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc. (as Amy Spencer)
Dan Dixon	....	visual effects supervisor
David Geoghegan	....	digital compositor
Raymond Gieringer	....	visual effects production executive: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jamie Hallett	....	visual effects supervisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Michael Hatton	....	visual effects technical advisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
David Jones	....	visual effects consultant: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Min Young Kim	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jeffrey Klug	....	systems administrator: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Ken Lam	....	concept artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Wendy Lanning	....	executive visual effects producer: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Danny Lee	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Sam Lee	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Laurence Lok	....	digital effects designer and lead compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jason Maher	....	senior 3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Seth Martiniuk	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Douglas Melville	....	visual effects production manager: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Alison Middaugh	....	senior 3D artist: Intelligent Creatures
Lon Molnar	....	visual effects creative advisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Chris Nokes	....	visual effects production supervisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Ciaran O'Connor	....	digital compositor
Ciaran O'Connor	....	matte painter
Scott Parker	....	systems administrator: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Lisa Reid	....	visual effects production manager: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Scott Riopelle	....	lead compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Tyler Robb	....	production assistant: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Geoff Sayer	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Vicki Silva	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Clancy Silver	....	lead compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Danita Slaughter	....	digital opticals editor
Mitchell Stuart	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Mahvash Tehrani	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Carol VanHook	....	visual effects
Pat Wakefield	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Tim Warnock	....	concept artist and senior digital matte painter: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Dan Wheaton	....	concept artist and senior digital matte painter: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Andrea Yomtob	....	visual effects
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Stunts
John Alden	....	stunts
Pat Banta	....	stunt coordinator
Simone Bargetze	....	stunt double: Virginia Madsen
Dotan Bonen	....	stunts
Charlie Brewer	....	stunts
Bob Brown	....	stunts (as Robert Brown)
Kevin Chase	....	stunt rigger
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunts
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Deborah L. Mazor	....	stunt double: Lynn Collins
Bobby Ore	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Tyler Anderson	....	rigging electrician
Michael Bauman	....	chief lighting technician
Mike Bellantoni	....	grip
Peter Berglund	....	first assistant camera
Gary Bevans	....	camera loader
Mike Bonnaud	....	best boy electric
John Busch	....	key grip
Mark Carlile	....	lighting technician
Davie Carothers	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Alexandra Church	....	video assist intern
Terence Chu	....	camera loader: second unit
William Clouter	....	grip
James Coffin	....	grip
Magela Crosignani	....	preview technician
Thomas M. Dangcil	....	electrician
Donald D. Davidson	....	electrician
Willie E. Dawkins	....	electrician: second unit
Al DeMayo	....	electrician: fixtures
Carlos DePalma	....	rigging grip foreman
Tana Dubbe	....	key grip
Kevin Fahey	....	rigging grip best boy
John P. Fleenor	....	rigging electrician
Owen Foye	....	electrician
Owen Foye	....	electrician: second unit
Charley Gilleran	....	rigging key grip
Danny Gonzalez	....	electrician: second unit
Gary Hatfield	....	camera operator
Scott Hatley	....	best boy grip
Terrence Hayes	....	camera operator: second unit
Willow Jenkins	....	video assist operator
Dan Kanes	....	electrician: second unit
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Dan Kneece	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Andrew Korner	....	best boy electric: second unit
Matt Kubas	....	rigging electrician
Chris Lindsay	....	grip
Christine M. Loss	....	still photographer
Michael Lyon	....	electrician
John Mang	....	dolly grip
Steven Mann	....	first assistant camera
Erik Messerschmidt	....	gaffer: second unit
Luis Moreno	....	lighting technician
Richard Moriarty	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Simone Perusse	....	lighting programmer
Diego Quemada-Diez	....	additional camera operator (as Diego Quemada)
Richard Rutkowski	....	director of photography: second unit
Jeffrey P. Soderberg	....	chief rigging electrician
Keith Solomon	....	additional camera operator
Matt Stenerson	....	assistant camera
Michael Tolochko	....	electrician
Thomas D. Watson	....	grip
Peter Weiland	....	electrician
Andy Young	....	rigging grip
Kelly Clear	....	chief lighting technician: second unit (uncredited)
Scott Hammer	....	additional video assist operator (uncredited)
Patriq Luo	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lauren Bass	....	casting associate
Elizabeth Shoai	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carrie Arakaki	....	costumer
Linda Henrikson	....	costume supervisor
Marjorie McCown	....	assistant costume designer
Natasha Paczkowski	....	costume manufacturing foreperson
David Page	....	costumer: Mr. Carrey
Debbie Travis	....	on-set costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Javier Marcheselli	....	assistant editor
Justin Worthington	....	digital intermediate assistant producer

Music Department
Lee Blaylock	....	music clearances
Bob Bowen	....	music executive
David Buckley	....	composer: additional music
Meri Gavin	....	assistant music editor
Scott Johnson	....	assistant music editor
Costa Kotselas	....	music technical engineer
Jamie Luker	....	music scoring engineer
Malcolm Luker	....	music scoring engineer
Hugh Marsh	....	musician
Esther McIntosh	....	orchestration coordinator
Ladd McIntosh	....	lead orchestrator
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor
Geoff Stradling	....	orchestrator
Martin Tillman	....	musician
Booker White	....	music preparation
Stephen Barton	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Halli Cauthery	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Chandra Cogburn	....	music assistant (uncredited)
Clay Duncan	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Maxim Aperian	....	driver
Andrew Broomhead	....	driver
Vic Cuccia	....	transportation captain
Don Easy	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Donald S. Harback	....	driver
Randy Luna	....	driver
Jim Petti	....	teamster co-captain
Dan Romero	....	transportation coordinator
Michael Sean Ryan	....	transportation co-captain
Michael Sean Ryan	....	transportation coordinator: re-shoots
David Torgerson	....	driver

Other crew
Diana Adams	....	production accountant
Jeremy Alter	....	location manager
Sam Alvelo	....	production assistant
Jill Ambrosino	....	executive assistant: Mr. Carrey
Kate Amer	....	production coordinator
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Tony Barger	....	assistant: Mr. Schumacher
Julie Benson	....	assistant: Mr. Vinson
Melissa Binder	....	textile artist
Dotan Bonen	....	personal security: Mr. Carrey
Ericka Bryce	....	production medic
Alex Capaldi	....	office production assistant
Alexander T. Carey	....	production assistant
Adrian Casas	....	production coordinator: re-shoots
Aaron Cooley	....	assistant: Mr. Schumacher
Chelsey Dailey	....	assistant: Mr. Libatique
Leon Dudevoir	....	production executive
Richie Elson	....	set production assistant
Shilo Frontierro	....	set production assistant: second unit
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret	....	script supervisor
Jeffrey Gladu	....	payroll accountant
Tyler Graham	....	production assistant
John Maxwell Bryan Hampton	....	production assistant
Todd Havern	....	production assistant
Marie Healy	....	key assistant location manager
Rebecca Hedrick	....	assistant: Mr. Drake (as Rebecca Ferrell Hedrick)
Sara Howell	....	second assistant accountant
Jonathan Jansen	....	key assistant location manager
Stacey Jelin	....	key craft service
Steve Kesmodel	....	credits administrator
Gary Kobat	....	personal trainer: Mr. Carrey
Wayne Lamkay	....	assistant accountant
David Linck	....	unit publicist
Lance Mancuso	....	unit medic
Kent Matsuoka	....	assistant location manager
Karly Meola	....	assistant: Ms. Madsen
Ryan Miningham	....	production assistant
Nick Nantell	....	assistant: Mr. Flynn
Boone Narr	....	animal coordinator
Kyle Oliver	....	key assistant location manager
Anton Pardoe	....	assistant location manager (as Anton Ramone Pardoe)
Steven John Reynolds	....	first assistant accountant
Robert Rizzolo	....	production assistant
Joanne Rose	....	stand-in: Lynn Collins
Scott Rowe	....	animal trainer
Albert Salsich	....	assistant location manager
Kieran Sandoval	....	production assistant
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Maryn Silverberg	....	assistant: Mr. Flynn
Sue Smith	....	assistant production coordinator
Aaron Speiser	....	acting coach: Virginia Madsen
Brandon Stacy	....	double: Jim Carrey
Jeff Stanford	....	assistant location manager
Lauren Suarez	....	production secretary
Lalida Sujjavasin	....	set production assistant
Kelly Sullivan	....	production assistant
Donna Tegan	....	staff set production assistant
Brian Turi	....	animal trainer
Kyle Watkins	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema (presents)
• Contrafilm
• Firm Films
• Fingerling Films

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2007) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Panorama Entertainment (2007) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Eco Filmes/Prisvideo (2005) (Portugal) (all media)
• New Line Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Intelligent Creatures (visual effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)

Other Companies

• Boone's Animals for Hollywood  animals provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Cinemoves  camera cranes
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Film Permits Unlimited  location permits
• Imaginary Forces  titles
• Kona Cutting  negative management
• Laser Pacific  high-definition dailies
• New Line Records  soundtrack
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Silva Screen Records  soundtrack
• TM Motion Picture Equipment  grip equipment

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Germany:16 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:13 | Spain:13 | Australia:MA | Malaysia:18PL | Portugal:M/16 | Czech Republic:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Norway:15 | Denmark:15 | Sweden:15 | South Africa:16 | France:U (with warning) | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:R-13 | USA:R (certificate #43185) | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The author of the book's 'name' was Topsy Kretts which, if pronounced quickly, sounds like 'Top Secret'

Goofs:

Factual errors: On Dr. Sirius Leary's ID badge he is shown as a "Phd."- the correct abbreviation is Ph.D. (from Latin for Doctor of Philosophy).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Walter Sparrow: A week ago, the only thing I thought was out of the ordinary was that it was my birthday.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Blue Christmas

Watchable, not Wonderful

There has been a great deal of critical scorn directed at 'The Number 23', which almost made me rethink my decision to see it, despite finding the concept very enticing, being impressed by the promotional materials, and generally liking Joel Schumacher as a director (yes, Batman and Robin was awful, but he's directing some very good films like The Client, Phone Booth and The Lost Boys) And after seeing the finished product, I find myself asking why the knives are out for the film. Now, I'm not saying this is a brilliant film, because it isn't. It's rather easy to guess the plot twists, the script does tend to patronise the viewer and the final segment of the film casually abandons the central premise in favour of a more generic 'mystery' storyline. But I found quite a few things to like about the movie, such as strong performances from Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen, very stylish direction and (for most of the movie)a genuine undercurrent of tension as the events unfold. It's not going to be remembered as a highlight on the careers of anyone involved, but if you enjoyed conspiracy theory novels such as The Da Vinci Code or shows like the X-Files, you are more likely to see past the critics and enjoy this film.

Final Score 6 (which is 2x3)/10