The Number 23 (2007)

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:

Author | Bookstore | Murder | 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

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) | Denmark:15 | Norway: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:

Other instances of the number 23 connected (sometimes very tenuously) with the movie: - The last time Jim Carrey and Joel Schumacher worked together was in "Batman Forever." In that film, Carrey's character (the Riddler) also showed an obsession for numbers, which he used to represent letters of the alphabet in his riddles. The numbers were 1, 8, and 5. Batman figured out that 1 and 8 were meant to be 18. 18 + 5 = 23. - The number 23 is a W, and in "Batman Forever" there is a scene of Carrey underneath a W (the gate outside Wayne Manor). - The address of the bookstore is 599. 5+9+9=23. - Walter's room at the asylum was 318. 31-8=23. - The number of letters in "Animal Control Department". - The apartment number across from the suicide blonde's apartment (959). - The dog in the movie is named NED. N is the 14th letter of the alphabet; E is the fifth; and D is the fourth. 14 + 5 + 4 = 23. - The numbers on Walter's car add up to 23 (906 8TC, 9+0+6+8=23, 20(T)+3(C)=23) . - The numbers on Issac's car is 023 5HJ, H is the eight letter in the alphabet and J is the tenth, 5 + 8(H) + 10(J) = 23. - The store front numbers that Fingerling is standing in front of while watching Fabrizia & Phoenix add to 23 (12, and 110). - The film was released in the US on February 23, 2007. - The number of Walter Sparrow's footlocker 87305 = 23 (8+7+3+5). - The PO Box that Carrey and his family mail the boxes to is "P.O.Box 977". 9+7+7=23. - His birthday is February the 3rd, 2/3, 23.

Goofs:

Factual errors: A segment in the opening credits states that the Mayans believed the world would end on December 23, 2012, while in the film, Danny Huston's character reads that the Mayans believed that the world would end on December 12, 2012. In actuality, the Mayans did not believe the world would end in December 2012; they believed a new world would be created. (The date of this is still widely disputed as well, with some sources placing the date as December 21, 2012.)

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:

Featured in Yes Man (2008)

Soundtrack:

Blue Christmas

Very excellent film, despite the reviews

This movie was very well done. The acting was tight (though there are a few scenes that fall somewhat flat, as with any movie), the script was well written, and it is pretty spooky. This movie has great atmosphere, and Jim Carrey DOES show that he can be a GOOD serious/dramatic/non-slapstick actor.

I've never been a big fan of Virginia Madsen, but she plays her part pretty well, and is overall a credit to the film. Logan Lerman, who was excellent in Butterfly Effect, does a very good job in The Number 23, and is well on his way to becoming a big ticket actor.

I for one don't trust newspaper/television/magazine reviews of movies, because they tend to laud and tout and advertise and worship crap films with little or no story, horrible acting/directing/editing, and movies that are just plain boring as hell, even if the acting is good. They also despise/hate/put-down/trash movies that break molds on what they think an actor/director/producer SHOULD do. I think they only reason this movie is getting bad reviews is that the so-called reviewers are getting a case of diaper rash over Jim Carrey doing a non-Pet-Detecive-Almighty-Dumber-Liar movie.

If you like movies that have a plot, a storyline, good effects, great acting, excellent atmosphere, superb editing, great directing, great sound, and that is not full of itself or boring to the point of making Bridges of Madison County look like Die Hard, then go see this movie. Otherwise go stare at wet paint until it dries.