February 25, 2007
The Number 23
We watched “The Number 23″ tonight. All I knew about it was what I saw in one commercial. I don’t usually watch a movie without knowing something about it, but with Jim Carrey, I figured I would want to see it anyway.
I’ve been a Carrey fan for a long time. I liked the idiot movies he did in the 90’s, and I think that some of the more serious movies he’s done (like “The Majestic” and “Man on the Moon”) may not have been the greatest films ever made, but they showed that Carrey can actually act without acting like a complete idiot.
“The Number 23″ seems to be Jim Carrey announcing to the world that he’s a real actor. I don’t want to spoil it for anybody, so I’ll be brief with this review. Carrey did a great job in his role, though it took a little while for me to believe him in the role. I still see Lloyd Christmas when I look at Jim Carrey, so I had to get into the story before I could believe him in this movie.
That said, once I got into it, I was hooked. I’d say go watch it. Don’t go expecting a comedy, because, well, it’s no comedy. It is a good movie, but it’s certainly not a comedy. It kept me guessing until (almost) the end, and it may end up being the movie that changed how people perceive Carrey as an actor.
If any of you saw it, I’d love to hear what you thought.
8 Comments on The Number 23 »
February 25, 2007
The Spine Doctor's Wife @ 1:56 pm:
We watched “A Series of Unfortunate Events” not too long ago. He was great in that movie. That is a movie that will make you forget all his other roles. The part he plays in it is extremely character driven. It is like nothing else he has ever done!
February 26, 2007
Gaines @ 9:56 am:
Wow. Ron, these are the first positive comments I’ve heard about this movie. Anywhere. I’m still skeptical, though. Joel Schumacher ruined the Batman franchise for almost a decade. I don’t know if I’m ready to give him another chance …
Ron @ 10:00 am:
I dunno, Gaines. I liked it. You might not, but I thought it was pretty good.
rick from ga @ 10:21 am:
Jim Carrey as Michael Jordan?
I suppose he can act!
March 7, 2007
Curt @ 12:50 pm:
The trailers make it sound hokey, hokey, hokey. It was at the bottom of my list, so far down that I would have only seen it on DVD, if at all. That, despite being a bit of a Jim Carrey fan. Maybe I’ll reconsider, since you didn’t use the “stupid” word in your review.
March 9, 2007
Curt @ 3:00 am:
Sorry, Ron. I caught this one last night and let’s just say that I do not share your enthusiasm. Yes, there were some cool special effects and it had a nice look and feel, reflecting back deliberately to the days of film noir, which I think is about as cool as it gets. Too, any movie featuring Virginia Madsen in a starring role is okay in my book. Still, I can’t endorse it.
For once the trailer wasn’t misleading. The trailer led me to believe it would be dumb and it was dumb. (Sorry again, but you ask.) I loved Carrey in “The Truman Show,” “Man on the Moon,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and “The Majestic,” but I’m afraid this was a horrible Carrey misstep.
Joel Schumacher was so persistant in his earnest, obsessive/compulsive attempt to convince us to buy into his conspiracy, after awhile this movie–that is not a comedy–became funny; funny, not as in funny ha ha, but shake one’s head and roll one’s eyes funny. In fairness, I should mention that I fell asleep one time, but not long enough to lose track with what was evolving. I predicted the ending about half way through.
I appreciate the endorsement and it was worth a try. I would probably have waited for the DVD but we ran late for “Factory Girl” and “Amazing Grace,” so “The Number 23″ won be default.
Ron @ 11:20 am:
Well, Curt, I don’t know what to say. I really thought it wasn’t so bad. And maybe I was having a bad night, but I didn’t figure the ending out until the very last minute. If I saw that earlier, the movie would have been MUCH less enjoyable.
Sorry you didn’t agree. At least it was one that you ended up seeing because you were late and not because you wanted to do what I said.
Curt @ 3:52 pm:
Last time I checked, I don’t have the last word on what’s good and what’s not.
I’ve invested $10.00 in far worst ways. But if you want to send me a check for $10.00, I would be happy to cash it. (I won’t hold my breath.) 