Reviews
23
Directed by Joel Schumacher.
Starring: Jim Carrey.
The no. 23 is one of those numeric conspiracies that drives people mad as it insidiously lurks behind our history. Rasputin was stabbed 23 times, add the numbers of the date the Hiroshima bomb was dropped and you get 23, the tropic of cancer and Capricorn are 23 degrees above/below the equator, 2/3 = 0.666 which is the devils number, if you manipulate the number in your birth date, security number or even add the date on my movie ticket 28/04/2007 = 2+8+4+2+7 = AAARRGH! 23!
Jim Carrey plays an ordinary man who receives a book about the number 23 on his birthday, the 11th of December (11+12 =23). As he reads the story of a police detective fathered by an overbearing accountant whose life becomes consumed by the number 23, slowly he begins to notice the similarities in his own life and falls to the same numeric master. Soon like any crazy person he has 23 written everywhere and begins alienating his wife, and a quest to hunt down the man in the book.
This film is really very similar to the film Pi, and as with Pi there is a certain line that inevitably gets crossed, and when it does you find it difficult to stomach the numeric madness unfolding. Jim Carrey does do a brilliant job, and again as in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind proves his ability to play serious roles with ease.
It's a solid film. The plot unfolds in a predictable fashion, but twists and turns in unexpected ways. You probably won't regret seeing it, but you probably won't cry if you miss it. It is very unique film though and if you've seen Pi and enjoyed it, I'd recommend it.
23 Stars. I mean umm… 3.5/5 Stars
Michael Hill
