The Number 23

I watched it on Sky the other day. The whole number 23 thing is, I suppose, the modern equivalent of a MacGuffin: it gives a reason for the central character to do what he does, yet it's not actually important in itself. It would be just as good (or bad) with a different plot device - the book, rather than all the numerological mumbo-jumbo, is what drives the plot.

Yes, it is very silly.
 
It was an okay film but there's a better (German) one on a similar theme"23 - Nichts ist so wie es scheint" (transl. = Nothing is as it seems) - the occurances of the number 23 in this film are far more convincing and it's supposedly based on real events.
 
I thought this and 1408 were quite similiar - both looked promising but were ruined by boring and annoying story-telling, and so both ended up pointless and forgettable.
 
Well to go against the majority here, I have to say its one of my favourite films and the more times I watch it the more I love it. Messed with my head for hours after seeing it when it came out at cinema, especially when I walked into HMV afterwarRAB and they were advertising CD's at
 
I thought it was pretty good. A LOT better than what the critics have made out. But not perfect and Jim Carrey possibly miscast?
 
Just watched it on DVD.

First hour or so was enjoyable. I liked the film noir elements - I'm a fan of that genre anyway - and Jim Carrey made a decent job of playing the detective I thought.

Final third was a bit of a disappointment. I try not to guess twists and over-analyse plot-holes but the 'twist' in this was very obvious and it all got rather dull after it was revealed.

Also I found it hard to believe in characters who believed in the number 23 stuff...so that was a bit distracting.

Not bad overall.
 
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