The Number 23

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.

Release Year: 2007

Rating: 6.2/10 (84,864 voted)

Director:
Joel Schumacher

Stars: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Logan Lerman

Storyline
On his birthday, Walter Sparrow, an amiable dog-catcher, takes a call that leaves him dog bit and late to pick up his wife. She's browsed in a bookstore, finding a blood-red-covered novel, a murder mystery with numerology that loops constantly around the number 23. The story captivates Walter: he dreams it, he notices aspects of his life that can be rendered by "23," he searches for the author, he stays in the hotel (in room 23) where events in the novel took place, and he begins to believe it was no novel. His wife and son try to help him, sometimes in sympathy, sometimes to protect him. Slowly, with danger to himself and to his family, he closes in on the truth.

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

Taglines:
The truth will find you.

Details

Official Website:
New Line Cinema [United States] |

Release Date: 23 February 2007

Filming Locations: Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $32,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $14,602,867
(USA)
(25 February 2007)
(2759 Screens)

Gross: $33,917,402
(USA)
(18 March 2007)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min
 |
98 min
(cut)

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The main character, Sparrow, had an obsession with the saxophone. The standard, student sax has 23 keys without the neck. But, with the neck, which one needs to play the sax, the student sax has 24 keys. Nowadays student saxes come with an added high F# key, so they have 25.

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.

User Review

Watchable, not Wonderful

Rating: 6/10


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 2×3)/10