The Number 23 is fine performance by Carrey

Rating: 8/10 (6 May 2007)

The Number 23 *** out of **** Joel Schumacher is a director who may forever be known for the disgrace that was "Batman and Robin" but Schumacher has done some pretty entertaining films, such as The Lost Boys, A Time To Kill, and Falling Down to name a few. "The Number 23" is another film I would throw on that entertaining list though it is not without it's flaws.
This film stars Jim Carrey who once again proves that he is more then just a slapstick comedy actor. In this film, Carrey plays Walter Sparrow, an Animal Control worker who is pretty content with his life but becomes obsessed with a book that his wife gave him after getting bit by a mysterious dog. He believes that the book is about him or at least mirrors his life. The main character in the book, a detective named Finerling (another character played by Carrey) becomes involved in a murder mystery that is somewhat disturbing and yet Sparrow seems to feel connected to everything that is going on. And as Fingerling in the book becomes more obsessed with the Number 23, so does Sparrow. The events in the book begin to mirror the events going on in Sparrow's life. Soon, Sparrow begins a journey to find out who the author of the book is.
The scenes with Fingerling are stylish, somewhat of a comic book feel. The "real" moments in the film have a nice dark and creepy feeling to it. The jumps from "real" to "Book" are done really well.
The acting in this film is alway to perfection. Jim Carrey gives a stunning yet erie performance. He plays Walter Sparrow with a sense of warranted sympathy yet you can't help but be afraid of him as you join him on his obsession. Virginia Madsen is Agatha Sparrow, Walter's wife. She plays the part so well that you feel scared for her as she is watching her husband fall deeper and deeper into obsession.
All in all, this film is stylish and fun to watch, filled with suspense however, I felt the ending fell a little flat. A flat ending can really derail a film and though this film suffers because of it, the acting, writing, and suspense keeps you into the film all the way to the end which makes it still worth watching.