A logical movie from an illogical theory

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2007)

"the Number 23" is, despite some negative reviews, and in my opinion, an extremely well-made movie. Walter Sparrow's (thats the main character, all you Jim Carry nuts, in the movie, its Walter, not Carry you're watching) "descent" into mild insanity turning itself into a murder mystery is quite engaging. While I admit, many times, I felt myself rooting for "the number", especially at the end, thinking it quite poetic that Sparrow should end up committing suicide, (succesfully) anyway. THAT would have been a beautiful ending. All of the characters actions do, indeed, make sense within the world's context. The ending shot of the 2 and 3 on the clock as well as 23 occurrences where two items simply happened to form the number (roadsigns, basketball jerseys) were disappointing, but the actual numerology and parallels between Fingerling and Sparrow, as well as the darker lighting, add to making the movie creepily real.
Where Carry is told that hes finding 23 because hes looking for it, blows away the "23 enigma", but the movie nonetheless continues to please. As a side note, My birthday is 5/18 5+18= ... guess what?