I just recently watched The Number 23 starring Jim Carrey. At first I was a little
worried about how well a suspense thriller could be with Carrey as the lead actor, but I guess I’ve already seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and I thought that Carrey did a good job in that film. So if you don’t know anything about this film I’ll give a quick summery.
Carrey plays a man, who is generally down on his luck. He is socially awkward, and has great difficulty saying the “right things” to the people he knows. He is an animal control officer, who spends his days bored wondering what happened to his life. The first day in the movie, his birthday February 3rd, he is bitten by a dog that he is trying to capture. This bite is a wake up call, and leads Carrey down a very dangerous and intriguing path including a strange book and a couple of murders.
I thought this film was worth seeing. The suspense builds up quickly from the relatively innocent beginning and bursts over about half way through the movie. I think Carrey does a great job acting and his supporting cast is also believable. The action consistently builds, and every time you think you’ve got the plot pinned down, the storyline shifts. I was really pleased with the ending of the movie, which of course I won’t spoil, but suffice it to say that it was unexpected. The movie questions what people are capable of, and asks you to ask yourself what you might do in various situations. As suspense thrillers go, this one is better than most, and I would definitely encourage people to rent it. Everything is a choice, it is up to you to make the correct decision (as Carrey learns during the film).