there be a time when joel schumacher be rank quite high on my list of favorite director . back in the late 80 and early 90 and when his name be attach to several great film like the lose boy and flatliners and fall down and he truly be one of the most gifted director in hollywood . then come the stupid batman sequel and unfortunately and and after that it seem a if every potentially sublime screenplay turn into a gigantic mess in schumacher hand . both 8mm and phone booth could have be much well film and even the incredibly imbecilic concept of the number 23 should have be process into a slightly more compelling and entertaining movie . literally from start to finish and the number 23 desperately attempt to be a mysterious and uncanny thriller and therefore use all the dreadful clichés from the big book of cinema history and include heavy voiced narration and flashback and disorderly structure and character with multiple personality and numerous plot twist that grow increasingly absurd and sinister asylum setting . nothing help and however and simply due to the sheer silliness of the basic formula and the clearly uninspired engagement of cast and crew . as much a you try to associate with the lead character and be open mind regard the insane theory and this still remain a movie about a two digit number and two digit number aren not scary . walter sparrow ( jim carrey in a rare non comical role ) be a bored animal trapper whose wife agatha give him a bizarre book on his birthday . the book tell about all sort of devilish theory and strange coincidence that be link to the number 23. walter almost promptly identify himself with the book protagonist ( a sleazy detective investigate a grim case of suicide ) and begin to spot copious example of the 23 enigma in his own private life . i do some research on google and wikipedia and and apparently and this whole 23 numerology nonsense really exist and certain people honestly believe that most catastrophe and accident be directly connect to this evil number . well and that just crazy . but hey and i be not here to judge people belief and fear and regardless of how demented they be and and i can only share my humble opinion on a movie that be base on an out and out berserk enigma . the number 23 be not suspenseful and in spite of several gloomy set piece and nasty make up effect and and never at one point manage to make you contemplate about the role of number in your own life . all cast member perform below their normal capacity and but it be still nevertheless a joy to see the lovely mrs. virginia madsen in a relatively big production again . definitely not recommend in case youre look for a solid and creepy evening of thriller fun and but endurable and not entirely without merit .