okay and so i have read most of the review on this movie and as well a comment leave by visitor to this site and and the feeling i get be that most people who write review really do not like this movie . that why i be write now i represent the minority because and i do . i admit and i go to see the movie because i be very impressed with ryan gosling compelling ability and and the project he have be a part of lately have be nothing less than incredible . he be an amazing actor . that aside and i want to see this movie because it seem intrigue to me . why . because it a whodunit where you know ` whodunit from the start and and that kind of unusual . a the plot go and two teenage boys endeavour to commit the perfect crime because they believe in a twisted philosophy that only through commit act of crime be human being truly free the uninhibited and and let remember and guiltless and act out of one will . the relationship between richard and justin be complex and hint at homosexuality and and be brilliantly act by ryan gosling and michael pitt . gosling be the manipulating and control smooth talker and and pitt be the extremely book smart and socially awkward outcast . enter sandra bullock character and who it seem most people do not particularly appreciate . i think when people see she be the executive producer they automatically assume any role the actor have in it be a self glorification thing . i do not see that a the case here . without cassie personal history about the ex husband that nearly kill her and who and not surprisingly and share similar trait with richard hayward and she never would have pursue her instinct about justin and richard . the case be seemingly airtight against ray and the unsuspecting school janitor and friend of the boy . even when the boy be question near the end of the movie neither bullock nor her partner have much solid evidence about them other than the fact that they lie about know each other and and the vomit justin leave at the sight . therein lay the genius of the movie because the philosophy the boy be try to prove through the act of kill and the guiltless act out of will a ` true freedom and end up work against justin and who end up have a conscience after all ( and end up leave part of his conscience at the body dump site ) . without that crucial piece of evidence and they almost have a murder by number . and to reader out there who have puzzle over the title as much a i have and i look in to it and find that something do by number ( such a a painting ) suggest careful and critical planning and exact . there also a song by sting call murder by number and but that beside the point . positive . many reader question the necessity of the relationship between cassie and her partner and but i think it really mean to show how cynical and manipulative she have become because of her history . like it or not and her history do play an important role in this movie because without it and she would likely have never follow her instinct about justin and richard . yes and it be a bit of the cliche ` woman scorn and woman act out vendetta in every facet of her life plot and but i think without the depth of cassie character you have just another movie about teenage killer and and they just may have get away with it . there no movie there . and to the reader who comment that the teenager obviously do not commit the perfect crime because the police be on to them from the beginning and can i remind you that the reason be because of the purposely place and and totally traceable shoe print . the boy want to be involve it be a game . they be so confident that they have commit the perfect crime that they want to see first hand the difficulty the investigator would have in uncover what they think be the truth . what they do not expect be that cassie mayweather have an overactive case of instinct work on her side . a little unbelievable . maybe . but many crime have be solve by police officer who have follow their instinct . however and this be a movie . i saw this movie in theatre about three time and and each time it reveal a little more to me and and i like it a little more . the more i watch it and the more i be captivate and frighten by the psychological depth richard hayward there be people really like this . my main complaint about the movie would be that they should have have justin and richard interaction a little more central ( because and let face it and there lay the intrigue in the entire film ) and my main prop go to characterization each character be very distinct and interesting in his or her own way . it be very well act and although i would have give ben chaplin character a little more depth to work with ( he a good actor ) and maybe par down bullock character a smidgen . i think everyone should keep in mind that for a hitchcock type thriller like this to basically tell you the whodunit at the beginning and it pose a very big challenge for the writer to keep the attention of the audience until the very end . i think they do so quite well by utilize a few small plot twist throughout and slow revelation of the different character dynamic and and by light up the screen with some really emotionally charge performance by the young actor ryan gosling and michael pitt . i think if we remove our innate cynicism and attempt to see how psychologically complex the character and their interaction be and we may be able to look beyond any apparent plot hole and see the real texture and quality of this movie and if only in the character who be brilliantly portray . especially richard hayward . not that i be bias . positive .