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Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Danny Huston. Psychological thriller. Written by Fernley Philips. Directed by Joel Schumacher.

FILM SYNOPSIS: A man’s life begins to unravel after he comes into contact with an obscure book titled The Number 23. As he reads the book, he becomes increasingly convinced that it is based on his own life. His obsession with the number 23 starts to consume him, and he begins to realize the book forecasts grave consequences that may destroy his family.

PREVIEW REVIEW: It’s always a dark, spooky place we have to go to when viewing a person so obsessed with himself that everything else loses importance. We may be seeing that happening to pop princess Brittany Spears. That’s why I hate hearing jokes at her expense by Letterman, Leno and the rest. And that’s why I dislike dramatic thrillers such as The Shining with Jack Nicholson or The Number 23 with funnyman Jim Carrey. Both these examples star actors who frolic in plagued playgrounds too often and far too easily. Someone once said that there is a fine line between genius and madness. Now, I’m not going to say that these two thespians are nuts, but they sure do play lots of nuts. And nobody does nuts better than Nicholson, except for Carrey.

While there are some positive messages including a man displaying love for his wife and son, and doing the right thing despite the cost, the depiction of suicides (several of them) and other explorations inside the darker side of man’s nature left this viewer heavy-hearted. That’s not a feeling I like feeling after seeing a movie.

Still, any theme can be handled with style and finesse. If a movie buff wants to view a film dealing with obsession, my I suggest this video alternative: Vertigo. This complex Hitchcock romantic thriller concerns an ex-cop hired to follow a woman whom he soon falls in love with. The director’s powerful imagery and James Stewart’s remarkable performance focus on obsession and hidden fears. But where the muddled Number 23 becomes grungy and progressively unsatisfying, Vertigo’s dreamlike quality lulls you while its haunting mystery finds resolution.

Distributor: New Line