Review of Murder by Numbers (2002) by Cory T — 03 Mar 2008

There are curious things taking place throughout this film's two hours runtime. Sandra Bullock, whom I guess I consider a film veteran, plays one of the most OVER-played cops in film history. Her role is so predictable that even the particulars that assemble her character seem contrived and copied. Surprisingly, however, she does a good job with her material; mind you, "good" is used very very loosely.

On the other hand, we see the emergence and further confirmation of talent from two of the most gifted actors under 30. Michael Pitt is a wonder to watch, especially here and in Bertolucci's "The Dreamers", where he loses his ability to reason in a new city consumed by sex and revolution.

Ryan Gosling has proven himself on numerous occasions to be very versatile, but here he maintains the "dark-and-twisty" complex he seems to have trademarked.

While in most ways this film is a standard police procedural, it does have moments of originality and a darkened flair for thrills. The story does seemt to hold things back, however (the acting and some aspects of direction), but one must consider what films would be without the stories that shape them? (Rhetorical, I'm sure).

This does not mean that we simply submit to standard formulas that are so obvious the audience could solve the crime themselves, but one must consider making this exception when those feelings of complacency and semi-betrayal start to settle in...

"Murder by Numbers" does not hold a lot at face value in terms of thrillers preceding it, but for the emergence of future, brilliant performances, it is definitely worth viewing.