Murder by Numbers (2002)

Great early Gosling...but Bullock fails to convince
The best reason to see this movie now, several years after it came out, is to enjoy an early role from Ryan Gosling. In many ways, his performance as one of two empty, misguided teenage boys who commit murder just to see if they can do it got him the initial attention that later led to success in UNITED STATES OF LELAND, THE NOTEBOOK, HALF NELSON [[ASIN:B000KX0IOK Half Nelson]], FRACTURE, etc. He is very good, in a way that reminds me of early performances from Ed Norton. His mannerisms weren't so familiar yet...he seemed fresh and alive. When he's on screen...the movie pops and you can't take your eyes off him.

Michael Pitt, as the other killer, is a creepy presence as well...but he's a more predictable character...just kinda morose and an obvious outsider. He has no charisma (nor should he) and Gosling's character just stomps all over him. One could argue that Gosling isn't playing the movie at the same level as the rest of the cast...he's up on a different plane...and therefore he's really upstaging his fellow actors. But honestly, if it weren't for his out-there intensity...the movie would be a waste of time.

So, the criminals are mostly fun to watch. We enjoy seeing how they put it all together, and how the start to fall apart as the cops move in. That's fine. But on the other side, we have the "good guys" primarily represented by Sandra Bullock. We're to believe she's this damaged soul, driven to take reckless shortcuts and driven to sleep with (and dispose of) all her male partners. It's possible that a more feral actress, or a more skillful one, could have pulled off this rather ridiculous character. But Bullock flounders. Her relationship with her fellow cops consists mostly of her tossing off insults and innuendos...followed by unconvincing scenes of seduction. When she tries to rub Ben Chaplin's groin with her sock covered foot in an effort to arouse him...it was cringe-inducing...because Bullock looked so totally uninterested. Obviously, her character has been badly wounded in the past, and we can understand that her relationships with others might be spotty...but mostly she comes across as unlikeable and UNSYMPATHETIC. That's the big problem...we don't feel for her...we just dislike her.

The plot itself is fairly straightforward...and frankly, it wasn't really too hard to get these two "perfect criminals." It's the cat-and-mouse aspect we're most supposed to enjoy, as Gosling and Bullock play with each other. Gosling holds up his end of the act quite admirably...Bullock not so much.

It's an okay movie, and if you're a Gosling fan, it's a must see. But this SILENCE OF THE LAMB wannabe falls short of that high mark by a long shot. [[ASIN:B000LP6KNU The Silence of the Lambs (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)]]

This is another great Gosling movie!
Another must-see in the Ryan Gosling catalog! AND I love Sandra Bullock so that was an added bonus! Great movie!

This is another great Gosling movie!
Another must-see in the Ryan Gosling catalog! AND I love Sandra Bullock so that was an added bonus! Great movie!