Murder by Numbers (2002)

I love this movie so much

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

In this film, two abnormal students decide to perpetrate the perfect crime, but things start to go wrong when an experienced detective mistrusts them. We have seen similar things before, the film is not exactly original in the subject it addresses, being clearly inspired by the crime committed by Leopold and Loeb, decades earlier.The movie never hides anything. From the beginning, we know almost everything that will happen and who the killer is. So there is no secret or mystery and it spoils the movie a lot. The relationship between the two boys is quite dysfunctional and even conveys the idea of a certain latent homosexuality between them. To make matters worse, they both correspond to two detestable juvenile stereotypes (one is the typical impersonal nerd, the other is the rich, idiot guy). In turn, the detective is the typical "macho girl".The actors are fairly decent in their work. Sandra Bullock is very competent and does a fine work. Ryan Gosling is good and gives his character an almost magnetic charisma in a deeply disturbing interpretation. Michael Pitt is not far behind in a clearly crazy character.Overall, it's a decent movie, but it loses a lot for the absence of mystery and for giving of tray everything that the public should wait to discover.

'All real freedom risks crime. Indeed, freedom *is* crime, because it thinks first of itself and not of the group.' Intellectually challenging mysteries such as MURDER BY NUMBERS as written by Tony Gayton and directed with great skill by Persian director Barbet Schroeder are such a fulfilling evening of theater, especially when the story includes philosophy, the psychology of injured minds from past abuse, and the clever means of a planned murder! This picture from 2002 continues to satisfy on every level - especially with the superb performances by Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt an done of the better supporting casts assembled by casting director Howard Feuer.In a strange little coastal town in California Richard Haywood (Ryan Gosling9, a handsome, wealthy high school cool kid, secretly teams up with another rich kid in his class, brilliant nerd Justin 'Bonaparte' Pendleton (Michael Pitt), whose erudition, specially in forensic matters, allows them to plan elaborately perfect murders, just for the kick, for which they set up Richard's marijuana supplier, their school's janitor Ray Feathers, as a psychotic serial killer. The case is assigned to detectives Cassie 'the hyena' Mayweather (Sandra Bullock), a crime scene specialist who carries a huge chip on the shoulder from an abusive relationship that has haunted her for years, and her brilliant new partner, Sam Kennedy (Ben Chaplin), who just transferred from the vice squad; they can work together very well, and even fit romantically, but fall out over different professional attitudes towards the investigation, which Captain Rod Cody (R.D. Call) and her understandably vindictive abused ex, Assistant D.A. Al Swanson (Tom Verica), soon ban her from when she disobeys instructions and hand to him. When the plotting boys both attempt to attract classmate Lisa Mills (Agnes Bruckner), their unnatural bond comes under stress - and the manner in which the relationship crumbles and further deaths occur makes for a spine-tingling end.The musical score by Clint Mansell and the cinematography by Luciano Tovoli enhance the mood of the film, but in the end it is a solid story acted by a very polished cast that makes this one of those 'must see again' type films.

Murder by Numbers starring Sandra Bullock (Cassie Mayweather), a homicide detective accompanied by a wet-behind-the-ears rookie (Ben Chaplin). The moment she's misty-eyed over the victim, you know there's a back story we're inclined to visit, presumably to give Bullock something meaty to contend with.But the spotlight remains elsewhere. Michael Pitt (Justin) is an encyclopedia of forensics, displays an uneasiness that suggests his underlying desire to be embraced by the more confident, cocky Richard. Ryan Gosling is effectively smarmy and has better chemistry with Bullock than Chaplin does. Murder by numbers works as a solid character study and a decent time watching thriller. Despite average reviews and a disappointing box office record, this film does have a place and audience for the CSI type fans.

Richard Haywood (Ryan Gosling) is a wealthy and popular high school kid who befriends nerdy introvert Justin Pendleton (Michael Pitt). They plan out murders adding false forensics to baffle the police. They kill a woman to set up Richard's drug dealer janitor Ray Feathers (Chris Penn). Police detective Cassie Mayweather (Sandra Bullock) and her new partner Sam Kennedy (Ben Chaplin) investigate. They have a romantic relationship but it's not working out. She's the only one who suspects Richard and Justin, but nobody believes her. They then stage the janitor's suicide, and everybody wants to close the case. Justin is infatuated with fellow student Lisa Mills (Agnes Bruckner), but Richard sleeps with her. This and the fact that Cassie is closing in cause a rift in the partnership.Director Barbet Schroeder isn't able to instill the proper amount of tension. There are just a few too many side stories. He needs to concentrate on the three leads. The romantic entangle with Ben Chaplin's character is a distraction. It just makes her look weak. I think she could be damaged, but not necessarily weak. Ryan Gosling puts in a good creepy performance. Michael Pitt is likewise creepy but in a different way. Ben Chaplin's character is the most normal and the most expendable. The movie generally could use more excitement or scary thrills.