Murder mysteries based on forensic evidence have become a very popular theme in films over the past few years, even inspiring a television show, C.S.I. (Crime Scene Investigation). Now we have yet another entry into this genre with superstar Sandra Bullock as the lead investigator in the slightly above average crime-drama, Murder by Numbers.
The story unravels around a dead lady that has been found on a hillside. There is no mystery to the audience as to who did it - the two teenage boys who act like they don't know each other in school but secretly meet on a bluff have committed what they consider the perfect crime. The two teenagers are Richie "Rich" Heywood (Ryan Gosling), a spoiled brat smart aleck rich kid and Justin Pendleton (Michael Pitt), the quiet nerdy bookworm. They have a very close friendship, one that rings with homoerotic undertones that adds just one more bit of strangeness to the story. Once the body is found, homicide detective Cassie Mayweather (Sandra Bullock) is one of the first on the scene. She is a hard ass type of detective that is kind of the female version of any role Robert DeNiro has played a cop or an asshole. She has a new partner, Sam Kennedy (Ben Chaplin) who she consistently belittles. Not the most likeable person, but she has a skeleton in her closet that the film shows us in the form of flashbacks. The mystery of this film is seeing if the detectives can figure out how really did it, despite the great lengths the real killers went to steer the police in another direction. The film splits itself between Cassie's character' struggles and the camaraderie and rituals between the two boys. The story is a skillfully crafted series of twists and turns that keep us from diving into boredom, but never really keep us that interested in where this is going to go either. We know where this is going to go. Or do we?
The acting is decent, Bullock reestablishes herself as an actress by playing an unlikable character you feel a little sorry for. The best acting of the film is handled by Gosling and Pitt as the teenage murder masterminds who sit back and watch what they have done unfold. Chris Penn plays Ray the Police Chief with a typical made for TV. deliverance. No big scores in the acting area although it is clear Sandra Bullock will continue to command her salary. The scenery is beautiful as the coastal communities of San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay are used as the backdrop for this tense story.
Murder by Numbers is a slow moving murder mystery that is solved already but plays out as a psychological suspense. It is entertaining and keeps your attention, which makes it a success for this genre. Despite that, it does not excel and really excite us or explain enough to become truly interesting, so it is a slightly above average crime suspense film that people who loves those kinds of movies will love. The rest of the world can wait for tape/DVD if they are not a Bullock fan.
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