Murder by Numbers (2002): Dir: Barbet Schroeder / Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt, Chris Penn: Clever psychological thriller about the planning and dispatching of murder. The killers in question are two high school students who are at the top of their education yet they share a bond that has them kidnap a young woman. Her body is found the following day and Sandra Bullock is assigned to the case along with her by-the-book partner played by Ben Chaplin. She is known for her instincts in solving cases but she is burdened by a past incident. Effective and provocative setup travels by formula until it hits a surprising conclusion. Director Barbet Schroeder details the film with information. He previously made another superb thriller called Single White Female. Excellent work by Bullock as a troubled police woman who ultimately brings down the case with grim discoveries. Chaplin is merely there for romantic possibilities in a role that is complete cardboard. Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt steal the film as the teenage suspects whose highlights comes at the conclusion where information takes an interesting turn and in unexpected ways. Chris Penn also shows up but he has been more interesting in other films. Well made thriller that tackles issues regarding teenagers and media influence that seem to be increasing by the numbers. Score: 8 ½ / 10

Übermensch (Beyond-Man), Wagner and Nietzsche were not enough for Mr.Tony Gayton, the writer of the script. He added the completely different subplot about Bullock's personal problems. It was like watching two merged movies. Anyway I saw some fine acting and a good cinematography: with a kind of "fan cut" the movie could arrive easily to 9/10. I'd delete completely Sam's character and I'd not done Richard (Gosling) the favor of letting him die by accident. My ending would have been on the double arrest after the failed double suicide. Getting to keep movie's duration under 100 minutes. I'd cut all flashbacks, too. Flashback is EVIL! I had fun with this movie. I will distribute the fan-edition through illegal channels. Keep in touch :)

'Murder by Numbers' is a pretty run-of-the-mill sort of thriller: two spoilt, rich teenagers decide to commit a murder and see if they're smarter than the cops. Unfortunately for them, the 'cops' are Sandra Bullock and Ben Chaplin - and these two just won't let go.So it's a cat and mouse sort of game between the two pairs. Like I say, it doesn't sound like anything that special... and it's not. However, the film is raised above average by the stars. Sandra Bullock acts out of her 'kookie-comedy' kind of comfort zone. You may expect her to fall over or hit her head on a frying pan, but she never does - she plays it straight all the way through. Plus the two kids are kind of creepy and you will be rooting for Sandra and Ben to bring them to justice.And that's about it. If you like either Sandra Bullock or a better-than-average cops hunting killers kind of film, you should like this - at least enough to give you a couple of hours entertainment.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

This film is almost totally ruined by the way the story is dominated by the neurotic behavior of the lead actress. She is a senior police officer investigating a horrific murder where the 2 suspects are a couple of clever gay students who commit a murder for fun and are trying to get away with the perfect crime. By virtue of very strong performances of the two gays this story would be compelling had it been left on its own. But -no- the film makers have to make the major plot the lunatic mixed up nympho-maniac aforesaid police woman. Also instead of being brave enough to betray the gays for what they are the movie brings in some f-a-g hag to have sex with both the gays.....