The Number 23 Film Title Sequence Evaluation

NEW LINE CINEMA presents
CONTRAFILM/FIRM FILMS production
a JOEL SCHUMACHER film
JIM CARREY
THE NUMBER 23
VIRGINIA MADSEN
LOGAN LERMAN
DANNY HUSTON
RHONA MITRA
LYNNE COLLINS
MARK PELLEGRINO
PATRICIA BELCHER
ED LAUTER
casting by MALIPINN, CSA
music by HARRY GREGSON WILLIAMS
associate producer LINDA FIELDS HILL
costume designer DANIEL ORLANDI
editor MARK STEVENS
production designer ANDREW LAWS
director of photography MATTHEW LIBATIQUE, ASC
co-producer FERNLEY PHILLIPS
executive producer MIKE DRAKE
excutive producers TOBY EMMERICH RICHARD BRENER KEITH GOLDBERG BROOKLYN WEAVER ELI RICHBOURG
produced by BEAU FLYNN/TRIPP VINSON
written by FERNLEY PHILLIPS
directed by JOEL SCHUMACHER
23
The first film that i have chosen to look at is 'The Number 23' directed by Joel Schumacher. I feel that the way in which the titles are presented in the opening credits are very effective and that they compliment the context of the film extremely well. First of all, the typeface that is used to present the credits is very simple and has the appearance of the type of font that a typewriter would use (black). This is relevant to the film as later on, a typewriter plays an important part in the plot of the film. Often as the names appear on the screen, the letters of the words will be jumbled and will change around. As well as this there are often other random numbers (especially the number 23) and words appearing in the same frame whilst the titles are up (all which are relevant to the plot). Both of these things bring an element of chaos to the sequence and begin to give the viewer an idea of the upcoming themes of the film. Not only this, but the misalignment of the text, as well as all of the scribbling and jumbled letters/numbers represents the protagonist's OCD and mental health issues that are displayed in the film. Next, blood splatters and the colour of red appear frequently throughout the sequence. I feel that this presents an element of horror, as well as indirectly telling the viewer that the film isn't for the faint hearted. Next, the cuts between each of the title frames tend to be very sharp and quick. In my opinion, this increases the tension as a viewer as it does not give you the opportunity to anticipate when the next title is going to appear.