Murder by Numbers

It's not often Sandra Bullock appears in a dramatic role like the one here, which is unfortunate as it turns out Ms. Bullock is a very capable actress. In Murder by Numbers, she is a cynical detective, assigned to partner with a former vice cop just up from the ranks after passing the necessary tests. She and the rookie team up to solve the murder of a young woman, a case where clues are contradictory and everything leads either to a dead end or a too-obvious conclusion.

There's no mystery here as to who did it or why. The question is: How and when will the cops ever figure it out? The rookie comes to the expected conclusions, but also shows bursts of brilliance that gain the grudging approval of Bullock's veteran. And Bullock herself fights against a case that seems difficult, but turns out to have a satisfying solution she can't accept because it doesn't answer her own hunches gelled from both experience and a haunting personal past.

The story here is clever, and the merging of a side plot with the whole is both smooth and satisfying. I suspect Murder by Numbers won't draw huge audiences, but it frankly deserves them. As an aside, Bullock's performance is fine, but watch out for the two teenage boys. It's probable that at least one of them is on his way to stardom.

Family Suitability: Murder by Numbers has an R rating for violence and implied violence. The murder scenes are not pretty, and the depiction of violence is graphic at times. I wouldn't recommend this movie for children, but if the individual isn't particularly sensitive, 14 is probably old enough to see and enjoy the show.

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