Murder By Numbers

Old Rope for new money as Sandra Bullock’s tough crime scene investigator finds herself solving the brutal murder of a young woman by two über-intelligent high school students – the preening, popular Richard (Gosling), and nerdy outcast Justin (an incredibly impressive Michael Pitt). Together, this unlikely pair confuse the police with false clues and generate much in the way of homoerotic overtones.

Though the film touches on post-Columbine malaise, as the latest offering from Barbet Schroeder (Extreme Measures) this is best consumed as a stylish pot-boiler. Granted, the ending seems a bit tacked on, and the gaps in logic are rivalled only by those in Saudi Arabia’s defence, but this is never anything less than watchable.

Meanwhile Bullock’s belligerent and maverick cop, if cliched, is a much better role for her than usual, although she can’t quite shake the nice girl-next-door image to carry it off completely. Still, this is decent Friday night fare. How often can you say that about a Sandra Bullock vehicle?