Numb (2007 film)

Numb is a 2007 American dark romantic comedy film written and directed by Harris Goldberg. According to an interview with Goldberg on a bonus feature of the DVD release, he was inspired to write the screenplay by his own experience battling depersonalization disorder and clinical depression.

Numb
Original poster
Directed byHarris Goldberg
Produced byKirk Shaw
Written byHarris Goldberg
StarringMatthew Perry
Lynn Collins
Mary Steenburgen
Kevin Pollak
Music byRyan Shore
CinematographyEric Steelberg
Edited byJeff Wishengrad
Distributed byImage Entertainment
Release date
  • April 30, 2007 (2007-04-30) (Tribeca Film Festival)
  • April 18, 2008 (2008-04-18) (Canada)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

When modestly successful screenwriter Hudson Milbank descends into a strange mood in which he feels detached from the world around him and unable to connect with his surroundings, either physically or emotionally, he initially attributes it to a night of excessive cannabis use. His writing partner Tom is disturbed by the sudden change in Hudson's demeanor and urges him to seek psychiatric help.

Dr. Townsend diagnoses his condition as depersonalization disorder and prescribes various medications including Clonazepam, and when nothing seems to help Hudson consults Dr. Richmond, who also sees drugs, albeit divalproex sodium and others rather than Clonazepam, as the solution.

Hudson meets Sara, a beautiful young woman who finds him attractive and appealing and decides to introduce him to as many positive and compelling experiences as possible. Also trying to help him is yet another psychiatrist, Dr. Blaine, who initially resists his advances but ultimately has an affair with him before revealing she has serious issues of her own that require professional attention.

Cast

Production

Although the film is set in Los Angeles, the film was shot on location in Vancouver and other locations in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, including Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Langley.[1]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ryan Shore. The soundtrack includes songs by The Dandy Warhols, Ivy, Iron & Wine, Elliott Smith, Blondie, and Doves.

Numb/Kettle of Fish/Coney Island Baby: Music from the Motion Picture, composed by Ryan Shore, was released on June 17, 2008, and features the following tracks:[2][3]

  1. "Numb" 1:48
  2. "Sara" 2:25
  3. "Childhood" 1:24
  4. "Anti-Psychotic" 2:15
  5. "Cafe" 0:50
  6. "Chasing Sara" 2:36
  7. "Hospital Testing" 0:55
  8. "Winding the Watch" 1:49
  9. "Dad" 0:58
  10. "Jail" 1:55

Other songs featured in the film include:

  • The Dandy Warhols – "Cool Scene"
  • Ivy – "Edge of The Ocean (Duotone Mix)"
  • Ryan Shore – "Libman"
  • The Dandy Warhols – "Get Off"
  • Ivy – "Thinking About You"
  • Iron & Wine – "Naked as We Came"
  • Ryan Shore – "Sally's Gift"
  • Elliott Smith – "Say Yes"
  • Iron & Wine – "Each Coming Night"
  • The Doves – "Caught by the River"
  • Blondie – "Rapture"
  • The Dandy Warhols – "Bohemian Like You"
  • The Dandy Warhols – "Godless"
  • Elliott Smith – "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud"
  • Ryan Shore – "Numb"
  • Vibrolux – "Made in the Shade" (uncredited)[4]
  • Vibrolux – "I Need You" (uncredited)[4]

Release

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was shown at several other festivals, including Marché du Film, the Austin Film Festival, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and the Sedona International Film Festival before going into limited theatrical release in Canada on April 18, 2008. The DVD was released in the US on May 13.

Accolades

Harris Goldberg won the Gen Art Chicago Audience Award at the Gen Art Film Festival, and Ryan Shore was honored for Outstanding Achievement in Film Music at the Park City International Music Festival.

The film also won Best Feature at the Ojai International Film Festival. Other official selections include:

  • Tribeca International Festival 2007
  • Chicago Genart Film Festival 2007
  • Audience Award Winner, Austin Film Festival 2007
  • Sudbury International Cinefest 2007
  • Night Film Hollywood Film Festival 2007
  • Audience Award, Ojai International Film Festival
  • Winner, Sedona International Film Festival 2008
  • Closing Night Film, Newport International Film Festival 2008
  • Palm Springs International Film Festival 2008
  • Sarasota International Film Festival 2008
  • Beverly Hills International Film Festival 2008

References
  1. Hawco, Stephen (May 30, 2008). "Numb: DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". DVD Talk.
  2. "Numb: Soundtrack details". Soundtrack Collector.
  3. "Numb/Kettle of Fish/Coney Island Baby (2008) Soundtrack". Soundtrack.Net.
  4. Vibrolux - IMDb
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