NUMB (2007) DVD

NUMBI have been a fan of Matthew Perry since I had first seen the show Friends years ago, I have always been a fan of that Chandler/David Spade type A-Hole humor. So I have followed him since the show has ended, I mean come on he did a movie with the great Bruce Campbell. I have bought almost all the films he has been in, and I will eventually buy them all. This is one of his newer films and I have to say hat it could be one of his best performances ever, and very dramatic role that some may not have expected of him.Hudson Milbank [Perry] has Depersonalization Disorder and he really believes that he is going crazy, if fact things don't feel or seem real to him. So he sets out on a course to find out how he can fix this problem that he believes was caused by smoking weed. In the midst of going to psychiatrist after psychiatrist he meets a girl that can actually make him feel real. Of course all his doctors are as crazy as him, in fact one is infatuated with him, and she is all over him. The man has to take a long personal journey that may or may not fix him, in fact that is what I like most about this film. By the end of it he is getting better but he is not quite fixed, I love when films end like that. Don't get me wrong this is not a fully drama type film, there is a lot of dark humor through out the film.Matthew Perry who also served as an Executive Producer did a great job with his role, he plays the role very held back and dry and that is just what the character needed. He played the role exactly like the director wanted from what I gather from special features, he did a great job. Kevin Pollak as usual does a great job as Perry's best friend and writing partner, he delivers a wonderful performance. Lynn Collins does a great job as the girl Perry's character is in love with, she is just as crazy as Hudson. But I have to say that my favorite from the supporting roles was Mary Steenburgen as the crazy doctor that he goes to see is great. She played the role so well that I actually believed her in that role, she flipped so quick it was great.Writer/director Harris Goldberg did an excellent job that from listening to the commentary he wrote the entire thing based off his life. He had this disorder and the same problems with his new found girl and doctors, and you can tell he put his heart into this. He is the guy that wrote both Deuce Bigalow films and With Out a Paddle so I can tell that this was his baby as far as all his films go. I think that this is a really good movie that warrants a purchase in my mind, everybody involved did a great job.If you are wanting to see a really good some what weird but some what funny movie this is the one for you. This is a great dramatic turn for Perry and I hope that he continues to switch between dramatic and comedy roles like this.

I really appreciated the movie about a subject not many people know about Depersonalization and Derealization. The people who gave it two stars wanted a comedy. DP is not funny! People who have it, want to be RID OF IT. I know because I have had it for a very long time.The movie articulates the problem with the depression, anxiety an dpre-occupation with DP.Mine was a classic case. It began when I was 22 years old after a car accident (mild concussion but scary) and a relationship loss. It happened during my last semester of college. Some advice for people who want to at least function, was that I had to focus and concentrate 3X as much as normal to finish college. I couldn't follow a conversation or study with DP.As far as this movie goes for representing Depersonalization/Derealization, for me it is the cycle of not continuing with your life, DP and DR being the pre-occupation of your life. DP takes over. It also interferes with your relationships, just like in the movie. I don't think I even told my husband I had DP. He would not have understood. I just dealt with it....I never even told my siblings.It took me awhile to adjust....I was always trying to get well, vitamins, minerals, etc. i was going in a never-ending cycle of psychosomatic symptoms all the time. Finally I realized I was doing this and the psychosomatic symptoms went away.The one time I was "clear", I felt like I had the 3X the concentration power. It takes a lot of energy to focus with DP.Everything the character, Hudsom Wilbanks, encounters in the movie described is how DP really is. The disinterest/depression and anxiety taking over your life.To describe what it feels like to someone who doesn't have DP, I see everything in one dimension, everything is flat and seems like a veil is between me and reality. I really don't know how I drive but I do. It also came with a three year major depression which I finally got out of. Mostly I feel it is related to anxiety. I try and protect myself as much as I can. I had a disruptive childhood, so that is probably where the propensity comes from.As in the movie, I have had the same response from physicians....I told one doctor about my symptons and diagnosis, he just kept talking about my eye appointment like I had not said anything to him at all. After all these years, I feel Depersonalization is generated byanxiety in the form of a body-chemical affecting nerve/muscle responses in the eye muscle and optic nerve. My depth perception reduces to a one dimension, non-intrusive and non-threatening visual experience.If I had any advice for anybody with Depersonalization it would be to seek help from a mental health professional. Not to be afraid. That is what DP thrives on is fear. You are not going to die from DP. It is your body protecting you. You need to get out and get on with your life, even with DP. Getting on with your life is protecting yourself.

I purchased this film as I am a big fan of Friends, and I am interested in the condition of Depersonalization Disorder portrayed in the film.This is not a bad film at all, Perry acquits himself well in the lead role. I was a bit worried it might be a somewhat depressing film, dealing with this quite heavy subject matter, but its really not too bad, and in places is quite funny. The funniest part in the film is where one of his psychiatrists herself appears to lose all self-control during an affair with Perry, and starts madly shouting out loud in a busy restaurant. All her knowledge of the human mind and positive thinking then seem to go out the window.There's food for thought in this film also. I read the book The Divided Self about personality disorder by renowned psychiatrist RD Laing, and some things in the film were reminiscent of things described in that book. For example a propensity to steal, being afraid of being too close to someone, even someone you are attracted too, an unnurturing mother figure, and a generally unsympathetic family background.It was a positive aspect of the film too, that the character managed to meet someone quirky who appreciated him for who he was - as he says in the film, he just needed somebody who could stand to be with him.This is another good notch on Perry's excellent career, I'm going to look up some of his other films.

Numb stars Matthew Perry as Hudson Milbank who is a screenwriter suffering from Depersonalization Disorder. The story is based on the life of Harris Goldberg who wrote and directed Numb.Perry is brilliant as Hudson. The character could have been self-pitying but Perry is a very charming actor so I felt myself liking Hudson who knew his own shortcomings and tried hard to overcome them.Lynn Collins, Kevin Pollak and Mary Steenburgen were very good in their roles.I loved the cinematography and music which made the film very easy to watch and I felt the movie was the correct length at 90 minutes. There was no pointless action.Despite the serious subject matter I laughed out loud quite a lot. The humour was subtle which I like.The extras include a commentary by writer and director Harris Goldberg, interviews with some of the cast including Perry and a theatrical trailer.The dvd is rated 15 because of strong language, sex references and mental illness theme.

numb is a perfect film for any one who has suffered or is suffering from a form of deperssion or anxity... it is also an insight for thous who know some one who does.the film it self is very clever it will make you laugh, cry, fall in love as you share the life of the main character.if none of the stuff i have said above apply to you, then take my word for it that this film is worth seeing no matter who you are.

Enjoyable film - slightly odd but in a good way...if that makes sense!!!!! very well acted by Perry ... he never fails to impress me with his acting talents. This is quite laugh out loud funny in places .. but it has a serious undercurrent related to a medical condition. over all very enjoyable.

Excellent film.. Especially for those suffering with the dreadful condition of DPD.It's not doomy and gloomy.quite funny in places without being distasteful.Would definitely recommend this film.