Numb (film)

Plot

When modestly successful screenwriter Hudson Milbank (Matthew Perry) 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 (Kevin Pollak) is disturbed by the sudden change in Hudson's demeanor and urges him to seek psychiatric help.

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

Hudson meets Sara (Lynn Collins), 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 (Mary Steenburgen), 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, United States of America, the film was shot on location in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and other locations in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, including Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Langley.

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:

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:

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: