Murder by Numbers is a 2002 psychological thriller film produced and directed by Barbet Schroeder. It stars Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt. It is loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb case.
The film was screened out of competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.
Richard Haywood, a wealthy and popular high-schooler, secretly teams up with another rich kid in his class, brilliant nerd Justin 'Bonaparte' Pendleton. His erudition, especially in forensic matters, allows them to plan elaborately perfect murders as a perverse form of entertainment. Meeting in a deserted resort, they drink absinthe, smoke, and joke around, but pretend to have an adversarial relationship while at school. Justin in particular behaves strangely, writing a paper about how crime is freedom and vice versa, and creating a composite photograph of himself and Richard.
The young men kill a woman and set up Richard's marijuana supplier, janitor Ray Feathers, as a psychotic serial killer. They then incinerate all evidence. The case is assigned to Detective Cassie Mayweather and her new partner, Sam Kennedy, who just transferred from the vice squad. They work together well, and begin a romantic relationship very early on in their partnership. Footprints found at the crime scene lead to Richard Haywood, who has an alibi. Cassie becomes seemingly obsessed with the idea that Richard is guilty, and refuses to pursue the case from other angles. This displeases Captain Rod Cody and Cassie's vindictive ex, Assistant D.A. Al Swanson, who becomes nervous due to the clout held by Richard's parents.
Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals)
Ike Willis (guitar, vocals)
Mike Keneally (guitar, synthesizer, vocals)
Bobby Martin (keyboards, vocals)
Ed Mann (percussion)
Walt Fowler (trumpet)
Bruce Fowler (trombone)
Paul Carman (alto saxophone)
Albert Wing (tenor saxophone)
Kurt McGettrick (baritone saxophone)
Scott Thunes (bass)
Chad Wackerman (drums)
Eric Buxton (vocals)
Mr. Sting (vocals)
Performance by Sting
How'd he get in the show?
The very thought of you makes
My heart sing
Like an April breeze
On the wings of spring
And you appear in all your splendour
My one and only love
The shadows fall
And spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night
While you're in my arms
I feel your lips so warm and tender
My one and only love
The touch of your hand is like heaven
A heaven that I've never known
The blush on your cheek
Whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own
You fill my eager heart with
Such desire
Every kiss you give
Sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender
My one and only love
The blush on your cheek
Whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own
You fill my eager heart with
Such desire
Every kiss you give
Sets my soul on fire
I give myself in sweet surrender
My one and only love
My one and only love
Written by Sting & Andy Summers
Once that you've decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art
There really isn't any need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someone's coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess
It's murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less
Because murder is like anything you take to
It's a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore
Because it's murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our greatest killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name
But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand
Because it's murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your A, B, C, D, E
Once that you've decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art
There really isn't need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someone's coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess
It's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less
Because murder is like anything you take to
It's a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore
Because it's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our famous killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name
But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand
Once that you've decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art
There really isn't any need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someone's coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess
chorus
Because it's murder by numbers
one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers
one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less
Because murder is like anything you take to
It's a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore
(chorus)
Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our famous killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name
But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand
Because it's murder by numbers
one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers
one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABCDE
One two three
One two three
One two three
Because it's murder by numbers
one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers
one two three
Murder ascends its beautiful face and sides with me
Everlasting sound is sweet
All I wanted to not be alone
But still you always leave me
I want your eyes fixed on me
So I can watch them as you scream
And you were so beautiful
But now you'll rot and I'll celebrate to your hate
And no one will see your face
And no one will dare speak your name
I won't remember your eyes
I won't remember the jealousy
What choice is left for me?
What choice is left for me?
This is a war I must take
To wash these hands clear from choices that I've made
This will be your saving grace
Oh, I'm not impressed
Still not impressed
I'm not impressed
Still not impressed
Now you'll rot
Now you'll rot
Now you'll rot
Now you'll rot
I won't remember your eyes
I won't remember the jealousy
I won't remember your face
And I'll forever curse your name
Curse your name
Curse your name
I want your eyes fixed on me
So I can watch them as you scream
Once that you've decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art
There really isn't any need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someones coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess
'Cause its murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less
For murder is like anything you take to
Its a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore
'Cause its murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
And you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our greatest killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name
And you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your a, b, c, d, e
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
[Lyrics and Melodies by Mark Boals / Music by Virjil Donati]
[2002 Boalsongs BMI / Gildon Music BMI]
The silicon city
Would like to welcome you in
But there is no pity
And no one is your friend
Be careful how you connect
Data combines in so many ways
So many numbers get out of place
Digital crime can happen to you
Your numbers taken by somebody new
Just when you think no one€™s watching you
And all your systems are safe
A warning light means it€™s already too late
Now your computer won€™t understand
Anything you try to say
An empty screen
No way to communicate
Now you are nobody
Your life has been taken away
Now you just keep falling
Like you€™re a victim of fate
Every system is failing you
Run out of water, run out of food
It€™s hard to breathe, it doesn€™t look good
Losing your senses, losing your mind
Silence so loud is your lullaby
Just when you think no one€™s watching you
And all your systems are safe
A warning light means it€™s already too late
Just when you think no one€™s watching you
And all your systems are safe
A warning light means it€™s already too late
Now your computer won€™t understand
Anything you try to say
An empty screen
No way to communicate