Blog Critics has posted a review of Harris Goldberg's 'Numb'. Critic Rebecca Wright admits she was first interested in the film because of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry, but was surprised to see him playing such a different role.

"...the success of Numb rests squarely on the shoulders of Matthew Perry. Without his stunning ability to balance subtle humor with the depths of despair, the film would have been an unmitigated failure. By giving Hudson both neurotic and relaxed emotions — sometimes changing in mere seconds — combined with a vacant stare and not-completely-together appearance, Perry has created a believable and sympathetic character...."

Read the full review here.  

The Norman Script has posted a review of the 'Numb' DVD. Directed by Harris Goldberg, the film stars Matthew Perry as a writer struggling with depersonalization disorder. The review praises Perry for his performance.

"He gives a performance unlike any I'd seen from him in the past, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. He rarely smiles or cracks a joke, instead showing a much more introspective and versatile side of his acting chops."

Read the full review here. 

DVD Town ahs reviewed the 'Numb' DVD. Directed by Harris Goldberd and staring Matthew Perry, the film tells the story of screenwriter Hudson Milbank, who suffers from acute depersonalization disorder.

"Perry brings an everyman quality to the part, a neurotic and relaxed feeling combined into one single person. Some beard scruff, thrown together clothes and a sometimes-vacant stare in his eyes bring the character together."

Read the full reviewe here.

Numb casts Matthew Perry as Hudson, a struggling screenwriter who essentially wakes up one morning afflicted with acute depersonalization disorder - a condition that leaves Hudson feeling disconnected from reality and even his own body. After sinking into a depressive funk, Hudson finds himself falling for a perky development executive named Sarah (Lynn Collins) - although, not surprisingly, their fledgling relationship is inevitably threatened by Hudson's psychological problems. There's little doubt that Numb stands out as a refreshingly innovative spin on a contemporary romantic comedy, as writer/director Harris Goldberg infuses the film's primary relationship with a distinctly authentic vibe - something that stems primarily from Perry and Collins' undeniably charismatic work as the central characters (ie these two have genuine chemistry with one another). It's worth noting that the movie does suffer following their expected fake break-up (which unfortunately comes at the midway point), with the subsequent emphasis on Hudson's efforts at getting better essentially transforming Numb into an altogether different sort of film. And while there's plenty within the movie's second half that works - excluding Hudson's egregiously silly dalliance with an older psychiatrist (Mary Steenburgen's Cheryl) - there's simply no overlooking the fact that one's interest slowly-but-surely wanes once Collins' character exits the proceedings. Still, Numb generally succeeds as an intimate look at one man's struggle with mental illness - yet it remains virtually impossible not to wish that Goldberg had focused exclusively on Hudson and Sarah's surprisingly compelling coupling.

out of

LOS ANGELES, May 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Four-time Emmy-nominated actor Matthew Perry, along with Academy Award(R: 71.35, +0.44, +0.62%)-winner Mary Steenburgen and actor/comedian Kevin Pollak, star in the romantic comedy "Numb," which will be released on DVD and digital May 13 by Image Entertainment (NASDAQ:DISK). In addition to the home entertainment and digital rights, Image also has secured the broadcast, pay-per-view and VOD rights to the film.

Writer/Director Harris Goldberg ("Deuce Bigelow: European Gigolo") tells his tragically funny, autobiographical story through Hudson Milbank (Matthew Perry), a depressed screenwriter who is diagnosed with "depersonalization disorder," which is a sense that everything around him is unreal. Desperate to feel like himself again, Hudson seeks out every therapy imaginable, running the L.A. shrink circuit as he plummets further into the depths of hopelessness and detachment.

As he struggles to cope by watching the soothing Golf Channel, shoplifting to get a shot of adrenaline and surviving a cognitive behaviorist with her own issues (played brilliantly by Mary Steenburgen), Hudson's long suffering writing partner (Kevin Pollak, "A Few Good Men," "The Usual Suspects") fears they'll never work again. Things start to change when Hudson meets Sara (Lynn Collins, "The Lake House"), whose relaxed ways and big-hearted spirit make his race to recovery imperative. But even then his relationship becomes threatened by his powerlessness to take on life's risks as he seeks out more extreme measures to get better. He knows she can save him, and she knows he has to save himself.

The Desert Sun has just posted an interview with 'Numb' director Harris Goldberg. He goes the circumstances led him to write the film and his casting choice.

"(Perry) wasn't my original choice," said Goldberg. "I was going for a dramatic actor, but he was so passionate."

Goldberg was at both screening of Numb at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Read the rest of the interview here.

Numb will have it's North American theatrical release in the winter of 2008. Peace Arch Entertainment Group gained the distribution rights in a four picture deal with Insight Film Studios.

"We are delighted with the acquisition of these four films from Insight Film Studios," said Berry Meyerowitz, the president of Peace Arch Home Entertainment.

Read the full article here.

Numb will be making its regional premiere at the Austin Film Festival on Friday, October 12th. Director Harris Goldberg will be in attendance as the film is part of the festival's Marquee Screenings. Numb is in good company playing alongside Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Lars and the Real Girl starring Ryan Gosling and Reservation Road starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly.

For more info on the screening and Austin Film Festival click here.