Mr. Brooks Reviews

• Invest in Things People Need - Water and Cemeteries

  
  By A96JD9312DHWC on 2007-11-02
  Mr. Brooks has a Man of the Year award, a loving family, some seemingly-mundane hobbies, and a little nickname the papers like to use calling him: "The Thumbprint Killer." Only they don't call HIM the killer; they just refer to some of the handy work he seems to have left behind and this addiction keeps him killing. He doesn't like to do it, mind you, going to AA meetings because he is trying to keep his addiction in check. Still, an addiction is an addiction is an addiction and relapses to occur. His latest relapse, a dancer he sees and her lover, change things when something changes in his pattern.
  Namely, a loose end comes to visit and builds a world within his world by asking him to show off what killing is made of.
  And that's where things get started.
  
  When I first rented the movie, I didn't expect that much. Costner is oftentimes hit-or-miss and, frankly, I was afraid he would miss in this role. Happily I have to say I was wrong, with Costner making an excellent killer and also kicking it in a dual role. One of the many things Costner showcases in this movie is the way he can play with the mentality within a role - here Mr. Brooks has an imaginary friend we are lucky enough to see and the two of them share laughs and plans and suspicions on what is what. Honestly these are some of the best scenes in the business, making you really like Mr. Brooks and appreciate his humor. Costner does great work making Mr. Brooks a sympathetic character, too, with his murderous life balanced well by a family he sees to really love.
  
  Along the way, we pick up a counterpart to Costner, one Demi Moore, and she does some good work in this venture, too. I was equally surprised by this because I didn't expect to be able to take her seriously in any sort of way as an officer, much less an officer with a plethora of secrets. One of those things is a little bit of a distraction, mind you, one called The Hangman, but that just seems to be a little piece of a giant puzzle trying to keep the audience engaged.
  I'm glad the writers at least remembered that Mr. Brooks was the focal point of the tale.
  
  For people wanting some hardcore murder, this is a mainstream piece and doesn't offer up a thick helping of doom. It does have its moments and it does have its beauty, and it should still offer up something to that side of the spectrum. People who don't like graphic horror should be able to keep on keeping on with their watching, able to love Costner and able to watch some death together.
  I liked the movie - it had a lot to give to - and think people should check it out.
  
  

• "Mr. Smith, before I was the thumb print killer, I've killed lots of people lots of different ways "

  
  By A2UZLIH3BSGJ3N on 2007-10-24
  This by far is Kevin Costner's best film he has been in about 15 years. Costner plays "Mr. Brooks" who leads a double life. On the outside he is a successful businessman and loving family man, on the inside, he struggles with his addiction, his addiction to murder. For about two years he has been able to resist until he listens to his alter ego (played devilishly by William Hurt) to play again. He then goes into the apartment of a couple and proceeds to kill both of them.
  The next day he is visited by Mr. Smith, who blackmails him to take him to his next killing. All the while he is being followed by a detective trying to solve the "thumb print murders" and juggles his personal life which is thrust into turmoil. His daughter "drops out of school" and is pregnant, but is that all of it? Soon he discovers she shares the same addiction and sickness as he does and out of compassion "fixes" her situation as well as his own predicament. What to do with and about Mr. Smith? Fulfilling his promise to Mr. Smith he takes him on his next job and decides he wants Mr. Smith to end his suffering and make him disappear, but is this the true end of Mr. brooks?
  This one will keep you on your toes, on the edge of your seat and guessing until the end. I haven't personally seen a film executed this well in many years, by far the best Costner has done in a decade, and I wish he would do more films of this caliber more often. A great script, cast and great performances played deliciously by both Costner and Hurt. This one is not to be missed, and I promise you won't be disappointed.
  
  
  

• An odd, disturbing and unrealistic film, but compelling nevertheless.

  
  By AZCDCO6KK2T81 on 2007-12-17
  Thanks to an outstanding performance by Kevin Costner, this "been there done that" psycho-killer film is worth watching.
  
  We are all very familiar with Costner's "gosh gee-whiz" persona in his early career with Field of Dreams and Silverado and later at playing either a villain, as in A Perfect World, or a very flawed and unfriendly hero as he was in Waterworld, but we have never quite seen him as such a complex psychopathic villain as in he is in "Mr. Brooks."
  
  Here Costner takes a stab (pun intended) as a serial killer trying to stop his murderous addiction, but ends up being blackmailed by a witness, oddly played by comedian Dane Cook, to his last murder. Unbelievably, he is turned on to murder after seeing Costner's Mr. Brooks do away with his neighbors and wants him to take him under his wing or he will go to the police with his proof that puts Brooks at the scene of his last murder. Mr. Brooks decides to string this guy along until he is no longer useful and that is where some really decent plot twists take place. One significant plot twist is that Mr. Brooks' daughter, well played by Daniella Panabacker, is accused of murder back at her college dorm. Is she innocent or just like her father?
  
  Mr. Brooks is a compelling film that has a few distracting and significant problems. This film is both graphic in its violence and sexual scenes, but neither seems really gratuitous. That's a plus for me. In addition, Costner's brilliant performance is absolutely captivating, especially to his long-term followers who have never seen him in a role like this one. He has definitely grown as an actor and this is one juicy role for him. The performances by all others in this film, including Demi Moore's are good, if nothing special. The problems come from some unbelievable elements within the plot and one actor who is a great distraction, William Hurt.
  
  Plot Problems:
  
  (1) What are the odds that a neighbor who witnesses a murder would get so turned on by it that he would contact the killer to seek "training"? That is just too far-fetched even for me.
  
  (2) Why does Demi Moore's character of a cop have to also be a millionaire, be going through a divorce, and have a convicted killer be after her? It is all just too much for this story. The film comes close to sinking under its own unnecessarily heavy plot weight.
  
  (3) The film comes off as being too contrived like many of Alfred Hitchcock's films had been. All enjoyable, but you feel very manipulated afterwards.
  
  Acting Problems:
  
  (1) Dane Cook as the guy blackmailing Mr. Brooks to teach him murder is never quite convincing in the role, but perhaps that is because his role, as a whole, is just too far beyond belief to take seriously anyhow. To his credit he does play "slimy" pretty well.
  
  (2) I swear to God that if I never see William Hurt in this kind of role again, I'd die a happy man. He's done this bad guy with no conscience thing to death in his older years that he now comes off as a parody of himself. He is a distraction in what should have been a key and captivating role as Mr. Brooks' alter ego convincing him to keep on killing (no one sees or hears him but Mr. Brooks). An unknown actor might have been a better choice for this role.
  
  Well, in spite of its serious flaws, this was still a riveting thriller and well worth your viewing. In a year of so-so films and no big standout performances, Kevin Costner's work here is Oscar nomination worthy (and about time too).
  
  

• smart serial killer; dumb cop

  
  By A18758S1PUYIDT on 2007-10-25
  If it hadn't been for the dumbest cop ever born (the one played by Demi Moore), this would have gotten one more star.
  Anyway, Costner does a marvelous job as a tormented serial killer addicted to thrill killing while also holding down a great job and doting on his wife and daughter. The daughter, however, may be a budding serial killer herself, and he wants to save her from becoming like her father.
  William Hurt also is in full creepy mode as a manifestation of Costner's dueling personality, while comedian Dane Cook plays a would-be killer who wants Costner to tutor him in how to do it and not get caught.
  There is some intrusive techno music and a Matrix-like hallway shoot-out that could have been done better. However, these are quibbles. I had a bigger problem with Moore's distracting divorce battle, impulsiveness, and general arrogance.
  
  

• Mr. Brooks...

  
  By A33PNAQ33DGBJG on 2007-10-26
  Please stay out of my neighborhood. If you are looking for entertainment with excellent acting, this movie is for you. Kevin Costner and William Hurt are in their prime in this movie. The content of the movie is about a man obessesed with killing and then finds out he has passed that obessesion down to his daughter. I am apprehensive to say it is a good movie because of the content but as far as acting and drama with suspense...it is a good movie.
  
  
• That's Earl, Folks!
  By A39IBJB2PBVC7I on 2008-02-17
  The scene is now a film staple; tormented souls in a circle, seated on uncomfortable folding chairs - a 12-step meeting. Earl Brooks, Costner, recently named Portland's "Man Of The Year," stands up and announces that he is an addict. Moments later, having wandered away for some coffee, he is confronted by his visible/invisible alter ego Marshall, William Hurt, who says, "You are such a hypocrite, why don't you just tell them you killed two people last night and it felt great?"
  
  Mr. Brooks is a smart, dressy, psychological crime drama that is well cast, written, and acted. The picture holds your interest by successfully walking the fine line between implausibility and creepiness. Remember Marg Helgenberger, KC in the underappreciated TV show, China Beach? As Mrs. Brooks she seems blissfully disinterested in her husband's implausibly explained absences. As to Mr. Brooks himself, he models knowledge of tradecraft a world-class assassin would admire, the attention to detail, thoroughness, and commitment to excellence are inspiring. But behind this buttoned-up methodology lurks real passion; after the film's first murder he's consumed by waves of euphoria, endorphins flood - the stuff of addiction.
  
  The film's most interesting dynamic is between the warring angels of Mr. Brooks himself; played out in conversations between Costner and Hurt. Costner has remorse and truly wants to stop, Hurt is all id, gleefully celebrating and encouraging the dark hunger. While these two argue, they are also chummy and good-natured, frequently cracking each other up - after all, they've been close friends for a long time. Casting plays a large role is the success of this relationship. Costner, long known for leaving in the hangers when putting on shirts, presents a lacquered façade that works perfectly here, hiding the turmoil within. Hurt, who has adopted "less is more" as his personal mantra, is ideally suited to the task of embodying something less than human but more than marsh gas.
  
  The second act is a little clogged, one backstory too many. The voyeur that witnessed Brooks in action wants to piggyback for kicks. The Detective, Demi Moore, who's been tracking the "Thumbprint Killer" for years, is going through a nightmarish divorce. Two psychotic killers, sworn to vengeance against her, wander on and off the set. However, divergence makes way for razor sharp convergence in act 3.
  
  The dichotomy torturing Mr. Brooks is ultimately resolved at home. He is a devoted husband and loving father. But what if he has passed along his broken, twisted genes; what would it mean to love and care for a murderer? He sees himself in his daughter; does she see herself in him? In the final scene of this movie, I found myself rooting for Mr. Brooks - despite everything I'd seen him do. That is the truest measure of the picture's success. A film like this would normally be presented through the eyes of Detective Atwood, Moore, this was much more intriguing. Highly recommended.
  
  
• How can a thriller be this dull?
  By A2GPEV42IO41CI on 2007-06-01
  As the movie opens, Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) is being honored as the Man of the Year. A successful businessman with a loving family, Earl is a pillar of his community. What people don't know is that Earl has a secret: He can't stop killing people. He knows he's addicted to killing, but he also knows he won't stop, because the little voice in his head (William Hurt) keeps egging him on. So, Mr. Brooks has it all - family, money, and a little hobby that makes him happy - until someone sees him commit his latest murder.
  
  I thought this movie would never end. It just kept going and going and I honestly hated every minute of it. It was so crushingly one-note, and that one note was boring. All of the actors play it deadpan; there's no excitement or fear or drama. It's just unremitting blandness all the way. Costner, of course, has often been accused of being a wooden actor, but this time it isn't his fault. His character is completely without feeling; he is actually dull. Demi Moore is featured in one of several tiresome subplots, playing the detective on Mr. Brooks' trail; she's angry, unappealing, and poker-faced. We never learn why Mr. Brooks is a killer or why he has an alter ego talking to him all the time, and none of the storylines are resolved; the movie just ends. Granted, there are a few scenes that made me jump, but that was because of loud noises - especially the gunshots. Way too loud. I kept hoping the plot would get better, but it didn't. Too bad; it should have been great.
  
  
• nice spin on the serial killer formula
  By A19ZXK9HHVRV1X on 2007-06-04
  ***1/2
  
  Bruce A. Evans' "Mr. Brooks" deserves praise for at least bringing a certain degree of freshness to the well-worn serial-killer genre.
  
  Kevin Costner portrays Earl Brooks, a devoted husband and father and the recent recipient of the Man of the Year Award from the city of Portland, Oregon for his work as a successful businessman. He also just happens to be a cold-blooded murderer, known to the media and the law enforcement community as the Fingerprint Killer, so named because he leaves that telltale sign behind at each of his crime scenes (we must assume it is not his own fingerprint, although the script never actually spells that out for us). As the movie opens, Brooks hasn't killed anyone for two years, having chosen to resist the temptation by attending AA meetings and focusing on his wife and daughter. However, lately, Brooks has begun to succumb to the pull of his "addiction," once again allowing his darker angel to lure and goad him into seeking out unsuspecting victims as a means of alleviating the pressure.
  
  What separates "Mr. Brooks" from all other previous serial-killer thrillers is that it has chosen to actually incarnate that bad angel on screen in the form of an unnerving William Hurt, who appears by Brooks' side at strategic moments in the movie to advise, berate and commiserate with Brooks as he contemplates his next homicidal action. Generally, in these movies, we rarely get a sense of the intense mental struggle taking place within the deeply disturbed, psychotic mind of the killer. Through the use of Hurt's character (referred to by Brooks as Marshall), however, the writers, Evans and Raynold Gideon, are able to verbalize that conflict and show us the two warring factions co-existing within this single warped psyche. Despite the absurdity of it, Brooks truly believes that his "condition" can be "cured" if he regularly and faithfully attends a self-help group for alcoholics. Thus, against our better judgment, perhaps, we find ourselves almost feeling sorry for the man, a position one rarely finds oneself in in a tale such as this one.
  
  The complex plot also includes a wannabe young killer (Dane Cook) who blackmails Brooks into taking him out on his next killing spree; an expert homicide investigator (Demi Moore) who was investigating the Fingerprint Killer case until the trail turned cold; and Brooks' own college-aged daughter, Jane (Danielle Panabaker), who may have inherited her dad's killer "gene" and might just possibly have a murder or two of her own to account for.
  
  The storyline may not always pass the credibility threshold (particularly in the suggestion that psychosis might have a genetic component and can be passed down from generation to generation), but the cleverness of the approach and the genuine creepiness of many of the scenes go a long way towards mitigating the imperfections. Moreover, Costner, Hurt, Moore and Cook give spellbinding performances as the killer and the various persons and pseudo-persons caught in the bloody web he has woven.
  
  Working as a team, Costner and Hurt bring complementary opposing qualities to their roles which, when taken together, add up to a single, well-rounded character. In a complex variation on the Jekyll and Hyde, Faust and Mephistopheles dichotomy, Costner conveys the poignancy and vulnerability of the "good" Brooks, while Hurt shows us the steely-eyed cold-heartedness of the "bad" Brooks. Yet, there are times when even those roles switch, as when Costner coldly laughs at the prospect of a victim's potential suffering and Hurt provides words of comfort to a hurting Costner.
  
  Together, the two talented stars create a complex symbiotic relationship that lifts "Mr. Brooks" several rungs above the ordinary.
  
  
• Mr. Brooks
  By A21VR7M8O55EF6 on 2007-06-12
  Mr. Earl Brooks is an outwardly successful businessman, the owner of his own company, a philanthropist, and the Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year". Brooks is also a serial murderer, known as the "thumbprint killer." For two years, he has been on good behavior, but, goaded on by his alter-ego Marshall, he resumes his hidden life on the night that he is honored as man of the year by surprising a man and woman caught in flagrante delecti with their shades deliberately left open. "Hello", says Mr. Brooks as he shoots them. A neighboring voyeur, "Mr. Smith" captures the act on camera and blackmails Brooks by getting Brooks to take him on his next murder. A brilliant high-strung detective, Tracy Atwood, in the midst of an expensive divorce is on to "Mr. Smith" and through him she hopes to catch the thumbprint killer.
  
  The story becomes complex with several subplots. Brooks's daughter Jane drops out of college, apparently due to pregnancy, but in fact she has become a killer herself. Brooks uses his own substantial skill at murder to get his daughter out of her predicament. Brooks tries to frame detective Atwood by killing her husband and his divorce lawyer in the presence of the predictably timid Mr. Smith. "Hello" says Mr. Brooks again in a murder that proves to be the undoing of Mr. Smith. Detective Atwood, while meeting her match in Brooks, solves and resolves another case in a violent shoot-out scene in a seedy hotel.
  
  This movie kept me absorbed and interested. There are excellent moments with mean streets, violent tempers, and evil people. Kevin Costner does well with Mr. Brooks, in his mild-mannered Clark Kent exterior which masks the lurking killer underneath. Marg Helgenberger plays Brooks' unsuspecting and lovely wife Emma. Demi Moore is effective as the hard yet vulnerable detective Atwood. Dane Cook is an appropriately slimy Mr. Smith. But the best acting is by William Hurt who, as Brooks' inner voice Marshall goads on Brooks in a chilling manner. I thought this movie a better-than-average thriller, particularly as it portrays the relationship between Brooks and Marshall.
  
  Robin Friedman
  
  
  
  
  
• Half Good, Half Bad
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2007-06-04
  It started off really interesting in an American Psycho kind of way, but then it just seemed like everyone was or wanted to be a killer.
  
  I must say that Kevin Costner and William Hurt put on a very good show. Demi Moore and Dane Cook are simply miscast in my opinion. Danielle Panabaker plays the same character she does on the television show Shark, but she is cute as a button, so she has that going for her. Mr. Brooks never really bored me, but some of the dialogue and situations seemed too unrealistic. The hallway shootout towards the end is a fine example of this. When did Demi enter the Matrix? You'll know what I mean when you see it.
  
  Overall, not a bad film, but one to wait for on DVD.
  
  
• Not Bad
  By A2MNMZMM6BGLTA on 2007-09-07
  I thought this movie was pretty entertaining. Costner finally finds a good movie to star in. I was skeptical of Dane Cook being in this but he does a good job and is perfect for his part. William Hurt is also very good as Mr. Brooks bad angel. I thought Demi Moore was ok but to be honest I thought that her entire part could have been left out though I think they were going with her bing the Clarice Starling to Costners Lechter.
  
  I recommend it. It was creepy, smart and had some pretty funny things in it to break up the tension.
  
  
• More Like Mr. Right !!
  By A2L217XJBJXPWZ on 2007-09-14
  I have longed for an interesting movie about a serial killer with depth since watching Silence of the Lambs in 1991. Its 2007 and I have finally seen that longing fufilled. Only a 16 year wait. Now if only they could make a good vampire movie !
  
  Mr. Brooks was emotionally delicious and satisfying. And the music was perfect for the imagery and the atmosphere, and for whatever else you could want.
  
  I write this empassioned review several months after seeing the film. I still get excited about having seen it every time its mentioned. And I hear there are sequals to be made. How devine ! I hope the Veils are on those soundtracks as well.
  
  This movie lends itself well to :
  
  Dexter ( Showtime series on DVD )
  Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay ( Book show was based on )
  VNV Nation - Testament ( CD that feels emotionally right for the subject )
  
  
• A Fascinating Twist on the Subject of Addiction
  By A328S9RN3U5M68 on 2007-10-25
  MR. BROOKS is a surprisingly good film, one that from the response of critics and audiences at the time of the theatrical release last Spring might make the casual viewer pass by the DVD. But step into this strange world of the successful, philanthropic, loving husband and father Mr. Brooks and discover one of the more clever twists on the themes of addiction and serial killings, courtesy of a smart script by writer/director Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon.
  
  Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner, in what may be his best role) has it all: wealth, fame, Man of the Year, a gorgeous home in Portland, a stunning wife Emma (Marg Helgenberger), a perky college freshman daughter Jane (Danielle Panabaker) - and a secret: though he has not been active for two year while attending AA meeting for his addiction to killing, Brooks has a history of being a serial 'Thumbprint' killer. Brooks is accompanied in his darker life by an alter ego Marshall (William Hurt) who encourages him to take up his old addiction to killing 'because he is so good at it'. Brooks follows the need and performs another staged murder of a couple during intercourse. Mistake - he forgets to close the drapes in the room, opening the possibility that he has been seen, a possibility which is realized when he encounters a funky young 'Mr. Smith' (Dane Cook) who just happened to have photographed Brooks' latest adventure and blackmails him into promising to allow 'Mr. Smith' to accompany him on his next murder!
  
  Twists and turns occur: daughter Jane returns from college having dropped out apparently because she is pregnant, though there are darker reasons for her move. A spunky detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore), a distraught woman plowing her way through an ugly divorce, takes interest in the newest episode of the return of the Thumbprint killer and faces her own demons from her past experiences as a policewoman. Feeling that Atwood may uncover his crime and thus history, Brooks plans a strange caper that includes 'Mr. Smith' and fearing that daughter Jane may have inherited his bad genes for killing addiction, he takes care of her threatening business before the surprise conclusion of the story.
  
  To tell more of the plot would deprive the viewer of the any secrets that unfold in the hands of Brooks and his man Marshall. The story is smart, well scripted, intense, and exciting. And in addition to the very fine performances by the stars, there are excellent cameos by Yasmine Delawari, Aisha Hinds, Jason Lewis, Reiko Aylesworth, and Matt Schulze. Give this poorly reviewed little thriller a chance. It is very much worth watching on every level. Grady Harp, October 07
  
  
  
• Totally Engrossing, Hurt as Alter Ego is Superb
  By A1S8AJIUIO6M9K on 2007-10-29
  Apologies to those who track me solely for non-fiction. I have gotten hooked on "tuning out and winding down" at night with two big bottles of Pelegrino and a "serious" DVD, and Mr. Brooks is such a film.
  
  This movie is so good that I had to pause it each time I got up for any reason. It is absolutely engrossing, and the manner in which they use William Hurt to play the ghostly inner alter ego (fully visible throughout) of a man (Costner) addicted to killing, is world-class.
  
  Demi Moore is also superb as a driven cop who just happens to be worth $60 million. This is easily one of my favorite crime thrillers with psychological nuances. Very strongly and highly recommended for any thoughtful adult that would like to spend a couple of hours on the wild side.
  
  See also:
  Seven (New Line Platinum Series)
  Vacancy
  John Le Carre's A Murder of Quality
  The Negotiator
  Ransom
  Firewall (Full Screen Edition)
  Black Book
  
  
• Absolutely wretched.
  By A2KO50AEMKYN7H on 2007-11-12
  Out of 1000s of options at the vid store, I rented this last night, mainly on employee suggestion. My friend and I discussed turning it off at around the 30 minute mark, and unfortunately we did not, and plodded through it. This movie is so bad it's beyond belief. Moreover, William Hurt...what are you doing in this garbage ?!?! Costner I can understand, but you...
  
  
• Torture
  By AUJEF31CXWTCQ on 2007-11-16
  My wife and I agree, Mr. Brooks was one of the worst movies we have ever seen. Very disjointed, and DULL.
  
  
• To Kill or Not to Kill
  By A18G7GG53G2X8A on 2007-06-02
  "Mr. Brooks" presents us with fascinating dualities, which in turn shows a depth and complexity that's rarely seen in films about serial killers. For cardboard tycoon Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner), there's a duality between his everyday life and his secret life as the Thumbprint Killer: the former is picture perfect, a wealthy man with a loving wife and daughter; the latter is an unfeeling monster who readily admits that he's addicted to murdering. I initially thought that I was supposed to choose a version of this man to root for. I eventually came to the realization that making this choice would be pointless. I say this because this story is not meant to instill sympathy or even hatred; it merely wants to show Mr. Brooks for who he is, in both good and bad ways. This is very appropriate because, when you get right down to it, there's very little about this man to emotionally invest in.
  
  The biggest duality is between Brooks' rational state of mind and his deep-seeded, animalistic urges. His murderous tendencies very cleverly manifest themselves as a man named Marshall (William Hurt), who can only be seen and heard by Brooks. Marshall acts as a driving force, temping Brooks simply because murdering is so much fun. The dynamic between these two characters is incredibly unique, especially since one is nothing more than the other's subconscious mind. In a sense, Marshall is the true serial killer; Brooks is merely a tool, a physical means to commit murder. It's obvious that, at times, Brooks is purposely not trying hard enough to control Marshall--taking a life is just so intoxicating.
  
  At other times, Brooks genuinely tries like hell to fight against his urges; on some level, he knows that what he's doing is wrong. At the film's start, we learn that he had managed to avoid temptation for two years, and by then, the possibility of relapsing seemed remote. But then he learns of a young couple attending a dance school, and the urge proves too strong to fight off. With the extreme precision of a master calculator, he's able to break into their apartment and shoot them as they make love. As an extra thrill, he poses their bodies and photographs them. His final touch--his trademark--is to press each victim's thumb into a bloodstain, leaving behind a print.
  
  If only Brooks had noticed that the couple left their bedroom drapes open. His carelessness comes back to haunt him in the form of a young voyeur only known as Mr. Smith (Dane Cook). He presents Brooks with incriminating photos; the couple's apartment complex is within range of Smith's camera, and apparently, he had been photographing them for months (they always had sex with their drapes open). But Smith is not interested in turning Brooks in; rather, he wants to join Brooks during his next murder spree. There's a restrained intensity to this character that I really liked, suggestive of an immature teenager desperate to prove himself when he's clearly not ready. Cook played this character brilliantly, giving him just the right mix of arrogance, anger, and naivety. Brooks does agree to Smith's terms, but not before discussing the situation with Marshall. Let's just say that everyone here has a few hidden agendas.
  
  All this paves the way for some interesting scenes of victim hunting. At one point, Brooks describes the process as something similar to falling in love: you come across many people, but only a select few have the ability to make your heart pound with excitement. I must admit, I've never heard it put that way before. I must also admit, I loved it; there's a definite charm to this character that shines through despite the fact that he's a sociopath. This doesn't make him a likeable character by any means, but it certainly makes him a bit more compelling. One wonders if he's capable of feeling any emotion, especially when it comes to his family. Without giving too much away, a subplot involving his college-age daughter (Danielle Panabaker) leads him to question certain things; even after moments of reflection, his feelings remain unclear.
  
  Hot on the Thumbprint Killer's trail is Detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore), who's involved in her own subplots: one is about a bitter divorce; the other is about an escaped criminal threatening to track her down. When Brooks is made aware of her, he finds her more fascinating than problematic (the same can't be said for Marshall). Her father is a wealthy businessman, and because of that, she's worth millions. But instead of following in his footsteps, she decided to be a cop. Why is this? Indeed, she is a fascinating character, someone so fragile despite her tough-as-nails appearance. Again, duality comes into play, an ingredient that prevents the film from becoming a run of the mill psychological thriller. Ultimately, every ingredient of "Mr. Brooks" makes for one the most well crafted film of the year.
  
  
• Failing to Deliver
  By A1ZOF747O5EB6R on 2007-09-08
  "Mr Brooks" was a disappointing film. It had a good cast with Kevin Costner and Demi Moore in lead roles and a wonderful co-starring role for William Hurt as the alter ego to Mr Brooks. In fact, the film started well but thereafter fell apart.
  
  My major criticism of the film is that it just became plain implausible and far too contrived. Perhaps many people are credulous and just accepted the plot. I couldn't manage this part. By the time the film ended, I felt relieved. Murder had been heaped upon murder with each twist of the plot becoming increasingly unrealistic.
  
  Overall, given the quality of the cast, this film left me feeling cheated. Potentially, it had much to offer but, in the end, delivered little.
  
  
  
• About as good as it's going to get
  By A1K61BPU0ZWVZX on 2007-10-29
  I don't know why people gripe about a movie because it didn't live up to their expectations. It's pointless. As an afficionado of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries I found Mr. Brooks to be just about as good as it gets. To me that means there were a couple of plot twists I didn't expect and an ending that leaves you wondering about a thing or two.
  
  Kevin (the-amazing-man-of-cardboard) Costner was at his best as was the rest of the cast, and I found the interaction between Mr. Brooks and Marshall to be pretty creepy. Mr. Brooks isn't all good and his alter-ego isn't all bad. And both are very charming.
  
  William Hurt played Marshall beautifully with a certain creep factor he does so well. Dane Cook was perfect as Mr. Smith, Demi was believable as the rich cop and Marg was.. well.. Marg. She managed to keep the hair-tossing to a minimum. I didn't find anything extraordinary about Danielle Panabaker as the daughter, Jane. She's got a look that's popular right now but otherwise she was just OK.
  
  Altogether, It's one of Kevin Costner's best performances. The scene between Mr. Brooks and Marshall in the kitchen when Costner realizes the truth about his daughter is masterful and makes you actually feel sorry for Mr. Brooks in spite of the fact he's a brutal killer. I highly recommend this as something to be watched with appreciation for the marvelous, if not perfect, movie it is.
  
  
• A Morally Deranged Film.
  By A3SU3TXON36T0X on 2007-11-17
  _Mr. Brooks_ is a film which glorifies killing. The killing in this film is not done for a higher purpose, it is not done in self-defense, it is done purely "for pleasure". Kevin Costner, who plays the killer, is made to appear cool and suave. His character is made to appear likeable and noble. As such, I cannot recommend this film because I find its general premise disgusting.
  
  
• Kevin Costner finally found his niche . . . .
  By AW7BIYHXUIZ62 on 2008-02-23
  Wild West Indian fighter? nah. Apocalyptic postman? nah. Lawman nemesis of Al Capone? nah. Quirky anal retentive social icon with an addiction to murdering strangers? RIGHT ON! Kevin Costner is great in this. A very entertaining and Hitchcockesque murder thriller.
  
  Yeah, I read the other reviewer criticisms about "believability". So what? I had some believablity issues with "Gremlins", but my kids wore that one out.
  
  I won't rehash the plot for you, as that's done all over the page here. I just want to throw in my two cents that this is one of the best suspense thrillers that I've seen in a long time. It smelled of high budget, and careful writing, casting, directing, sets, editing, etc.
  
  The only weak spot for me was Demi Moore's detective character. The umpteen millionaire martial arts expert genius icewater in her veins detective. Yuck. (I guess I did have to suspend a little belief on her part). She was a bad idea. But you can work around it and still enjoy the flick.
  
  Most recommended. Not for children. Have fun.
  
  
• Ridiculous
  By AWUE3Z34JKCJP on 2007-06-21
  A successful businessman who's propelled by his imaginary (yet visible) alter ego to kill different people. A drop-dead gorgeous cop who also happens to be a gazillionaire, who's chasing a serial killer. A spoiled daughter with more than a few secrets of her own. A loving wife who's totally oblivious to the madness around her... need I say more? Mr. Books is as ridiculous as it is implausible. The only thing I'd like to know is what compelled Kevin Costner, William Hurt and Demi Moore to make this ridiculous movie.
  
  
• Should be taught in film school as.....
  By A2J9Q32UQKOESM on 2007-10-30
  ....one of the worst screenplays ever written. Unbelievable would be an understatement - what were they thinking (which might be a clue) - that they don't have a brain! Complete trash! Everyone collects their paycheck here - another example of what Hollywood has become - braindead!
  
  
• Amazing "sleeper"
  By A32FLEUG50ZGTU on 2007-10-31
  I was suprised when I watched this movie. Why didn't I hear anything about it when it was at the theater? Maybe I just missed it. This movie is awesome. It is by far one of the best movies thatI have watched this year. I highly recomment this one. The acting is wonderful and don't bother renting this one buy it. You will not be sorry. I don't want to discuss much about the story as I don't want to spoil it.
  
  
• A Day in the Life of a Recovering Serial Killer
  By A3KKM0T1KY42HA on 2007-11-04
  "Hello. My name is Earl Brooks, and I'm an addict."
  
  Yes indeed. Mr. Brooks is an addict alright. But unfortunately what Mr. Brooks is addicted to isn't killing *him*...it's killing unsuspecting, innocent people.
  
  Kevin Costner is fabulous as Mr. Brooks. In Costner's last movie (The Guardian) he was an instructor (reluctantly) at The Coast Guard Academy (teaching Ashton Kutcher); in Mr. Brooks he is being hunted by Kutcher's beau Demy Moore, and Costner has again been (reluctantly) put into an 'instructional' role.
  
  Instead of the traditional Hollywood approach of following the cops hunt for the serial killer, you're mainly with Mr. Brooks during his daily routines.
  
  Writer/Producer Bruce Evans takes the directorial reins for only his second time in 15 years, and the job that he did with Mr. Brooks just goes to show that you don't need a popular, long-time director to get a great movie.
  
  In Mr. Brooks there are terrific thrills. Excellent twists. And there's plenty of action. Some of the situations require a stretch of the imagination, but the acting by a great A-list company and the fast-paced story flow keep viewers from spending too much time deciding whether it's 100% believable or not.
  
  Mr. Brooks is one of the better, more entertaining movies that I've watched in 2007. Add it to your cart.
  
  
• Engrossing and Manipulative
  By A1OO7OYL4XMA5F on 2007-11-06
  While I found this movie very intriguing, I also found it somewhat manipulative in that I felt myself sympathizing with a serial killer and I'm not comfortable with that. I cannot buy the premise of serial killing as an addiction akin to alchohol or drug addiction. That is the direction this movie appears to take.
  
  Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) is a successful, wealthy businessman with a loving wife (Marg Helgenberger) and daughter (Danielle Panabaker). He leads a double life--head of a loving family in one life, serial killer in the other. Mr. Brooks has an alter ego. In the few other movies I've seen where a character has one, the alter ego has been played by the same actor. In an interesting turn, Earl Brooks' alter ego is played chillingly, and somewhat humorously, by William Hurt. The main detective in the story is played by Demi Moore. Although a multi-millionaire, with obviously no need to work, she is on a quest to prove herself to her father who, at least to her way of thinking, made it clear that he would have preferred a son.
  
  Mr. Brooks attends AA meetings, simply identifying himself as an addict, and periodically says 'The Serenity Prayer' in an apparent effort to rid himself of his proclivity for killing other human beings.
  
  While I found the movie engrossing, I'm not able to accept that killing other people can be an addiction like, say, alcholism, especially when the killer loves his family and seemingly is normal in every other respect. How can a man love his family and, at the same time, get his highs from killing other people's loved ones? I can buy loving your family to distraction and being an alcholic or even a drug addict. But surely, at some point, you would say to yourself, "I am ending forever the life of another human being." Without giving away anything, there is a scene near the end between Mr. Brooks and his daughter that I had to turn away from.
  
  Engrossing, yes, but I did feel manipulated into sympathy for Mr. Brooks. But that's only my opinion.
  
  
• Thrilling ;-)
  By A24ZFFRQ4MG3XL on 2007-11-24
  I really liked this movie. It has great acting and actors in it and the story line I found to not be quite as predictable as I thought. Especially at the very very end.
  Kevin Costner plays a serial killer, Earl Brooks, who seems to have such a normal regular life. He's married with one daughter in college (or just dropped out). After one last killing, he is blackmailed by a photographer who captured it all.
  William Hurt plays his subconcious/tempter really well, and Demi Moore plays a detective on the hunt for him. I loved the music/score throughout the movie and even though I know how it ends now, I bought it to watch over because it's so enjoyable and dark and I really love it.
  
  
• Reprobate
  By A3EE0H0NWQ9QVL on 2007-12-16
  "If I thought my reply were meant for one/ who ever could return into the world,/ This flame would stir no more; and yet, since none/--if what I hear is true--ever returned/ Alive from this abyss, then without fear/Of facing infamy, I answer you" Dante's `Inferno' Canto 27, lines 61-66
  
  (2 1/2 *'s) Enjoying `Mr. Brooks' in many ways has to do with your take on Mr. Brooks (Kevin Costner). At first conversing with his alter ego, Marshall (William Hurt), one wonders if he has flipped out or made a major pact with the devil. One thing's for sure, it doesn't take us long to find out the answer. Mr. Brooks is in many ways a respectable man. He is loved by his wife, Emma (Marg Hegenberger), and he truly loves his spoiled, wayward daughter who has mysteriously dropped out of her first semester of college. His inner life and his outward appearance are like a case study from Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck's book, 'People of the Lie'.
  
  We know he is having internal conversations with his alter ego, for on the way home from an awards' dinner done in his honor, Brooks is talking to Marshall about his next murder. Marshall is in the back seat while his wife is in the front seat, oblivious to anything but changes in her husband's facial expressions. In another scene Brooks and Marshall are sitting side by side and both turn their heads in synch, like they're one.
  
  By outward appearances, the only indication of anything amiss in his life are his frequent AA meetings, which vex Marshall, but please him with each new resolution of reform. Much like the pact made in 'Ghost Rider,' Brooks seems uncomfortable with his real addiction, which in this case is to murder. Oddly, as a homicidal addict he has enough composure to keep himself from leaving any traces he might leave behind. Going for a second dessert after the awards dinner, Mr. Brooks spots a couple at a dancing school on a loft within sight of the ice cream parlor. They will be his next victims. At home he has a wardrobe room that keeps all the means to keep all traces of his crime behind. Later, catching the couple at their apartment having sex, he coldly announces himself and shoots them dead.
  
  As his first murder in two years, things start to stick. Detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) has been on his trail for years. She is no closer to finding "The Thumbprint Murderer" than before. Brooks is scot-free until a man, Bafford (Dane Cook), shows up at work delivering pictures of Brooks at the scene of the crime. Bafford is a voyeur, one who enjoyed the open curtain bedroom scenes of the deceased and found an extra thrill with their demise. Bafford (bka "Mr. Smith") offers Brooks a proposition: In exchange for the camera's memory and all the pictures, Brooks will allow him to tag along his next homicide.
  
  Bafford causes great problems for Brooks who argues against Marshall's persistent wishes. He's on the wagon and has great difficulty fulfilling Bafford's part of the bargain. For his part, Marshall only offers murder as a constant solution every time Brooks' gets closer to suspicion. Meanwhile, Atwood has more than serial murderers on the loose: She's distracted by a harassing ex-husband who is trying to extract inheritance money from her in a divorce settlement. How these plot lines come together, including the daughter's, is both amazing and unbelievable at the same time.
  
  Watching `Mr. Brooks' I kept thinking that most films would have been made from Detective Tracy Atwood's point-of-view. She'd be the protagonist, and we'd see her go through corridors with a gun in her hand. Maybe that film was done with Jodi Foster and Anthony Hopkins, and it was called `Silence of the Lambs,' a brilliant movie.
  
  Why see `Mr. Brooks`? As a twisty plot movie, it offers a couple new ideas. Is it plausible? Probably not, but there's enough suspension of disbelief to find it reasonably entertaining. Yet, there are too many plot points that neatly intersect together. Just like the classic Faustus story of a man making a blood pack with the devil, is it a modern fable? Possibly, but that's not the focus or import of the movie. Is it a fascinating portrait of a man gone wrong? I was intrigued, but only for so long. Mr. Brooks brings some mystery, but I was absorbed and fascinated about him until the end. Then, I was disappointed. He loves his daughter; he wants to go straight; but in the end he doesn't care anything more than about his reputation. (See Dante quote at the beginning of the review.) It's understandable that Mr. Brooks is conflicted. He couldn't be anything less, but when he can't decide what's most important hiding his reputation from his family or never receiving proper recognition from the detectives, we start to lose interest. Okay, so there's the "banality of evil" presented, but realism does not always a good movie make. There's something about the movie that lacks tension and cohesiveness. Almost entirely devoid of sympathy, we do end up caring about Detective Atwood. As an arcade, almost every picture I can think of is better developed.
  
  As talented as William Hurt is, he never brings the script home the way 'Danny Darko' did. Not his fault. This voyeur ride isn't as entertaining (much less suspenseful) as 'Disturbia'. After being on the edge of my seat with fascination, 'Mr. Brooks' bored me, and a comparison with the relationship of a Faustian figure and the Devil in a more effective movie like 'Angel Heart' with Mickey Rourke and Robert DeNiro reminded me why.
  
  
• Hard to Believe Just How Bad It Was
  By A5E1V08A5AN6 on 2008-03-29
  If this is not the most disagreeable movie experience ever, it certainly ranks with the top three, and stands alone as the single worst viewing experience. The story almost saved itself before the horrible ending.
  
  
• An unbeautiful mind
  By A1TVHHCWWW08BR on 2007-06-03
  Mr. Brooks asks us to believe that a serial killer with no regard for the many lives he has taken can also be a sensitive husband, loving father, community service volunteer, business man of the year in his hometown, and that murdering innocent people is simply his addiction, like alcoholism, for which he cannot be held too responsible.
  
  Kevin Costner's role as Mr. Brooks reminds me of Tom Hanks as the mob hit man in The Road to Perdition; both actors play thoughtful, caring guys who just happen to be mass murderers as well. The trouble is that this is not reality, and the movie trades on our affection for these actors to cover the heinousness of their deeds and the absurdity of the movie's proposition.
  
  William Hurt's role as Costner's imaginary, sly alter ego is also strongly reminiscent of the Paul Bettany role of imaginary friend in A Beautiful Mind; with a different purpose. Mr. Hurt plays his part well, and he and Mr. Costner certainly seem to enjoy themselves as a team.
  
  The movie is well done technically and moves along swiftly, though there are unnecessary storylines that do not advance the plot, one too many coincidences, and I did not believe that Mr. Brook's wife would be oblivious to her husbands other life, and never seriously question his absence for hours and hours at a time (even over night). I just wish that these talented, charismatic actors and actresses had been put to a nobler purpose.
  
  

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