Mr. Brooks (2007) User Reviews

There's something about Mr. Brooks all right....

[mrband99 · 8/10 · 20 May 2007]

This movie was not what I expected, but in a good way. I saw that Kevin Costner was in it, and figured it would be a light-hearted drama. Then I read that it was suspense, and figured he was a good-guy spy or something. Not so.

I don't want to spoil exactly what Mr. Brooks is (even though it's revealed in the early part of the movie), but let's just say he's not a good guy. He is cold, brilliant, methodical, and heartless. Definitely not the traits we normally expect from Kevin Costner. And yet, it's fascinating to watch. I found myself rooting for him, and then had to kick myself because his character is so despicable. Top notch acting from him.

Dane Cook seems an odd casting choice for a suspense thriller, and yet he is believable in his role as a cowardly average joe trying to get the better of Mr. Brooks.

This movie is surprisingly graphic and brutal in some scenes. Yet it is so engrossing that you will be hooked on every twist and turn (and there are some good ones).

Not for the faint of heart, not your normal Costner flick, but a very good movie.

Brilliant suspense and tension...Mr. Brooks really keeps you thinking

[The_Amazing_Spy_Rises · 8/10 · 31 May 2007]

'Mr. Brooks', 2007's first true psychological thriller, features an all star cast with Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, and William Hurt. With a thriller like this, and 2 actors (Cook and Costner) who are playing extremely different roles, the film could have failed. It doesn't at all. It is an extremely clever and intelligent film that is a great ride from start to finish.

Earl Brooks (Oscar Winner Kevin Costner) is Portland's man of the year. He has it all, a beautiful wife, a wonderful company, an awesome home, and a daughter (Danielle Panabaker) in college. But Mr. Brooks also has a secret. A secret addiction. He loves killing, mostly because of the maniacal representation of his temptations and desires: Marshall (Oscar Winner William Hurt). After one last killing, Mr. Brooks is ready to quit, but is quickly blackmailed back into killing by the young photographer known simply as Mr. Smith (Dane Cook). Smith just wants to tag along for the ride to feel the rush of killing. But this murderous trio of Brooks/Marshall/Smith must be careful, as tough-as-nails detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) is on their trail.

I know my description of the plot is thorough, but it doesn't spoil anything, as all this is introduced within 10 to 15 minutes of the opening. I give director Bruce Evans a lot of credit for moving the film along quickly, because most of it is the self-inflection conversations of Mr. Brooks and Marshall. The acting is very well done, and with a cast like this, you should expect it. Costner has been everyone's hero the past 2 decades, but Costner totally breaks the mold with a daring and riveting performance as the conflicted, murderous, yet loving Mr. Brooks. His performance really allows the audience to root for him, even though he's a vicious killer. Costner effectively displays internal conflicts between the good side of him, and the dark side. William Hurt is equally haunting as Marshall, the figment of Brooks' imagination. No stranger to villainous characters (there is no true villain, but Costner, Cook, and Hurt's characters are all bad men), Hurt will grab the audience's attention with his smooth and liquid delivery and cruel responses to Mr. Brooks's regrets. Demi Moore delivers in a role that is a type of character rarely seen in movies anymore. Moore gives us a very flawed, yet strong woman who is the only truly good and moral character in the entire movie. Her character has a lot going on in her life, and it is definitely conveyed in her impatience and quick temper, but we always know why she is how she is. Lastly, and the biggest surprise of the entire film, Dane Cook steals the show in one of the better performances of recent memory. Cook goes tit for tat with Costner in every scene they share, providing some pretty intense moments between the pair. Being the comedian he is, Cook will get a couple of laughs, but this role is completely serious. Cook looks like he had a lot of fun doing this, as he gives us a very layered Mr. Smith who is very disturbed, but at the same time, we know he's a fragile guy who is just a pawn in Mr. Brooks' master plan. Cook will blow you away with his range, and he does a great job displaying his character arc. Mr. Smith starts off as a sarcastic and overconfident guy who is looking to toy with a killer. By the end of the film, Smith changes radically into a completely different person. Way to go Dane.

Bruce Evans does a great job at the helm of the film, providing a fast paced psychological thriller helped out by clever dialog, and one of the most intelligent characters portrayed on film since Hannibal Lecter in Mr. Brooks. It's almost unreal how smart and clever Costner's character is. Another thing I liked was the symmetry between Costner and Hurt. The actors carry a lot of the same mannerisms into their characters, and with the help of Evans, it looks great. There are times where they will do the same movement at the exact same time. Mr. Brooks is a first rate thriller that any fan of the genre should enjoy. The plot has its twists and turns before the grand finale, which reminds the viewer that...Mr. Brooks always has a plan...

8/10 --spy

nice spin on the serial killer formula

[Buddy-51 · 7/10 · 3 June 2007]

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 Portland, Oregon Man of the Year Award 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 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.

Great performance by Kevin Costner

[leonmessyb · 7/10 · 15 June 2022]

Really captivating film with no dull moments that I can think of. The film is pieced together well. The cast of Demi Moore and other supporting cast members did a great job too. I personally wanted some parts built on more like his daughter's story and their relationship, why he had killed his first victims and I would have preferred a different ending, but all round a good fiom worth watching.

Nice alternative to the torture flick du jour

[mrmatt14 · 10/10 · 23 May 2007]

I saw the trailer for this one, and thought it was an interesting premise, but Costner movies are so hit or miss. He's the LAST person on earth that I'd expect to be playing a serial killer. His demeanor is too gentle and even. WOW was I right, and that's what makes the movie. That slow, gentle, deliberate pace gives it a surreal sense of unease that a lesser actor couldn't match. It is exactly his everyman persona that makes this movie work.

In the tone of the movie, I was thrown by Costner's previous work as well. He's best known for somewhat light and under-realized fare. Mr. Brooks is anything but. This is a very, very dark movie, to the point that it's uncomfortable in places.

Kudos as well to William Hurt, who isn't known for playing this sort of role either. His character could easily descend into cliché, but it doesn't. He holds the right note, and the chemistry between him and Costner is tangible.

Over the top torture/gorefests have been the flavor of the month. Don't get me wrong -- I love High Tension and it's ilk, but it's nice to see a film that doesn't have to go for the visceral reaction to achieve it's tension. This is an assault to the mind, not the eyes, and it's exceptionally well done.

A little gem

[elliotjeory · 7/10 · 3 June 2022]

Good throwback film, I watched it years ago and it's still good. There is a good variety of characters in the mix and the story keeps you interested. It's also darkly funny in places and overall it's a good serial killer film.

Unusual, creative storyline and scripting, exceptionally well done.

[brentsoffcenter · 9/10 · 1 June 2007]

The real star of this drama is the story, and the script. Costner's portrayal of a highly complex, sometimes tortured, character is superb in that he is seemingly always in control, always one step ahead of the challenges. One of the best stories in some time, this one covers all of the bases in a satisfying way, keeping the viewer completely involved from start to finish. There are just enough plot twists, blended seamlessly with just the right amount of predictability, to make this story completely believable, and totally satisfying.

Mr. Brooks, Mr. Citizen, is a soft spoken, highly intelligent man of the community, always in control of his job and family, despite the adversities he faces throughout the movie. Very enjoyable is the intricacy, detail, and discipline he is able to maintain throughout the chaos that befalls him throughout the entire plot. His total control of all of the challenges almost makes him a super hero in terms of skill and control in the performance of his self assigned, gruesome tasks at hand. The blending of his alter-ego, bad conscience side, Marshall, is seamlessly accomplished in this psychological escapade, to the point that one almost has to root for "them". Marshall, although the psychopathic side of Brooks, is almost likable, in a twisted sort of way. The ongoing dialog between the two is perfect, in that almost everyone can relate to conscience issues at some point in their lives.

The added sub-plots concerning detective Demi Moore, the would be wanna be killer Mr. Smith, and the ex-gold digging husband and his attorney, are extra, intriguing elements that are very well done. Though told with a considerable dark tonality because of the theme, one finds himself cheering for Mr. Brooks and his incredible ability as a master craftsman. Ironically, one can also cheer for the detective that is out to capture him.

If you are ready for a story that is intriguing, suspenseful, gripping, and present day, then this movie is a good place to start. Costner, Moore, Cook, and Hurt are all splendid. Each one is intense, tormented, fun, and believable in his respective role. Another positive feature about the storyline, and it's conclusion, is that it lends itself to, perhaps, a very interesting sequel potential. Kudos to the directors, producers, and entire cast.

Dark And Amusing

[carolynocean · 7/10 · 31 March 2022]

I thought this movie was great , seems to be slammed by many , not sure why ?

I thought taht it was slick and clever, and quite witty, it's always good to see Kevin Costner in a different role , and I love William Hurt, (RIP), he is always so entertaining .

Demi Moore was also good as the tough stubborn cop , like a dog with a bone !

Good entertainment , don't take it too seriously !

Applause For Its Edginess

[jzappa · 8/10 · 15 June 2007]

The main thing about Mr. Brooks that I love is that it is so convincing in its portrayal of the internal workings of a certain sort of mind, almost as if it were an inside story. Mr. Brooks is a character who is completely unsuspecting to anyone observing him, yet he is a completely different person beneath the skin. He is much more complex than a lot of mainstream audiences will realize upon first viewing. He has deep feelings for his family, which means he's capable of deep feelings. Yet he is completely aware of his manipulative and destructive capabilities and intermittently cannot help himself and must take advantage of them. I think the script is a truly brilliant rendering of a very realistic sort of personality that is so secretive that they can be found throughout the range of all human activity.

Kevin Costner having always been one of the most wooden actors in contemporary movies, I am very impressed that he hit the nail on the head with this very challenging and multi-layered character of Mr. Brooks, and in understanding him completely knew just how much of him to reserve for William Hurt's share, Hurt playing a figure nonexistent to anyone in the film other than Costner, representing the deepest, darkest thoughts of Mr. Brooks. The script and direction are very clear-cut and discern the dialogue between Costner and Hurt as the same character and not a split personality.

Demi Moore is affecting in her portrayal of a cop whose personal life calls upon the part of a personality that would urge with anger towards thoughts of murder and is able to suppress them. It's maybe my favorite of all the performances I've seen of hers. There is lots of subtext in what appears to be a token cop role.

The most interesting casting choice, aside from the impressive comebacks by two aging former box-office magnets, is of comedian Dane Cook as a blackmailing witness to one of Mr. Brooks's murders. His character is a creative blend of voyeuristic and eagerly putzy, and Cook pulls it off very becomingly.

As well as being a very gripping and unpredictable celebration of evil, I think a lot of extra credit is due to this film especially for holding its own at the box office during a summer of conglomerate box-office hogs like the second sequels to Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Ocean's Eleven, and Spider-Man when it is actually very edgy and takes a lot of risks as a mainstream film.

4-Sided Triangle...

[azathothpwiggins · 31 March 2022]

Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) is a successful executive, a wonderful husband, and a loving father. He also happens to be a serial-murderer. To his credit, Brooks has stopped killing for two whole years, but his homicidal self / alter ego, Marshall (William Hurt) just won't leave him alone.

Brooks is a member of AA, dutifully chanting the serenity prayer whenever the urge to slaughter innocent victims arises. Alas, Marshall is strong, persistent, and persuasive. Earl falls off the wagon, and the "Fingerprint Killer" strikes again.

Enter Det. Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore), who is dead-set on catching this madman at all costs. She goes above and beyond, and has no idea what she's really up against.

Meanwhile, Mr. Smith (Dane Cook), a creepy wannabe killer, oozes his way into the picture. He believes he's got Brooks right where he wants him.

In addition to being a superb, novel thriller, MR. BROOKS is a fascinating look at the mental struggles of an addict, using murder as the "substance" of Brooks' addiction.

Costner, Moore, and Hurt are all convincing in their roles, especially Costner, who plays Brooks as a low-key sort of everyman. Whatever is seething beneath the surface is well under wraps. Marg Helgenberger is also quite good as Brooks' oblivious wife, as is Danielle Panabaker as their college-bound daughter who just may have a few secrets of her own...

Good film ruined by Demi.Moore

[billcr12 · 6/10 · 23 May 2012]

Kevin Costner is Earl Brooks, a wealthy businessman and all around great guy and pillar of the community. The only problem is that he is also a serial killer who is trying to reform by attending AA meetings. His id, Marshall(William Hurt) persuades him to kill a couple having sex. He doesn't notice the open curtains and later is blackmailed by a Mr. Smith with photographs of the murder scene. Smith asks to tag along for the next killing.

Brooks daughter, Jane quits college and announces that she is pregnant. Detectives visit to question her regarding a hatchet murder at the school. Her father believes that she is guilty and travels to the school and commits a copycat slaying to steer the police off track.

So far, so good, a top notch crime thriller until Demi Moore shows up as detective Tracy Atwood, who is a modern day Sherlock Holmes. Brooks decides to fake his own death and devises a scheme using the great cop to pull it off. Moore is ridiculous as a millionaire who just loves chasing bad guys as a hobby. Her acting and the script are equally horrendous. The final third of the film is ruined, mostly by Demi Moore's awful performance.

Very clever movie, really entertaining

[bbosma-24403 · 9/10 · 10 December 2021]

Costner and Hurt are a brilliant duo together, and Demi Moore is surprisingly excellent as well. Without giving too much away - it's made clear in the first few minutes - the twist of Hurt being Costner's sub conscience mind works exceptionally well. Just a very cleverly constructed movie that has never got the credit it deserves..

Here's a film that definitely deserves the mixed reviews...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 1 June 2007]

MR. BROOKS is the kind of suspense film that manages to hold your attention from the very start and then, just when you think you know where it's all going, you find out you've been duped. Midway through the film you realize you don't even know where the story is going with its many strands that don't seem to connect.

In other words, there's nothing predictable about the outcome but while that would ordinarily be a good thing, here the effect is a handicap because there are too many unexplained elements in the script and too many loose ends.

Nevertheless, some of it is very clever and intriguing, a sort of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde story with KEVIN COSTNER struggling to be good and leave his bad deeds behind him but egged on by his alter ego (WILLIAM HURT) to kill again.

What the screenplay fails to do is to connect the three main stories that are being spun into one cohesive whole. As a result, at the end there's a letdown feeling that nothing has really been satisfactorily explained.

It's taut and suspenseful and should satisfy most fans of this genre, but it's a psychological thriller that would have been even better with a fully realized script.

The performances are fine. KEVIN COSTNER is especially good in some of the climactic scenes after a rather dull beginning but it's DANE COOK as Mr. Smith, the twisted and temperamental photographer who catches a murder on film and has a strange request, that gives the film its most intense moments as he tries to outfox the clever Mr. Brooks.

I've liked WILLIAM HURT in many other roles, but find his character more annoying and repelling than merely evil.

Summing up: A psychological thriller that is sometimes dull, sometimes riveting as it tries hard to rise above the level of a cluttered script and only partially succeeds. There's a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde flavor to the whole story. The Demi Moore sub-plot is totally out of whack with the rest of the story.

Count the killers!

[krwrawlings32 · 4/10 · 2 August 2016]

Having missed this in my local cinema a friend, whose movie judgements I usually trust, lent me his DVD copy.

Finding a spare couple of hours I put it on and settled back to revel in Kevin Costner shedding his good guy image to 'play the baddie'. Now, the central concept of our Kev playing a mega- successful business man who is secretly addicted to murder I could take. I also had no problem with William Hurt playing his alter-ego - his Mr Hyde to Costner Dr Jekyll if you will. But my credibility began to become stretched when, firstly, "Mr Smith" (Dane Cook) blackmails Mr Brooks into letting him come on a murder spree with him. Then, as if that was unbelievable, we suddenly have ANOTHER killer thrown into the mix in the shape of "The Hangman" (and, of course, his torture loving girlfriend! Of course this guy just happens to be after the cop - female, with marital problems naturally (played by the dreadful Demi Moore!) for reasons... Well, lets just say he has his reasons!

OK, so by now I am find any faith in the movie beginning to become sorely tested... Oh look, now we discovered that not only is the Costner character's daughter home from college because she is pregnant, but she has also apparently killed a fellow student... WHAT!!!

On top of everything else we also have THE worst continuity ever! At some point - far too convoluted to detail here! - Ms Moore sustains a very bad cut to her head, which we see being stitched up i graphic detail, yet when we next see her - and for the rest of the film - there is not a single sign of the injury, not even a plaster!!

Somewhere in amongst all this convoluted, often poorly scripted and poorly acted mess is a decent film trying to escape! I'm not saying it doesn't have its moments - hence the 4 stars - but overall it really is a big, BIG mess!

Good at the core but much of it doesn't come together as it should

[bob the moo · 16 February 2009]

Although he tries to control the hunger in his head, successful businessman Earl Brooks cannot shake his addiction to killing. As a serial killer he is clean, precise and controlled but his most recent effort was not as he would have liked as he failed to notice the open curtains in the couple's room as he did the deed. It is not long before someone turns up with photographs but "Mr Smith's" aims are not to blackmail Mr Brooks but rather to join him and experience the thrill for himself. For Earl this comes on top of the news that his beloved daughter has dropped out of college, perhaps for reasons that she is not being honest about. Meanwhile, a messy divorce starts to get in the way of Detective Tracey Atwood's efforts to catch this serial killer while also tracking down a previous arrest who has escaped.

The thing that Mr Brooks was sold on was Kevin Costner doing a "bad" role but really the thing that makes the film work is his title character and the mental extension thereof. Although it is fashionable to backlash against any praise that is given to Costner these days, the truth is that he does not deserve it here because his core part of this film is very engaging and enjoyable. Mainly this is because while he plays the balanced part of his psyche, Hurt does a much more colourful job of playing his alter-ego and the two of them do work really well together. Their parts of the film are good – the problem is that there is a lot more than this to the film.

On top of this we have many threads that don't work, mainly because they don't connect to the others in a way that works. Atwood's divorce and the other serial killer don't bring much to the film other than irritation at the clumsy way they are connected to Brooks and, forgiving it this connection, how poorly they are used within the film. It is not just that they don't make sense, it is that they don't work dramatically either. Likewise Mr Smith. He starts out as what I thought was a narrative device but is actually part of the story properly and again one that doesn't play. Brooks' daughter is more interesting as a thread because it is ambiguous but mostly all these things come together and conspire to make the film messier than it should be and also taking time away from the parts that work.

Costner can be criticised for his dry performance perhaps and cynically many will say it is just an attempt to refresh his career but I liked what he did – mainly because of Hurt. The two of them make a good combination and this is the point of the film, it take two to tango in that regard so they both deserve credit. Moore is solid enough but her character and story doesn't fit and it feels like she is in a different film from everyone else. Cook is less annoying than normal but he has so little to do that it doesn't make much difference. Panabaker plays her cards close to her chest while Helgenberger focuses on looking great, which she does.

Mr Brooks does have enough about it to engage but yet when it ended I did feel rather unsatisfied. While the central character of Brooks and his alter-ego of Marshall both work, too much of the film doesn't engage or come together meaning that I was never really caught up in the film so much as I was enjoying parts of it.

Good Movie in spite of Demi Moore

[shazrahman · 6/10 · 14 September 2008]

I really enjoyed this Movie, William Hurt and Kevin Costner had me believing them the whole way. Even as the killing force, I felt a great connection and sympathy for their characters. There was clever argumentative dialog between them and they really had a great chemistry.

The only reason I gave this movie 6 points was Demi Moore. She came along as this supercop - who seemed to know everything before it happened. If she was psychic it should have made clear - no detective in real life or imagined has been that good. If you put Columbo with Sherlock Holmes with a Nancy Drew and Angela Lansbury thrown in they wouldn't have been half as insightful as Moore's character. Her know-it-all arrogance and her super tough behavior was laughable. Yes you do Yoga, but you cant fight a prison hardened criminal with your arms tied behind your back. Well at least I cant.

It would have been a great movie... oh well...

Welcome Back Mr. Costner! Perfect Thriller!

[Roland44 · 9/10 · 3 June 2007]

Wow! What a great movie, was actually better than I had hoped walking in.

The script is original and smart, with a few dark comic moments added at the right moments. I am SO happy that "everyone" signed on to this movie! Like or hate Dane Cook, but he did a perfect job in this roll imo, as did everyone.

Looks like Hurt has settled into the perfect "type" of characters for his personality. (see him in A History of Violence, and Nightmares & Dreamscapes ep "Battleground") Was good to see Demi Moore back on the big screen, I hope this movie helps producers and directors give her more roles as she deserves and has the ability to do so much more imo And finally Mr. Costner was PERFECT for this role! We can hopefully look forward to a Mr. Brooks 2 :) A fun, interesting film that my wife and I give 2 big thumbs up and recommend to anyone looking for a very satisfying original thriller, done a bit differently, that executes perfectly.

Congrats Cast & Crew on a job well done! Roland

Pleasantly Surprised

[gelatin25 · 7/10 · 4 December 2007]

I didn't expect much considering all the bad reviews (not that those matter) but actually found this to be quite entertaining for the most part. It really plays with your mind, an original psychological thriller compared to most others out there today. Kevin Costner, in an interesting new turn for him, plays Mr. Brooks, a self-made multi-millionaire with a beautiful house and a loving wife and daughter. His business colleagues have nothing but respect for him. But he has a dark secret... he's addicted to killing people and has been for years. He fights his addiction by attending AA meetings at church and just calling himself "an addict." William Hurt plays "Marshall," his twisted inner-voice who eggs him on. I found Costner and especially Hurt to be quite a hoot in a very darkly comic sort of way, they actually make quite a duo. The ending could have been worked with better, but overall this was well-done and a must-see for any fans of Costner or Hurt, or any fans of thrillers that actually show a good sense of humor.

Costner and Cook Surprise, Moore was decent.

[grovcom · 8/10 · 31 May 2007]

I saw this movie at Showest back in March and was really impressed. My initial thought was that this movie would be a cheesy rip of "Dexter" or any other "Behind the Serial" type of Movie/Series. Costner gives us an interesting view into the life of an upstanding family man that just happens to be a serial killer on the side. Dane Cook isn't his predictable wacky self, and actually helps round out the film with his twisted comic/perverted view of serial killing. Take every film that you have seen by Costner, Cook and Moore and throw it out the window. This film is surprisingly original and has plenty of plot twists to keep you alert and anxious to see where the story will head next.

Lightly Intriguing Thriller

[iquine · 7/10 · 6 April 2023]

Medium tension story with some...passable...twists and turns. Kevin Costner plays a gent leading two lives. One as a family man businessman and the other a tactful man with a thirst for blood. Nope, he's not a vampire but someone who kills for personal glee. After one of his kills a nosey photographer chooses to get mixed up in his blood thirsty world. Watch as he brings him on board and shows him the ropes. Will this family man's world ever get in the way? Overall, this was a pretty good movie. Not overly memorable but not a waste of time. There are some solid scenes with medium tension and a few unexpected moments.

Keven Costner's star shines again!!!

[hockeyvoodoo · 9/10 · 1 June 2007]

I saw this movie with high hopes to see a good performance out of Kevin Costner. He didn't disappoint in a movie that very well could have failed--but didn't! I liked the idea of a 'nice-guy with a conscience' serial killer theme, but serial killer movies have been done to death. Costner and the script writers manage to give new life and a refreshing twist on this movie theme, and William Hurt's performance as his evil alter-ego is first-rate. This arrangement was better than just a run-of-the-mill voice-over by Costner's character. It reminded me a bit of a modern-day version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," which is one of my favorite novels. I'm happy to see all of the actors in this film finally get a good script and story to work with after many disappointments for them and the movie-going public.

surprising and disturbing crime thriller

[dromasca · 7/10 · 1 January 2014]

'Mr. Brooks' is a curious combination. The casting succeeds to bring together on screen a few big stars just a fraction of second after the peaks of their careers (5 or 10 years before 2007 this film would probably have been to expensive to make because of the salaries of the actors). Set in the very urban landscape of Portland, it has a very 'big studios' look which combined with a story that seems to walk dangerously on the edge of melodrama made me think for a while that this will not be the last-viewed-in-2013 film I asked for. However, some place in the middle of the film the several rather conventional parallel threads start making sense and enhance the effect of each other. This seems to be the merit of director Bruce A. Evans who is also the co-writer of the script which seems to have been long in cooking and not easily accepted by the studios. For some good reasons from their point of view, which may be part of the reasons I liked it.

The story: Successful businessman Mr. Brooks (Kevin Costner) has it all (prosperous business, beautiful wife, loving daughter in college, the villa of anybody's dreams) but also a double life. He kills at night, he is actually a serial killer who murders because of an addiction, and does it in the same quite, smart and organized manner he is running his business and his whole life which allows him to never get caught. He would quit killing but his dark side alter-ego would not let him (William Hurt), he is even some kind of Catholic praying to avoid sin all over the film. When he eventually makes one mistake the police-woman in charge with his case (Demi Moore) gets dangerously close, and a young pervert who photographed his last murder blackmails him into becoming his partner. Things get even more complicated, as the police-woman is entangled in an ugly divorce, and Brook's daughter is in deep trouble having inherited some of her dad's night habits. Will he be able to solve all these? Will he use the big talent we all know he has - being a serial killer?

I will not tell more because there is much to enjoy in this film and I would not like to discourage folks who happen to read this. I will just say that not only things come together surprisingly well from a story line point of view and the whole is much better than the parts, but that we also end as viewers by understanding the actions of the hero and to some extent sympathize with him (although in real life we would not have any reasons to do it). Kevin Costner's acting is certainly part of the reason, and having him paired with William Hurt creates a couple with a formidable magnetism. Demi Moore also makes best of a role which is usually schematic in many movies but proves here to be more complex than expected. The telling of a disturbing story in a fluent and intelligent manner combined with the mid-high class setting makes for highly efficient cinema. It's like when you taste a meal and it is spicy and surprising although you know it was prepared from many banal ingredients you can find in any supermarket. Bruce A. Evans is very scarce in his directing experiences. This film made in 2007 is actually only his second film, the first one was made in 1992! I really hope that we'll not have to wait another 15 years to elapse until his next.

creepy!

[Im_Martin_Scorsese · 10/10 · 22 May 2007]

I saw an advanced screening for this movie tonight. I absolutely loved it. The movie kept me on the edge of my seat all night. Kevin Costner is extremely creepy as the villain. He played his character very well. The scariest "bad guy," I have seen in awhile. Demi Moore was great. Everyone in the audience laughed, gasped and cheered at the same time, as if we were on cue. The suspense is held through out the movie. THe amazing part is that the end was not anti-climatic. I was not disappointed in the end. I felt satisfied. The trailer does not do the movie justice. The movie is much better than the trailer indicated. Do not wait for this movie to come out on video. Go see it. Although, I did not have to pay to see this movie, I would have gladly given 10.75 to see it. Enjoy!

A Citizen Above Suspicion

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 21 June 2008]

In Portland, the philanthropic businessman and family man Mr. Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) has been just elected Man of the Year. Mr. Brooks manages his factory of packages; lives in a comfortable house with his gorgeous wife Emma (Marg Helgenberger) and has a rebel daughter Jane (Danielle Panabaker) in college. However, Mr. Brooks has a dark secret: he is a psychopath serial killer also known as The Fingerprint Killer with an alter-ego called Marshall (William Hurt) and addicted in killing. For two years, Mr. Brooks has attended the AA meetings and kept his addiction under control. However, Marshall returns and forces him to kill a couple of dancers that is making love in their house with open curtains. On the next day, Jane returns home without her BMW and a man named Mr. Smith (Dane Cook) visits Mr. Brooks in his factory with pictures of him in the crime scene; he is blackmailed and the man requests to participate in a murder. Meanwhile, the wealthy detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) is having a troubled moment in her life: she has been investigating the murders of The Fingerprint Killer; is facing her former husband Jesse Vialo (Jason Lewis) in a complicated divorce process; and is chased by the violent criminal Thorton Meeks (Matt Schulze) that has escaped from prison and promised to kill her. When Tracy visits the crime scene, she suspects that Mr. Smith is an eye witness of the murder and presses him, and their fates entwine with the life of Mr. Brooks.

"Mr. Brooks" is an entertaining psychological thriller where Kevin Costner plays a man with double-life: an entrepreneur recognized by the society and family man and also a clever and Machiavellian serial-killer. William Hurt is great in the role of the alter-ego of Earl. Demi Moore is an abusive detective, but also with good hunches and pressed by her scum ex-husband. And Dane Cook performs an imbecile engineer that aims to fell the adrenaline of killing a person. The plot is developed in an adequate pace, and the flaws and exaggerations are acceptable in this sort of entertainment. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Instinto Secreto" ("Secret Instinct")

Boy was this a dog!

[osyenka · 1/10 · 6 January 2008]

This movie is bad. The acting... eh, passable. I guess. It's hard to tell given the ghastly characters the actors were given to animate. The main character is the only one who can be called 3 dimensional, and that's only because his id hangs out in the backseat filling us in. Cheaters.

The main character is the only one with half a brain. The writer lets you know repeatedly that he's exceptionally brilliant. The usual cat-and-mouse that is the fun part of a murder mystery is completely absent. The detective has no amazing insights. She has a hunch. Yes, that's the brilliant sleuthing with which the writer has decided will entertain us. The only thing we know about the detective is that she's going through an idiotic divorce, where we're supposed to feel sorry for her for having to give up 1/60th of her networth. That's it. Oh. And there's a vapid "revelation" at the end about her life's motivations.

Death is never realistic. None of the victims are made to be remotely sympathetic or even human except in the sense of being human-shaped. They're just plot points. The only exceptions are a couple of people we've met just long enough to establish them as Scummy Enough To Kill.

In the end there is STILL no one likable. What's more nothing is resolved. In the meantime you've watched several gratuitous deaths and a death scene reminiscent of Paul Reubens's in the original Buffy movie.

Whoever wrote this must have been some 22 year old guy wishing he could try out serial killing for a living. And that was the extent of his writing expertise. He (and I assume it's a "he") has no experience with grey areas, and no experience with human motivations and complexities that make watching thrillers entertaining.

Worst of all, he has no idea of the horror that is murder. Clearly to this writer it's an abstract idea that moves the plot along and provides some gore with which to wash it down. If you're going to do gore, go over the top and make it cartoonish, a la Sin City or any Tarantino. Then we can enjoy it. Mr. Brooks, however fails as a cartoon, and fails as a horror film. That just leaves us with thriller, and this amount of context-less blood is out of place. Chandler described Hammet as "having taken murder out of the drawing room and dumped it in the alley where it belonged". If this movie is any indication, significant backsliding has taken place.