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Mr. Brooks | 
| Director: Bruce A. Evans
Actors: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, William Hurt, Marg Helgenberger
Studio: MGM
Category: Movie
This item is no longer available
Rating:  155 reviews
Sales Rank: 4970
Genre: Drama
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 121 Minutes
ASIN: B00115S3ZW
Theatrical Release Date: June 1, 2007
Release Date: August 28, 2008
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| Synopsis:
Consider MR. BROOKS. A successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a loving father and devoted husband. Seemingly, he's perfect. But Mr. Brooks has a secret -- he is an insatiable serial killer, so lethally clever that no one has ever suspected him -- until now. Academy Award winner Kevin Costner stars as Earl Brooks, a man who has managed to keep his two incompatible worlds from intersecting by controlling his cunning, wicked alter ego Marshall (Academy Award winner William Hurt) whom he blames for his wrongdoings. But now, as Mr. Brooks succumbs to one last murderous urge, an amateur photographer (Dane Cook) witnesses the crime. Suddenly Brooks finds himself entangled in the dark agenda of an opportunistic bystander, as well as hunted by the unorthodox and tenacious detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore). Can Mr. Brooks outsmart his adversaries and conceal his shocking double life from his wife (Marg Helgenberger) and daughter (Danielle Panabaker) or will someone expose his crimes and his identity once and for all in this unpredictable and electrifying new thriller. |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 150 more reviews...
 Somewhat intriguing twist on the serial killer theme, but far too many coincidences for it all to work December 14, 2008
Nathan Andersen (Florida)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Mr. Brooks has a disease: he is addicted to murder. He tries to treat himself by going to AA meetings and prayer, but eventually he will give in. His alter-ego, played quite well by William Hurt, is the side of him that he doesn't like to let out. The chemistry between his two selves works well -- and the filmmakers do a good job allowing his conversations with his other self to integrate seemlessly into the action, so that he can think out loud in the presence of others and not be heard. To others he simply appears distracted.
Probably the best thing about this film is the brilliant casting of William Hurt as Kevin Costner's alter-ego. Costner has been criticized for only playing variations on the same part in all his films: handsome, charming, pleasant but giving off the impression that he's not saying all he thinks, that there is a brooding undercurrent. In some roles he plays up the charm and in others the brooding undercurrent -- here, it seems, William Hurt gives voice to the brooding and dark and sly hidden persona underneath all of the charm. He is also charming, but much more sinister -- an ideal counterpart to Costner's screen persona. One important touch on the part of the filmmakers was to make clear that it was Costner as Brooks who ultimately made all the decisions and committed all of the murders -- his alterego could suggest, encourage, even beg, but he himself was conscious of and took responsibility for all of his crimes.
So far this makes for an interesting twist on the serial killer theme that has become a staple of Hollywood film. It establishes clearly the internal conflict and allows the audience (at least the non sociopaths among us) to achieve the necessary partial identification with the main character -- since he hates what he sometimes allows himself to do, when he yields to the urgings of his alter ego. The complication arises when he messes up and someone sees him -- but instead of wanting to bribe him, "Mr. Smith" (played convincingly by comedian Dane Cook) wants in: he wants to go along for the next time. This is another intriguing twist, so at least this far the movie sounded like something different and interesting -- I'm not generally a huge fan of serial killer films but at least this one seemed unique. There is a bit of a reflexive moment here: "Mr. Smith," like us, was watching the crime through a window just as we are watching on the screen, he was entertained and wanted more, just as, presumably, we are being entertained and will wait eagerly for more action and violence.
The real trouble is that the filmmakers try to build a series of subplots into the story that are increasingly implausible. There is the cop (a badly miscast Demi Moore) who is investigating the "thumbprint murderer" (Mr. Brooks), whose first husband was killed, who is extremely wealthy but feels the need to be a cop, is now involved in a painful divorce with a former male model who apparently married her for her money, is being hunted down by another serial killer who she had put in prison but recently escaped, ... it all starts to seem a bit hokey. Then add in the story of the daughter, who has recently withdrawn from college, and is apparently pregnant, and is being questioned in relation to a brutal homicide with an ax ... it started to feel like some kind of absurd parody of serial killer film plots, but it was all played so seriously that I think the absurdity was unintended. At times the film really seemed to switch genres -- as when the cop (Moore) gets into an intense, MTV style shootout with a couple of killers in a hall, with flickering flourescent lights creating a strobe-like effect.
This is not without some entertainment value, and has a few things about it that are interesting from the standpoint of thinking about film, but I can't say I found much else to be valuable here. It wants to be a film suggesting that all of us have a darker side, that at the very least all of us get turned on or entertained a bit by violence or we wouldn't be watching this film. I don't know, though -- I'm not sure I find that message enlightening or convincing (and how many times have filmmakers tried to "enlighten" their audience about their own complicity in the subject matter of the film -- as if the filmmaker were seeking to exculpate themselves for making a film about violence by saying to the audience: "isn't this what you want to see? It's not my fault then that I make it for you."). I picked this film up because I like the doppelganger theme, and am generally intrigued by William Hurt's performances and thought the pairing of William Hurt and Kevin Costner would be interesting -- not because I enjoy watching violence (not to say that I am generally put off by it either -- it just has to work in the context of the film). It is to the filmmaker's credit that they don't push too hard on the "everybody has a dark side" theme -- at least there is no condemnatory monologue or anything like that. A few intriguing performances, and a few interesting twists, but as a whole I just don't think it all worked together in a satisfying way.
Nate Andersen
www.eckerd.edu/sundance
 Wow! What a surprise December 10, 2008
M. D. Wallace (Orlando, FL)
I thought this movie looked interesting, but I wasn't expecting too much. Boy, was I in for a surprise. What a terrific movie, in a disturbing kind of way. I tend to like Costner movies, although I've always thought of his acting as a bit 2 dimensional. Not in this case. Mr. Costner outdoes himself here, and the rest of the cast is right there too. Mr. Hurt is spectacular as well. And unlike some, I thought the cop was a well done character, too. Who in life does not have their off work life spill over into the job to distract them once in a while. I wasn't expecting more than a somewhat entertaining movie, and what I got is a movie that is near the top of my list of all time favorites. Five Stars PLUS!
Wasn't What I Expected, But It Still Rocked December 10, 2008
Fred Rayworth (Las Vegas, NV United States)
I was certain Mr. Brooks would get caught in the end, so that was my first surprise. The second was seeing Kevin Costner playing a bad guy. Despite being an evil serial killer, he was still a "nice guy" evil serial killer. Costner just can't shake his everyman nice-guy image, even when he plays such a despicable character.
I guess my favorite part was when he helped Demi Moore with a personal problem. Plus, the way it ended with the dream was a nice little twist. How Costner took care of business (as in a frame) contradicted what I expected to happen. That said, this was a pretty good ride and I recommend it.
I hate Kevin Costne...wait, what? December 7, 2008
The Literate Wench (New Hampshire)
I hate Kevin Costner. I hated his smug romance-figure status from the 90's; I hated his arrogance and his acting and his hair and all of his movies post-Dancing with Wolves. This made me doubtful about watching this movie, despite my general liking for clever murder in the movies. So it took em a good long while to get this movie, and then another long period of looking at it doubtfully every time I walked past my DVD's before I actually got bored enough to put it in.
And it was fantastic. There's only one real flaw, and that's the loose end of his daughter; it's not a bad plot device but they leave it hanging there like an Irish pennant on a fine suit. It begs for a sequel which will never occur.
The rest of the movie is wonderful. Of course it bears no resemblance to reality as far as serial killers go, but as a story it's a success, with engaging characters and excellent acting. Even from Kevin Costner. Especially the way he and William Hurt play off each other... those scenes are the best in the movie.
Very Strange And Extremely Entertaining November 17, 2008
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Wow! This has to be one of the more unusual movies I've ever seen, one that is leaves you shaking your head in amazement. I am hesitant to say too much for fear of ruining this for anyone who hasn't seen it. There is so much one could write, pro and con, about the material in here. Suffice to say if you like modern-day film noir, or "neo noir," as its often called.....then check this out.
This is pure entertainment, two hours of a story that grabs you right from the start and never lets go; a very involving story. Kevin Costner and William Hurt are tremendous in here, and worth the price of the rental alone. The whole cast was good but the dialog between those two guys - one real and one imaginary - have to be heard to be believed. (After a second viewing, I'd have to add Dane Cook's blackmailer character as equally fascinating.)
If you want something a little thought-provoking, edgy-yet-moralistic, good acting and photography, this is a pretty good value for your rental money. I've read where the Blu-Ray version on this movie looks and sounds outstanding, too.
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