Mr. Brooks (2007)

You won't be disappointed!

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

This is a great thriller supported by a fantastic cast and a great pace. Mr. Brooks is played by Kevin Costner, and he is a serial killer by night, a popular, intelligent self-righteous man of the community by day. He goes by the name Earl when not in killing mode. To make matters even more complicated Mr. Brooks is a persona arisen by a devil voice within Earl- and he is played(not just voiced but physically portrayed) by William Hurt. In one of his outings Brooks is caught in the act of murder by a photographer and then becomes entangled by the law- mainly one lady played by Demi Moore. With actors of such class there is no reason to doubt that the audiences will be kept captivated- and they are. The cinematography, pacing and direction is excellent, and it is surprising that the director Bruce Evans has only made 2 films including this one.

Very, very entertaining.A primer on how to commit a murder and get away with it...with meticulous planning and execution.Mr Brooks uses the vacuum cleaner in the house where he commits the murder. And a plastic bag to collect the gunpowder. He also removes the bullets from his victims.Also a primer on how to blackmail should you witness and have evidence of a murder.Killing with an axe, guns, a shovel, a pair of sciccors; its all here. All in good spirit, all in "fun."Kevin Costner's acting is the very best he's done; he is so convincing that I now suspect a few suave and debonair people I know from my personal life to be serial killers.I even like Demi Moore as the cop with the great hunches and the world's fastest reflexes, but always a few steps behind Mr. Brooks' murders. Worth $60 million with a father who thought she should have been born a son. You'd figure she can afford a sex change operation. Is that why she only wears pants, never a skirt to show off her legs?Then there is Mr. Brooks' daughter. He loves her enough to kill for her, she loves him enough to kill him. Now, there is a REAL dynamic duo. ---------------------------------------- There are plot problems, of course. Mr. Smith is charged with the serial killer murders because he urinates on the floor, leaving his DNA. After all his meticulous cleanup, why would the killer now leave urine at the crime scene??Mr Smith gets caught with his gun whose firing pin has been disabled by Mr. Brooks. Would you not figure Mr. Smith might have checked his gun prior to leaving his apartment, recognizing who he is dealing with? (Mr. Brooks had surreptitiously entered Mr. Smith's apartment on a previous occasion to get an imprint of the safety deposit box where Mr. Smith is thought to have kept the original photos and digital camera card of a double murder).

We all have these inner demons in our brains suggesting what decisions to make with our temptations. Some demons suggest the extra snack or binge. Other voices in our brains suggest doing drugs or alcohol. Come on, one more drink or toke of a joint! Some get thrills or a rush out of stealing items from a store. Some voices even go as far as suggesting killing others. Mr. Brooks on the surface appears as straight and narrow as any established businessman. Portland, Oregon's MAN OF THE YEAR award winner at a lavish banquet with his Lovely spouse by his side. All picture perfect until we come to the ride home where you see Mr and Mrs. Brooks sitting in their car with a strange bald man in the back seat named Marshall (William Hurt) who suggests to Mr. Brooks that another killing should happen. The wife is oblivious to Marshall's presents. Mrs. Emma Brooks (Marg Helgenberger) cant see or hear him. Brooks suggest that they stop at a local Ice cream cafe for desert as Brooks looks upward into an apartment watching two lover for a potential double murder as the invisible Marshall tempts and taunts the frustrated Brooks. Brooks that evening sneaks out of his home and carries out his homicide. Wears special clothing, Plastic bag over gun with silencer attached, everything done to detail. Meticulous and methodical for the serial killer who enters the apartment opens the door and says Hello then fire two shots at each victim. Retrieve the shells and takes each victim and puts their bloody thumbprint on a lampshade.Vacuumed and cleans up the area thoroughly. The Police label this serial killer "The Thumbprint Killer". Everything done to detail except this time Brook's forgot to close the drapes as he's reminded by his alter ego Marshall. Marshall tells Brooks the adjacent apartment building would have potential witnesses watching. A few days later you see a nervous man waiting in the lobby of Brooks's business. Meanwhile Mr. Brooks has a daughter Jane (Danielle Panabaker), who enters his office with news of quitting College. Marshall by Brooks' side suggests she's hiding bigger news. Jane comes out with news of being pregnant meeting an older gentleman and wants an abortion to rectify things but Jane refuses to go back to school . Meanwhile our nervous friend is waiting to see Brooks as Mr. Smith give the compliant receptionist a sealed envelope of photos of Brooks by the window where he killed two lovers that faithful night. Brook's is surprised by Smith's unusual request which has nothing to do with shaking Brook's for money. Meanwhile the authorities are baffled by the the Thumbprint killer as or story shifts to Police Detective Atwood (Demi Moore) who is obsessed with this particular case. Atwood's personal life intertwines with this story plus more bad news about daughter Jane as she is in more hot water involved in a homicide. Three stories connect in a two hour thriller. Some might say the coincidences ruin the movie but the editing and quick scenes keep you from falling asleep. Personally I'm not a fan of the acting skills of Costner but I do enjoy his scripts/story lines, i.e. No Way Out, Bull Durham, Field Of Dreams and JFK. Costner was very unpretentious, quite reserved maintains a coolness to this role. Dane Cook plays a frustrated tag along and Demi Moore plays the baffled gum shoe always three steps behind the killer. Demi personally is not a likable character in most of her movies but when it come's to divorce lawyers, I'm rooting for Demi. William Hurt, "the alter ego" puts you right into the thought process of our main character, the serial killer Brooks. Costner's best work to date. Oh by the way, what's the name of your voice in your head?

I put this movie in the bin along Crash, Irresistible, Hannibal because i just blame the efforts and dedication to put inhuman, horrible violence and pain into an art object! Those movies prove that there's something wicked in our societies, a sort of dark cancer that kills our most positive and beautiful things! So here we are the voyeur of a serial killer and as the bad Beautiful Mind, it's suggested that he is not that responsible as he is managed by a vicious buddy! Things got really worse as he must become the mentor of his blackmailer and also because his madness is hereditary! For one time, we have the usual Clichés of the American movie torn in a different light (the wealthy boss, the happy family) but maybe what makes the difference here is the quality of the cast: Costner the good guy by excellence is excellent as well as Hurt (he looks like the Yellow bastard from Sin City), as Moore (even if always cold, athletic, tough) with a special mention for Dane Cook, the could be son of Fletch who adds here to his cool attitude a real ability for drama too!