DVD
REVIEW: MR BROOKS
10/17/07
Forget everything you’ve
heard or thought about serial killers. This movie will
shatter all that. This movie shows you what goes on in the
life and mind of Mr. Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) a devoted
husband, loving father, savvy business man, and Man of the
Year. An exceptional man and upstanding citizen. Did I
forget to mention he is also The Thumbprint Killer, a
vicious and crazy serial killer who indulges his alter ego’s
lust for murder, then attends AA meetings to help him break
the addiction?
The movie starts innocently enough, showcasing a man most
people would admire and be inspired by. His lovely wife
wiping away a tear while her perfect husband makes his
acceptance speech as Man of the Year. References are made to
his successful business and how his daughter has him wrapped
around her finger. You see his beautiful home and imagine a
perfect life, but all too soon you realize that there is
another side to him. We meet Marshall played convincingly by
William Hurt (The Village, A History of Violence), the voice
inside his head, constantly playing devils advocate,
literally. The audience is privy to the arguments that go on
inside his head which center around Marshall’s constant lust
for murder and Earl Brooks’ constant struggle to overcome
his addiction. The only thing more fascinating than what’s
going on inside his head, is how absolutely meticulous this
man is and how he has his “craft” perfectly honed. He oozes
confidence and shows he knows exactly what he’s doing, and
that he’s done all this too many times before. After
Marshall convinces him to kill yet again, he makes a small
mistake and ends up stuck with a Mr. Smith (Dave Cook). Mr.
Smith is a sick dark character with an amateur blood lust,
willing to blackmail him just to have privilege of watching
him do what he does best. Then there is detective Traci
Atwood (Demi Moore) obsessed for years with finding Mr.
Brooks, now tracking Mr. Smith in hopes of getting to the
Thumbprint Killer.
This movie was surprisingly well made, and so convincing,
that by the end you are almost rooting for Mr. Brooks even
though he’s a killer. You really care and even sympathize
with the character, and even have compassion for his plight,
which seems to plague him as any addiction would. Kevin
Costner did a wonderful job making this character likable
and the relationship with his daughter really shows his
humanity despite the fact that he is a monster with the
thing he’s done and continues doing. Dave Cook’s, Mr. Smith,
character is a complete 180 from his usually wacky self and
what you’re used to if you seen his comedy. He is dark,
disturbing and he was more detestable than Mr. Brooks. Demi
Moore also does a wonderful job as the smart, but workaholic
detective who is going through hell in her own personal
life, but remains focused on her job and even gains the
admiration of Mr. Brooks himself despite the fact that its
him that she’s hunting. Overall the cast, characters and
flow of the film was very tastefully done, and it was just
fascinating to spend 120 minutes inside the life and mind of
a serial killer and realize that all the old stereotypes of
how a serial killer is all isolated and crazy, are not
necessarily the case anymore. Just look at the BTK killer
who had a family and was an upstanding member of the church.
Maybe we can consider the possibility that those who have
done this in the past had an ailment and were only human.
Not to say that I could ever understand how anyone can take
a life, but it was comforting to entertain the notion that a
serial killer could have a soul, and possibly have an
illness instead of just being a monster who’s evil and has
no justification. Whatever helps you sleep at night, right?
VIDEO:
Widescreen
AUDIO:
English
5.1 Dolby Surround/English 5.1 DTS/Spanish 5.1 Dolby
Surround
Subtitles English /Spanish
BONUS FEATURES:
Commentary by Bruce
A. Evans and Raynold Gideon
Deleted Scenes with optional commentary
* Alternate Opening Title
(1:20 minutes)
* Atwood swimming (39 seconds)
* Atwood’s Date (2:29 minutes )
* Marshall’s Origin (42 seconds)
* Sigy’s Clay Analysis (1:02 minutes)
* Broken Cell Phone (21 seconds)
The Birth of a
Serial Killer: A Look at the Writing of Mr. Brooks
featurette. - The writers discuss the inspiration for the
story and the ultimate addiction. (7:20 minutes)
On the Set of Mr. Brooks featurette. Jim
Wilson, the producer, talks about how he wanted to make an
independent film. Kevin Costner discusses his character.
(9:29 minutes)
Murder On Their Minds: Mr. Brooks, Marshall &
Mr. Smith featurette. Kevin Costner, William Hurt, and
write/director Bruce A. Evans discuss the character of Earl
Brooks. (9:09 minutes)
Theatrical Trailers
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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VIDEO |
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AUDIO |
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Review
By Helen
helen@smartcine.com
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