Mr. Brooks

Movies about serial killers are usually a tough sell for me. Call me a wuss, but I am not generally a huge fan of delving into that king of pathology, unless the embodiment of the psychosis is William Hurt. William Hurt should be everyone’s sinister twisted alter ego from now on. He is so good at being so twisted it is scary. And he is what makes this movie really work. Not to take anything away from Mr. Costner; he does a good job of keeping the title role, Mr. Brooks, from drifting too far into the absurd or over the top realm. But let me not get a head of myself.

Your recap: Mr. Brooks is the story of a successful businessman who has a loving wife and a highly lucrative box company. Mr. Brooks, played by Costner has a beautiful daughter in college, he has respect among his peers and he has rich clients. Mr. Brooks also has a secret he has an indulgence that no one else knows about, and his name is Marshal, played by Hurt. Marshal is the manifestation of Mr. Brook addiction to killing people. For two year Mr. Brook has been able to keep Marshal at bay, but he can’t fight his addiction any longer. Mr. Brooks has been doing this for many years, but this time he made a mistake and there was a witness to his most recent escapade. Now Mr. Brooks must find a way to maintain his business, his family, and deal with the evidence that exists against him that could put him away for good.

Likes – I really like William Hurt, granted he probably had the easiest role to play, but he made it much more. Every time he wasn’t on screen I wanted him on screen. Again Kevin Costner was expressive, contained, and professional, but Hurt was awsome. Regardin Costner this was a nice role for him and reminder that he still has the goods. Writer/Director Bruce Evans put together a nice piece of work. I particularly enjoyed the concept that when Costner and Hurt were conversing the entire conversation and all its elements were in Costner head, so Mr. Brooks could be yelling at Marshal it wouldn’t matter because no one around him knew anything was happening. It was a nice detail that made the story that much stronger because it gives the impression Mr. Brooks has been living this way for a long time.

Dislikes – Sorry Demi, but your time has come and gone. Not only did she bring nothing to the film from an acting standpoint, she is not even that hot anymore, she could have easily been replace by Kate Beckinsale or Eva Longoria. In either case we would have gotten a prettier actress that delivered the same performance, who knows they may have done better. I am also not a fan of the daughter’s character. Nothing against Marg Helgenberger, not that she was all that great an actress, but I was just annoyed by her character. I get why she was included in the story and what she represents. And the idea of Mr. Brooks’ addiction being somehow genetic and passing it on to his offspring is very intriguing, but the daughter just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps if her character was written differently.

So we like Mr. Brooks, an enjoyable movie if you can get over the fact that a serial killer is getting away with murder. Don’t worry its just a movie.

GRADE – B+