Mr. Brooks

A very worthy variation on Dexter. A perfect Costner and an equally convincing Demi Moore. I really liked the intertwining of the various storylines, which brings me to the script – which, along with the top-notch performances, is the best thing Mr. Brooks has to offer, and it should be noted that this is indeed plenty. At a running time of just under two hours, it's a psychological charade that's been thought out to the last detail and boasts an impressive portrayal of characters that would be even more interesting and engrossing in a series. 90% (03/25/2011)

The topic is indeed quite interesting, with a minimum of clichés and a large dose of unpredictability, but the film itself doesn't go anywhere. It doesn't have a solid structure, a point, a conclusion, and it doesn't know what it wants to be. Considering the original premise and the concept as a whole, I don't quite understand it. Kevin Costner's talent is relatively wasted, there is little action, and it’s not worth much (the shootout in the corridor is bad), and William Hurt as an inner voice also didn't impress me much. Additionally, the supporting characters are very poorly developed with minimal connection to the main plot, so we don't really care about what happens to them. And the rest of the film is similarly stolen from us, it lacking anything resembling drive and tension. The only thing to appreciate is the quality of the form, Costner, and the solid premise. (04/12/2008)

Kevin Costner in one of his best roles, not just in recent memory, but overall. A proper, decent family dad, the owner of a packaging company, a bit of a cold fish... and a murderer. A scumbag, anyone would think, but then Mr. Brooks would not be allowed to have the script he has. A cleverly written story that shows him primarily as a sick schizophrenic trying to fight his worse whispering self, played flawlessly by William Hurt. Unsuccessfully. So when Brooks carefully prepares and "goes for it", you almost feel sorry for him. And what about when a character who is even worse than him appears a few minutes into the film? And then one more? And what if Brooks starts dealing with somewhat unusual family problems? You can't really say he's the typical killer we wish the worst for from the start. The film reminded me most of Falling Down, and that speaks in its favor. I round up four and a half for the ending. (01/27/2012)

A cute movie with lots of funny lines and with a well-thought out and occasionally surprising story. Kevin Costner is back from the swamp of below-average movies and his Mr. Brooks is simply great. The only one in this movie to give a better performance is his "dark passenger" William Hurt, whispering at and egging on "man of the year" to do his dirty deeds. (07/18/2008)

Kevin Costner is finally back, and although his return is not spectacular or thrilling, the role of a successful businessman with murderous appetites fits him like a glove. Mr Brooks is also proper craftsmanship, it has an interesting idea, an impressive atmosphere, a straightforward plot, and a pleasant direction that captures everything exactly as it needs to be. The aforementioned Costner is as reliable as ever and I was able to find my way to his character without any problems. William Hurt also really pulled it off and their scenes together have the right edge and pizzazz. But then there’s Demi Moore... Well, let's just say that as an actress, I never really liked her (except maybe in Ghost), and that hasn't changed at all here. Moreover, her marital affair didn't fit in well and only hindered the two protagonists in their well-paced play. A smart and appealing thriller that doesn't stand out among its competitors, but it would be a mistake to condemn it. (10/15/2012)