Mr. Brooks

Good acting can't save everything. What Mr. Brooks lacks is a brisker script and a bit more interesting direction. The inspiration in Dexter is evident, but even though Kevin Costner and co are playing in a lower league, it's a pretty good watch. (07/22/2007)

A charismatic serial killer is a safe bet for a movie. Kevin Costner no longer has the same status as he did in the 90s, and Mr. Brooks is one of the more promising attempts to return to the limelight. He convincingly plays his killer for pleasure, and if one villain wasn't enough, the screenwriter also uses the hallucinogenic alter ego of Mr. Brooks in a stylish performance by William Hurt. The dialogue of the main character with his uncompromising and straightforward self is ultimately the most interesting part of the whole movie. The script is somewhat overdone, but what can you do, in today's inflation of movie titles, you simply have to grab attention somehow. The biggest disadvantage for Mr. Brooks is the absence of an opponent at his level - unfortunately, Demi Moore is not that. Not so much because of her dull acting, but rather because of the script, which doesn't give her as much space and opportunity. Overall impression: 60%. (11/16/2013)

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)

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)