Film Review: Mr. Brooks (2007)

It is not uncommon for prominent Hollywood stars to venture into roles that starkly contrast their established screen personas. In the case of Kevin Costner, this happened relatively late in his career when he played the main character in the 2007 psychological thriller Mr. Brooks. This film, directed by Bruce A. Evans, was one of the more unusual films of its time.

Costner's character, Earl Brooks, is depicted as a highly esteemed businessman and devoted family man residing in Portland, Oregon. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a chilling secret—he is also a serial killer known as the "Thumbprint Killer." For two years, Brooks has managed to suppress his murderous impulses, but one fateful night, spurred on by "Marshall" (played by William Hurt), the violent alter ego from his subconscious, he succumbs to his dark urges and commits a brutal double homicide. Typically meticulous in his methods, Brooks makes a critical error when he is witnessed by a voyeur named "Mr. Smith" (played by Dane Cook), who instead of reporting him, blackmails Brooks into allowing him to participate in future murders. As Brooks navigates this precarious situation, he is further confronted with the unsettling possibility that his daughter Jane (played by Danielle Panabaker) may be developing similar violent tendencies. The investigation into his crimes is led by Tracy Atwood (played by Demi Moore), a police detective grappling with her own demons, including the escape of a notorious serial killer she previously apprehended.

The script, co-written by director Bruce A. Evans and Reynold Gideon, looks not only unusual but actually preposterous in the way it exploits America's and the world's fascination with serial killers. This reflects in most, if not all, characters sharing such traits. It looks like the script would have been more suitable for black comedy, but Evans plays it straight.

Despite the preposterous script, Evans shows great skill in trying to put so many subplots together. The pace is quick, and the plot unfolds relatively comfortably within two hours of running time. Evans' direction is solid, and the R-rating allows not only violence, sex, and nudity but also this dark story to look reasonably realistic.

Costner's performance is particularly noteworthy given that he had built his stardom by playing all-American heroes. In Mr. Brooks, he attempts to emulate the transformative screen persona of James Stewart, who famously delved into darker roles under Alfred Hitchcock's direction. Costner convincingly portrays a man torn between moral integrity and the seductive allure of his darker impulses. His character's methodical approach to murder is executed with such intelligence that it almost elicits sympathy from the audience as they find themselves rooting for his success despite the heinous nature of his actions.

Supporting Costner is William Hurt, who excels as Marshall, Brooks' malevolent alter ego. Their interactions—conversations that unfold within Brooks' mind and are invisible to others—are well-crafted and easy for audiences to grasp despite their initially perplexing nature.

On the other hand, Mr. Brooks at times still looks a little bit too Hollywood-like, and its plot is overcooked with too many strange characters, many of which start to look like clichés. This involves a rather unconvincing policewoman, played by Demi Moore in one of the more forgettable roles of her career.

Despite its ambition and intriguing premise, Mr. Brooks ultimately struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics. The film's audacity in tackling such dark themes did not translate into major commercial success; it grossed relatively unimpressive $48 million against its $20 million budget. Consequently, Evans had to abandon plans for sequels that would have further explored Earl Brooks' complex character and moral dilemmas. In hindsight, audiences seemed more inclined towards similar content presented on television—most notably in series like Dexter, which similarly delves into the psyche of a charismatic murderous anti-hero.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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