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PRODUCER: |
Raynold Gideon (Kuffs, Stand By Me), Kevin Costner (Message In A Bottle), Jim Wilson (Message In A Bottle, Body Guard) |
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Perhaps Kevin Costner is tired of killing his career, so now he’s killing people in Mr. Brooks.
Kevin Costner stars in Mr. Brooks as a seemingly normal successful business man with a beautiful wife, played by Marge Helgenberger, and a wonderful family. All seems normal except that Mr. Brooks is hiding an enormously dark secret, he's obsessed with killing people. He does a pretty decent job keeping control over his obsession until his alter ego, played by William Hurt, talks him into killing again. And after years of practice and meticulous planning, he does kill again. But this time is different because someone sees him do it, Dane Cook. What does Dane want to keep quiet? Well, just for Kevin to take him on his next kill. The detective trying to solve the murder is played by Demi Moore and she's determined to find the killer. But Kevin is even more determined to straighten up the mess he's made and try to make sure that his own daughter doesn't follow in his footsteps.
Mr. Brooks is a really edgy, really intense suspense thriller. It’s odd premise and very unique point of view makes it uncomfortable at times, so it’s not going to be another Dances with Wolves for Kevin Costner. Nonetheless, he’s impressive in the role. Even as a cold-blooded, psychotic serial killer, the audience somehow still identifies with him or likes him just enough to be sympathetic; and, that’s really what makes the movie work. Demi Moore also provides a convincing performance, and Dane Cook makes a strong showing as well. The ending leaves things a little less resolved than what we would have liked, but otherwise the movie is a decent, albeit unsettling, piece of filmmaking. |
