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Marshall: No, just honk. Maybe he'll get killed crossing the street. Save us the mess of doing it.
[Both start laughing. Then, Mr. Brooks honks the horn and Mr. Smith nearly gets hit by a car while crossing]
Mr. Earl Brooks: Almost.
A psychological thriller about a man who is sometimes controlled by his murder-and-mayhem-loving alter ego.
Kevin Costner: Mr. Earl Brooks
According to interviews with Kevin Costner, this wonderful Mr Brooks is the first installment in a mysterious thrilling trilogy.
The prayer Mr. Brooks states throughout the movie is interestingly called "Serenity Prayer" written by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. This prayer is in use in Alcoholics Anonymous since the early 1940s. Mr. Brooks visits AA-meetings to curb his morbid addiction.
Strangely enough Zach Braff was originally cast as Mr. Smith, although it could of been quite pleasing for him to do this role, in some ways.
When I viewed Mr Brooks I wasn't sure what to look out for or make an assessment as to what it would be like. It had some other elements to it such as Kevin Costner's thought process and his family. The idea of putting William Hurt in this movie was incredible and very creative casting him as Kevin Costner's dual mind. This was very original in many ways and displayed something different and unique that has not been really shown before.
The way they filmed certain parts in the car sequences really hits home into the deep psychological shots conveying both sides of a split persona.
''I don't enjoy killing, Mr. Smith. I do it because I'm addicted to it.''
The best part of this movie was Kevin Costner's miraculously changing performance. His performance was probably the most unique and different compare to other serial killer movies, making his character realistic. The movie was mostly based and revolved around him it allowed for his character to develop and open up. He showed something that I would never expect from Kevin Costner. He was perfect fit because he displayed exactly how many psychopaths are: intelligent, calm and precise. He also fit perfectly because it actually made sense that someone with a personality and status like Costner's could actually be like a Jack the Ripper sort of person. He displayed how he is fighting himself(William Hurt) on whether he should kill or not. But like most psychopaths it eventually becomes repetitive and automatic. He had this obsessive compulsion of just killing people. Costner shows how he is in constant pain and just cannot escape his temptations and paranoia. It was really amazing watching him and William Hurt together. I think the ending perfectly illustrated his performance.
What really ruined this movie was Demi Moore. She just did not bring anything at all to this story. She did not seem into the character and was just too average. Dane Cook was just the same diluted out of place shadow as Moore. When I look at him I think smiles and happy happenings. He was not convincing and more out of place than comedic.
Danielle Panabaker plays the daughter of Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Brooks (Marg Helgenberger). Panabaker's younger sister, Kay Panabaker plays the recurring role of Lindsey Willows, the daughter of Catherine Willows (also played by Marg Helgenberger) on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000) for CBS.
Mr. Earl Brooks: Would it bother you to kill a woman?
Mr. Smith: No. No, an asshole's an asshole.
Overall Director Bruce Evans does a wonderous job at the core of proceedings, providing a fast paced psychological thriller helped out by clever dialogue, and one of the most intelligent characters portrayed on film since Hannibal Lecter in Mr. Brooks. It's almost unreal even surreal, how resourceful, cunning and clever Costner's character is. Another thing I liked, as mentioned, was the symmetry between Costner and Hurt. The actors carry a lot of the same mannerisms into their characters, and with the help of Evans, it looks great. There are times where they will do the same movement at the exact same time. Mr. Brooks is a first rate thriller that any fan of the genre should enjoy. The plot has its twists and turns before the grand finale, which reminds the viewer that...Mr. Brooks isn't too be under-estimated or caught out...
Revealing mistakes: When Detective Tracey Atwood's head is stitched it is a visibly huge and nasty head wound which would normally need some bandaging in addition to the stitches. However, in subsequent scenes there are no bandages visible nor is her hair shaved.
Continuity: As Earl is getting out of a taxi, he walks with a cane held with his right hand for a short distance. When he reaches his car, he hooks the cane over his left arm. In the next shot, he's holding the cane in his left hand by its shaft.
Continuity: When Mr. Brooks kills the first couple, the lamp inside the room is turned on. However, after he kills the couple, the room is dark and the lamp is off. The lamp later appears turned on in the photograph. The reflection of the lamp which appears turned off can also be seen right after the couple gets killed.
''Before I was the Thumbprint Killer, Mr. Smith, I killed a lot of people in a lot of different ways.''
8/10
