Review of Mr. Brooks (2007) by Jeff B — 10 Aug 2010

Criminals have always made fascinating protagonists in American cinema. As far back as the 1930s, Warner Bros. made a killing on spotlighting these violent offenders in such gangster classics as Public Enemy. TV proves no different: James Cagney?s descendent Tony Soprano now dominates the zeitgeist landscape, allowing modern audiences to exercise an inner hatred for the establishment. Serial killers, however, remain more than simple anti-heroes-?simply because their heinous criminally insane behavior is completely unidentifiable. With the clever pot-boiler Mr. Brooks, writer/director Bruce Evans and writer Raynold Gideon have cracked this creative nut by conflicting their titular character with a polar opposite murderous side personified by a separate speaking part (William Hurt). Set amidst several exciting stand-alone sub-plots, this gimmick not only works, it easily entices moviegoers into this duplicitous world, which makes Mr. Brooks a unique and rewarding viewing experience.

In this R-rated crime-thriller, Costner stars as a model citizen and family man who masquerades as a cunning serial killer with a tenacious detective (Moore) hot on his trail.

Certainly, this movie is not without its foibles. While some of the sub-plots reach an exciting boiling point (Dane Cook?s Smith extorting Brooks into teaching him the biz), others (Brooks? daughter demonstrating a predilection for the biz) barely even simmer?-sadly because this thread gives the distinct feeling that the audience is being baited for a sequel. Costner, however, ties it all together with an amazing portrayal that eerily parallels Brooks? methodical killing instincts with that of his structured family life.

Bottom line: Kinda bloody clever.