Mr. Brooks

Review by Clare Bath

If you’ve been a huge fan of Hollywood’s big budget blockbuster offerings so far this year, you might want to steer clear of Mr. Brooks – if only because, unlike its cinematic siblings, the new suspense thriller is riddled with fantastic writing, fascinating yet believable twists, brilliant acting, and elegant direction that maintains a gripping pace and tone throughout.

In fact, the only thing missing from Kevin Costner’s latest comeback effort are big explosions and cartoon like digital effects. Who do they think they are, relying solely on an extraordinary story anyway?

Mr. Earl Brooks is a pillar of the community. He is a loving father and husband, a levelheaded negotiator, a fair and confident entrepreneur, a wise investor, and a serial killer. That is - a very good serial killer. Of course, he has an accomplice, Marshal (a delicious performance from William Hurt) who is the mastermind behind the killings. Marshall is clever, cautious, and brilliant; he also has a photographic memory, and is merely a figment of Mr. Brook’s fractured psyche. Detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) battles her own demons in the midst of trying to crack the case of the “thumbprint killer”.

Every role here is played with exacting compassion for the extreme potential of the human condition. Fold all these fickle dispositions in a serial-murder mystery and chances are you won’t figure out the ending – because Mr. Brooks already knows what your thinking, and he’s full of surprises.

Not since Hannibal silenced the lambs has there been such a fresh and interesting character on the silver er, scream. Let’s hope our Mr. Brooks makes enough of a killing at the box office to snuff out the serial thinking of sequel-safe Hollywood.

One of the best films of the year. Don’t miss it.

4.5 out of 5

Mr. Brooks
Australian release: 2nd August, 2007
Cast: Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, Matt Schulze
Director: Bruce A Evans
Website: Click here.