What Do The Critics Say?

"Costner’s best performance ever! An intelligent, terrific thriller with twists and kinky characters. Costner and Hurt are a sensational team." Victoria Alexander FILMSINREVIEW "The last decade hasn't been kind to Costner, but he returns to form here. This is a fine little thriller that has some nice - but not surprising twists." Michelle Alexandria ECLIPSE MAGAZINE "Score one for Kevin Costner. His dark and disturbingly compelling psychological thriller Mr. Brooks could give the once powerful Dances with Wolves star his first hit in many moons." Kit Bowen HOLLYWOOD.COM "Mr Brooks has a crisp, clever script, lacings of black humour, heart-racing pacing and convincing performances." Liz Braun JAM! MOVIES "It's a tasty stew for anyone with a macabre stomach lining. It's sense of humor is dependent on your ability to connect with your inner psychopath and root for the bad guy." Erik Childress eFFILMCRITIC "Smart, funny and wicked... a combination I would pay to see. Mr. Brooks may not want to be bad, but with the devilishly cruel Marshall by his side, he's oh so good at it." Cherryl and Leigh Ann TheMOVIECHICKS

"Welcome back, Costner. The hit-or-miss actor who earned an Oscar for "Dances with Wolves" but a Razzie for "The Postman" shatters expectations with his best performance in more than a decade." Tyler Hanley PALO ALTO WEEKLY "A unique and surprising movie experience. A strong alternative to the current sequelitis plaguing the industry." Pete Hammond MAXIM "Slickly shot, coolly edited, oozing dark, deadpan humor, Mr. Brooks finds Costner at the top of his game. His moves are subtle, his expressions flat, his emotions clamped down, contained." Steven Rea PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "Mr Brooks is a killer." Tom Long DETROIT NEWS "Mr Brooks spins a web that will wrap you up in nightmares." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE "Costner is sufficiently creepy, yet incredibly down-to-earth as Mr. Brooks. I must say this is one of my favorite performances of his in a very long time." Jeanne Kaplan KAPLAN vs. KAPLAN "A fascinating and thoroughly unsettling exploration into the mind of a serial killer, Mr. Brooks could well be the smartest, most astute thriller of its kind in several years." Dustin Putman THEMOVIEBOY

The Inside Story The unsettling question of how a charismatic neighbor, business associate and family member can harbor within a cold-blooded killer has long confounded society, and inspired writers and filmmakers to take audiences into darkly fascinating and suspenseful worlds where they’ve never been before. With "Mr Brooks" comes a fresh twist in the tale of how one man can lead a double life of both magnificent success and gruesome crime. Is Mr Brooks a fantastic guy you’d be proud to call your friend or is he a twisted killer you definitely don’t want to run into on the wrong dark night? At once seductive and deadly, upstanding and beyond the pale, "Mr Brooks" is so compelling and terrifying precisely because he is both. "The thing about Mr. Brooks is that he could very well be someone you know," says director Bruce Evans, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay with his long-time partner Raynold Gideon. "We all have our dark side, but Mr Brooks acts on his to an extreme. He’s the guy you think wouldn’t harm a fly, who truly loves his family and has a wonderful life by all standard measures, but also he has a very grave compulsion he cannot fix." The film is definately a departure for the team who brought us films such as "Stand By Me", the hit comedy "Jungle 2 Jungle" and, the sci-fi romance "Star Man". "We’re usually associated with family films; but we had wanted for a while to delve into a darker story. We both thought addiction was an interesting area, which led us to the question of what would be the worst addiction possible," says Gideon, "and to the idea of a man who is literally addicted to killing people, who gets off on it, who can’t stop the cycle, even though he would like to stop putting his family in jeopardy." With the birth of Mr Earl Brooks came his evil alter-ego "Marshall is that voice we all have in our heads that says 'go ahead, be bad, it'll be fine, it'll be fun' and the character gave us a way to visualize that," notes Evans. With the popularity of films such as the Hannibal Lector series, " Zodiac", "The Boston Strangler", "The Talented Mr Ripley", "Strangers on a Train", "Se7en", "Psycho", "From Hell" and "The Bone Collector", "Evans and Gideon saw that the story of "Mr Brooks" could break new ground." Like all serial killers, Earl Brooks has his special traits. "We always thought of him as a man who has a genius for reading other people, who is always the smartest guy in the room. It’s what has made him so successful as a businessman and as a husband, that he knows what other people are thinking. And it’s this same skill that makes him so successful as a killer. He can read his victims and he can read the police investigators and he’s always one step ahead of everybody, which is part of the feeling to which he’s addicted," says Evans. But could a serial killer appear to be such a 'nice guy'? Well it seems that the records reveal just that. "You will often see in media accounts of killers statements like 'he was such a nice guy', or 'he could be so charming'. Even the BTK Killer [Dennis Rader] was a church deacon. Sometimes people can hide the dark side of themselves from everyone and I think that’s part of what intrigues us about these kinds of characters," Evans notes. For such a serious subject there is a lot of comedy, albeit dark comedy in the film. 'The comedy comes out because it’s the way that Ray and I view life," says Evans. "I think we both see that we’re all riding on the edge of the abyss and yet life is also really funny. No matter how dark things get, there’s always flashes of humor." The writers also revealed that right from the moment they started writing the screenplay, they envisaged Kevin Costner in the role of Mr Earl Brooks. That pipe-dream would eventually become reality. But why Costner? "Kevin is perceived as such a hero, a romantic hero and an action hero, and that’s the kind of guy we wanted," Evans explained, "a charismatic hero type who draws you in and then suddenly shocks you with this completely opposite side." And how did Costner find out about the project? Evans and Gideon gave their screenplay to their friend Kevin Reynolds, who directed Costner in 1991's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves". Impressed with the script he passed it on to Costner. It must have been a nailbiting wait for the writers as reports came back of Costner being away, of Costner not getting the script, of Costner losing the script. But then came the call that would change everything. Finally the phone rang. "Hi, this is Kev. Kevin Costner; why don’t you drop by the house so we can talk about this script." Costner was impressed. So impressed he agreed to not only appear as Earl Brooks, he also agreed to produce the film independently. "The story is dark, it’s smart and you laugh ten times out loud despite or because of the scariness. I thought it was a really compelling tale created out of a very hard subject," Costner recalls. "I was taken aback by how good the writing was and what an interesting window it gave into a serial killer’s life. It didn’t let "Mr Brooks" off easy, but it provided a really intriguing view into a despicable man’s inner mind. It really rode the razor’s edge." Next to come onboard was producer Jim Wilson, who co-founded Tig Productions with Costner. "It was certainly an unusual role for Kevin," Wilson admits. "I remember asking him 'are you sure you want to do this' and he assured me that he really did. When I read the script, I thought it was an incredible page-turner and I liked that it was more than just a thriller, that it looked at the struggle of conscience, and the failure of conscience, at the heart of "Mr Brooks". Even though he’s a villain, "Mr Brooks" is like an onion with a zillion layers. You really want to know more about who he really is and what makes him tick." Costner admits that some of the things Earl Brooks does, horrified him. How did he handle that? "For the part of Brooks that is most depraved, I really had to use my imagination," the actor comments. "There was no other way to understand that kind of drive to kill other people. But when he’s conducting his business or taking care of his family or even trying to understand himself, I could relate in some way to those things, and I tried to humanize those moments." "In Kevin’s performance, with every single scene there’s another layer of "Mr Brooks" that we see," says producer Wilson. "I think it’s as complicated and multi-layered a character as he has ever played." Hot on the case of 'The Thumbprint Killer' is Detective Tracy Atwood, played by Saturn Award winner Demi Moore. "To have Demi Moore take on this role of a cop who is just as smart as the brilliant murderer she is after was a thrill," says Evans. "She formed such a bond with Kevin and Dane Cook and they really brought so much more to their characters than I could ever have imagined." Moore heard about the film from Costner during the filming of "The Guardian". "When I read it, I immediately understood Kevin’s passion for the material," Moore said. "The script exhilarated me and frightened me at the same time. I thought it was very smart and filled with characters who have depth." Moore also notes the parallel between Det Atwood and Earl Brooks. "They’re both dealing with a lot of pain, but they find opposite outlets for it. It’s intriguing that what separates the cop from the criminal psychologically can be a very fine line." Dane Cook, recently seen in "Employee Of The Month" was cast as Mr Smith. "Dane was really wonderful," says Moore. "It was great to see somebody bridge into something that is such unfamiliar territory." "Dane was definitely a wild card," says Wilson. "Nobody knew quite what he would do with this character." Cook says he knew he "would be pushed in ways he wanted to be pushed as an actor. I’m interested in breaking out into cinematic roles of every size, shape and form, so this was really a chance for me to start doing that. When I got the script, it was a definite page-turner. It was one of those things where I was racing to figure out what would happen next." The role of Marshall, Mr Brooks’s alter-ego went to Oscar winner William Hurt. "Kevin was adamant that William Hurt would be his perfect alter-ego," recalls Gideon. Hurt, who was brilliant in "A History of Violence" notes, "Marshall was a role unlike any other; a rare chance to play a psychological demon in the flesh. He is a pure concoction of Mr Brooks's psyches. But I played with the layers of his motivation." Playing Mr. Brooks’ prized, only daughter is rising young actress Danielle Panabaker. "In her audition, Danielle read the powerful scene where Mr Brooks asks Jane if he really loves her, and she just broke our hearts. We knew right then she was Jane," recalls director Bruce Evans. Starring as Earl's wife Emma is 2005 Screen Actors Guild Award and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" star Marg Helgenberger. "She knows there’s something wrong, something that her husband is troubled by, but she accepts that as a part of him. He’s the kind of man where you keep peeling back layer after layer and never get to the core, and I think she finds that attractive." Synopsis

Meet the Portland Chamber of Commerce 'Man Of The Year' Mr Earl Brooks. A much admired man with a seemingly perfect family and impeccable status in the community. But don't be fooled. Mr Brooks hides an ugly secret. He is the notorious serial murderer branded as 'The Thumbprint Killer'. Though recently inactive, his pathological compulsion is inflamed once again by his cunning, wicked alter ego Marshall, whom Mr Brooks faults for his transgressions. But by succumbing to one more urge to murder an unsuspecting couple, Mr Brooks commits his first mistake. He is observed by a peeping Tom photographer, who chooses to blackmail him with a bizarre demand. This last crime, though, also unleashes a tenacious detective whose own personal crisis drives her furiously to solve the identity of the Thumbprint Killer, putting her on the trail of Mr Brooks. For the first time, Mr Brooks faces the endgame. Unless he can find a way out and, continue to conceal his shocking secret life and his true identity forever.

The Verdict "It's fair to say that Kevin Costner has had a pretty up and down career. From the highs of "Field of Dreams"and an Academy Award with "Dances with Wolves", to the lows of "Water World" & "Dragonfly", it's been a bumpy ride. But in recent years Costner, has in the main, grabbed back fans with films such as "Thirteen Days", "The Upside of Anger" and "The Guardian". Now he shines again in this black comedy thriller, "Mr Brooks". In fact, Costner, Hurt, Cook, Danielle Panabaker and Moore perform so well many fans of the film are asking, "will there be a sequel?" Costner's Mr Earl Brooks is such a likeable man, that many cinemagoers will experience the awfully guilty pleasure of hoping this serial murderer, known as 'The Thumbprint Killer', will indeed extract himself from this mess created by listening to his alter-ego Marshall, who has goaded him into one more killing. There's twists, turns, surprises, blackmail and a scene in the closing minutes that will rock your socks off. What really makes "Mr Brooks" so rewarding is the good performances which surround Costner. William Hurt, who won a Best Supporting Oscar for "Kiss of the Spider Woman" gives a solid performance as the evil Marshall, as does 2006 Hollywood Film Award winner Demi Moore ("Bobby") who plays Detective Atwood and, Pixie Best Actor Award winner Dane Cook as the blackmaing Mr Smith. Don't miss "Mr Brooks" It's a killer! Very recommended. 4 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "MR BROOKS" stars .......
Kevin Costner ["The Bodyguard", "The Upside of Anger", "Rumour Has It" and "The Guardian"]; William Hurt ["A History Of Violence", "Syriana" and "The Good Shepherd"]; Demi Moore ["A Few Good Men", "Indecent Proposal", "Striptease", "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Bobby"]; Dane Cook ["Stuck on You", "Waiting" and "Employee of the Month"]; EMMY & Peoples Choice Award winner Marg Helgenberger ["Species I & II", "Erin Brockovich" and "In Good Company"]; Ruben Santiago-Hudson ["Blown Away", "The Devil's Advocate" and "Domestic Disturbance"] and Danielle Panabaker ["Sky High", "Rule Number One" and "Yours, Mine and Ours"] as Jane Brooks.
"MR BROOKS" was .......
directed by Bruce A Evans ["Kuffs"]; screenplay by Bruce A Evans ["Starman", "Stand By Me", "Made in Heaven" and "Kuffs"] and Raynold Gideon ["A Man, a Woman and a Bank", "Stand By Me", "Made in Heaven" and "Jungle 2 Jungle"]; casting by Mindy Marin ["Cliffhanger", "Face/Off", "Windtalkers" and "Swimfan"]; 1999 & 2002 Costume Designers Guild Award winner costume design by Judianna Makovsky ["Pleasantville", "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "National Treasure"]; production design by Jeffrey Beecroft ["Dances With Wolves", "The Bodyguard" and "Twelve Monkeys"]; edited by Miklos Wright ["3000 Miles to Graceland", "Open Range" and "Venus & Vegas"]; director of photography John Lindley ["Field of Dreams", "Sleeping with the Enemy", "Father Of The Bride" and "The Core"]; original music by Ramin Djawadi ["Thunderbirds", "Blade: Trinity" and "Open Season"]; produced by Raynold Gideon ["Starman", "Made in Heaven" and "Assassins"], Kevin Costner ["The Postman", "Thirteen Days" and "Open Range"] and Jim Wilson ["The Bodyguard", "Wyatt Earp" and "The Postman"]. Who's Who?

Kevin Costner Demi Moore Dane Cook William Hurt Marg Helgenberger Ruben Santiago-Hudson Danielle Panabaker Aisha Hinds Lindsay Crouse Jason Lewis Reiko Aylesworth Matt Schulze Yasmine Delawari Michael Cole

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Mr Brooks Detective Atwood Mr Smith Marshall Mrs Brooks Hawkins Jane Brooks Nancy Hart Captain Lister Jesse Vialo Sheila Thorton Meeks Sunday Atwood’s Lawyer

Run Time 120 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - MGM - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.