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Mr Brooks (2007)

Director: Bruce A. Evans

Time Out rating

Average user rating

12 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Remove the acidic tone and droll metaphorical layering from ‘American Psycho’ and you’ll end up with something like the infuriatingly mediocre ‘Mr Brooks’, a dark tale about a family man (Kevin Costner) who receives a thrill from murdering people in cold blood at the behest of his demented alter-ego Marshall (William Hurt). There are tiny fragments of interesting ideas nestled among the pseudo-Freudian clutter, most notably Mr Brooks’s amusing paternal despair at the idea that his so-called ‘evil gene’ may have been passed on to his teenage daughter. And Costner laps up the chance to play a sicko, adding a creepy charm to his non-emoting everyman act. But while the film carries some serious heft as a hulking slab of manna from ’90s nostalgist heaven (Demi Moore also stars), this wannabe highbrow horror-thriller is a graceless, unfocused piece of work with a central narrative as tonally schizophrenic and wayward as its lead.

Author: David Jenkins

Time Out London Issue 1938: October 10-16 2007

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User reviews of this film

Jerry Tuck said...

Posted on Apr 14 2009 03:59 I was surprised by this movie. Loved the "tortured lives" Marshal alluded to since they shared one life between them. There were some delicious laughs but problems aplenty. My biggest was Brooks making that final call to the lady cop once he was obviously in the clear? I probably missed something but such a thing didn't track with Brook's character, tortured or not.

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alex said...

Posted on Nov 29 2008 02:26 i love that he vacuums up after crimes. probably one of the loudest things to do to attract attention after murdering someone.
awful, awful movie

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effigy said...

Posted on Jul 03 2008 23:15 the most annoying film I have ever seen.My partner and I picked it apart continually from the first ten minutes onwards.drivel.a chore to watch.someone wrote this screenplay while half asleep, none of the characters worked.the potential was there until they introduced ridiculous subplots and copied red dragon.it took all the best parts from other serial killer films and mashed them all up to make a tiresome film I couldnt help but criticise all the way through but persevered with as it was so ludicrous.

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Steve in Richmond said...

Posted on Jun 30 2008 10:58 I think this was a four star movie. I am not doing a doctorate in film and thus my rating is about whether the film is entertaining and interesting. I think that the TimeOut reviewer needs to cheer up a bit!

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ed said...

Posted on Mar 25 2008 12:29 you miss the point reviewer...
this film works as a hysterical comedy. everybody was in on the joke... this is the film SNAKES ON A PLANE whould have been....
the best "terrible" movie of the 2000s.... period!

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Beck said...

Posted on Nov 02 2007 11:38 I am going to see this film tonight and do not appreciate the comment about the curtains being open!!!!!!! I have a feeling you have just ruined the ending so thanks for that.

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Lora in Bury said...

Posted on Oct 31 2007 17:23 EXCELLENT film!! Well worth seeing, and definitly buy the fdvd when it comes out!!

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Col B said...

Posted on Oct 17 2007 08:05 Have to agree with Peter, this was a great film, dark, intelligent, with a well thought out plot. Great to see Kevin Costner play something other then a cowboy or hero type role. Well worth seeing, something to think about once the film is finished – the killer is intelligent and methodical making sure all loose ends or possible occurrences are considered, yet did not know the curtains would be open?? Or did he? Maybe he wants to be seen, up the game as it was.

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Peter said...

Posted on Oct 17 2007 05:41 The review nearly stopped me seeing this -- but it is a MUCH better film than the review suggests (and a glance at IMDB suggests that most people agree with me). The plot really flew along, lots of unexpected twists and turns, and a very nice line in black humour. So they do still make them like this, sometimes. And, I think we are being set up for a sequel!

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Col B said...

Posted on Oct 16 2007 16:20 Going to see this film tonite, will update tomorrow with my opinion, must say though that this site may wish to get new reviewers as they appear to be consistiently negative about every film out!!!!

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keith gardner said...

Posted on Oct 16 2007 02:26 quality film worth 4 stars. i was gripped till the end, well worth watching

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J in Wandsworth Town said...

Posted on Oct 11 2007 14:43 Wow, have to say that I completely disagree with this rating. I am not a big fan of either Thrillers or Kevin Costner, and only very reluctantly went to see this film - but I was really impressed by how good it was. The plot was filled with unforseen twists and Costner's performance was disturbingly good. I definitely think it deserved more than two stars!!

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