Plot
A psychological thriller about a man who is sometimes controlled by his murder-and-mayhem-loving alter ego.
Release Year: 2007
Rating: 7.4/10 (67,049 voted)
Critic's Score: 45/100
Director:
Bruce A. Evans
Stars: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, William Hurt
Storyline Earl Brooks is a highly respected businessman and was recently named Portland's Man of the Year. He hides a terrible secret however: he is a serial killer known as the Thumbprint Killer. He has been attending AA meetings and has kept his addiction to killing under control for two years now but his alter ego, Marshall, has re-appeared and is pushing him to kill again. When he does kill a couple while they are making love, he is seen and photographed by someone who also has his own death and murder fetish. In a parallel story, the police detective investigating the murder is having problems of her own. She is going through a messy divorce and a violent criminal who had vowed revenge some years before has escaped from prison and is after her.
Writers: Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon
Cast: Kevin Costner
-
Mr. Earl Brooks
Demi Moore
-
Det. Tracy Atwood
Dane Cook
-
Mr. Smith
William Hurt
-
Marshall
Marg Helgenberger
-
Emma Brooks
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
-
Hawkins
Danielle Panabaker
-
Jane Brooks
Aisha Hinds
-
Nancy Hart
Lindsay Crouse
-
Captain Lister
Jason Lewis
-
Jesse Vialo
Reiko Aylesworth
-
Sheila - Jesse's Lawyer
Matt Schulze
-
Thorton Meeks
Yasmine Delawari
-
Sunday
Traci Dinwiddie
-
Sarah Leaves
Michael Cole
-
Atwood's Lawyer
Taglines:
The man who has everything has everything to hide.
Opening Weekend: $10,017,067
(USA)
(3 June 2007)
(2453 Screens)
Gross: $28,476,219
(USA)
(12 August 2007)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Zach Braff was originally cast as Mr. Smith.
Goofs:
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.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mr. Earl Brooks:
[voice-over]
Oh God... God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Marshall:
[voice-over]
Why do you fight it so hard, Earl?
User Review
There's something about Mr. Brooks all right....
Rating: 8/10
This movie was not what I expected, but in a good way. I saw that Kevin
Costner was in it, and figured it would be a light-hearted drama. Then
I read that it was suspense, and figured he was a good-guy spy or
something. Not so.
I don't want to spoil exactly what Mr. Brooks is (even though it's
revealed in the early part of the movie), but let's just say he's not a
good guy. He is cold, brilliant, methodical, and heartless. Definitely
not the traits we normally expect from Kevin Costner. And yet, it's
fascinating to watch. I found myself rooting for him, and then had to
kick myself because his character is so despicable. Top notch acting
from him.
Dane Cook seems an odd casting choice for a suspense thriller, and yet
he is believable in his role as a cowardly average joe trying to get
the better of Mr. Brooks.
This movie is surprisingly graphic and brutal in some scenes. Yet it is
so engrossing that you will be hooked on every twist and turn (and
there are some good ones).
Not for the faint of heart, not your normal Costner flick, but a very
good movie.
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