Mr. Brooks

RATING :: a grande, light ice, skim milk, 2-pump white mocha from Starbucks (my favorite summer drink)

"Please forgive me..."

How many of us have a bit of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde in us? We do things we speak vehemently against (i.e. binge drinking, careless sex, overeating, porn, acts of violence, etc) and find the acts plaguing our souls...always asking for forgiveness immediately after the act is done.

Meet Mr. Earl Brooks, a philanthropist and loving father. From all outside observations one would assume him to be a role model for the community. But Mr. Brooks is an addict. He attends AA meetings for this addiction but it's not what you think...he's a notorious serial killer. Kevin Costner brings us a devilishly delightful anti-hero we can't help but feel ourselves torn over just as he is torn.

Mr. Brooks has split himself in two...there's the man of business repute and then there is Marshall, the voice who rationalizes his immoral activities. He has been meticulous for years, avoiding all detection and stumping the police officer (Demi Moore) trying to catch him, but an impulsive kill after years of avoiding his killer tendency gets him caught in a complex web of blackmail and intrigue.

This is fascinating and complex little film, one I didn't expect to be so thoroughly engaging. It's not simply a thriller but also a pitch black satire and discussion started about generational sin. A nice break from the massive summer tent poles currently populating every theater in the country.