Plot: What’s it about?
Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) has a beautiful wife, millions in the bank, and a killer instinct that refuses to be ignored. Not in the business sense either, as Mr. Brooks is tormented by an imaginary presence known as Marshall (William Hurt). Marshall reminds Mr. Brooks over and over of the pleasures of murder, driving him to take life after life. His reign of terror hasn’t gone unnoticed either, as he is known as The Thumbprint Killer and in charge of the case is Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore). She has been on his trail since the murders began, but it seems like the trail has gone cold. After an extended rest period, Mr. Brooks returns to the killing field and his rust is evident, as the scene is out of control. A witness even snaps photos of him at the scene, so time is running short for Mr. Brooks, but can Atwood ever capture The Thumbprint Killer?
I know, I know. Kevin Costner as a serial killer? Believe it or not, that isn’t the most unusual element within Mr. Brooks, a movie that never slows down to catch its breath. This movie is like a rampage, with new twists and turns around every corner and the pace moves at a brisk clip, so Mr. Brooks is quite the thrill ride. The abundance of sub-plots plays both ways, as some add a lot to the movie, while others grind along until they fizzle out. The various threads are well constructed and weave together nicely, but not all of them bring much to the table. The story does handle the serial killer concept well however, with no pressure to explain why, the movie can just roll on and entertain. Coster might be an odd choice, but he excels here and brings a lot of depth to the role, so this is not some blood crazed psycho, not even close. The rest of the cast is solid also, but Costner is the foundation and he carries Mr. Brooks well, even in the small details. This Blu-ray disc looks great, but the stylized visuals aren’t ace demo material. Even so, this is obviously the best version available, so Mr. Brooks earns a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
Mr. Brooks is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. As I mentioned above, this movie has a stylized presence and that means the transfer isn’t as spectacular as some might expect. But the movie is presented as intended, so while it might not be a showcase reel for high definition, the film looks excellent here. I found colors to be natural, if a touch restrained, while contrast is solid, but does soften at times. In terms of detail, this looks good, but not great. The depth provides more detail than the standard disc, but not the refinements of elite high definition transfers. So you won’t want to use this on your demo reel, but Mr. Brooks looks fine and gives us an accurate presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included lossless DTS HD option sounds excellent, but within the film’s sound design, you won’t find much razzle dazzle. In a few scenes the tension mounts and the action picks up, so in those moments, the surrounds do leap to life. The mix provides enough punch when called on, but you still shouldn’t expect dynamic presence. Most of the film is more laid back, driven by dialogue or subtle atmospheric touches to build tension. No issues arise in terms of dialogue, while the atmosphere is perfectly handled, just enough surround use to keep the suspense on tap. This disc also includes a Spanish language track, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
All of the supplements from the standard release are back, plus we have a cool serial killer trivia track, exclusive to the Blu-ray release and that is most welcome. An audio commentary is included, as director Bruce A. Evans and co-writer Raynold Gideon share their thoughts on the production. The track is decent, but veers to often into praising the cast and crew, which is never fun to endure. But there are some worthwhile moments and since the movie was made outside of the normal Hollywood regime, those stories are worth a listen. A total of three featurettes are included, but they’re mostly promotional and none have much substance. All run at ten minutes or less, so don’t expect too much. This disc also includes some deleted scenes, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
