Mr. Brooks Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Mr. Brooks" on Fox's 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode finely captures the film's atmospheric and visually dark essence, staying true to its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The high bitrate compression notably enhances the film's challenging darker sequences, offering an exceptional level of shadow detail that stands out impressively. Blacks remain deep and convincing across various scenes, reinforcing the mood without overwhelming it, while brighter sections manage a balance that avoids appearing overexposed. The preservation of the film's grain structure and the absence of compression artifacts underline a meticulous transfer process that respects the source material's quality and texture.

However, "Mr. Brooks" exhibits some inconsistencies in its video presentation, mirroring the complex nature of its lead character. While the source quality is undeniably pristine, resulting in a crisp and smooth image laden with fine details such as fabric textures and skin nuances, there are moments where color rendition and contrast levels falter. An intentional color shift towards a blue-green tint adds a stylized look that does not detract overall but may alienate purists seeking naturalistic hues. The real caveat lies in the handling of black levels and contrast; blacks sometimes appear less than pure, giving rise to a faintly washed-out appearance. Additionally, contrast fluctuations—especially at the high-end—compromise detail and diminish the overall 'pop' of the image, leaving a sense that with further refinement, this Blu-ray could have achieved even greater visual fidelity.

Despite these criticisms, Fox's release of "Mr. Brooks" on Blu-ray ultimately provides a generally commendable video experience. The exceptional detail in both dark and light sequences alongside a well-maintained color balance showcases significant strengths. It's a presentation that will likely satisfy most, even if it leaves room for slight enhancements in black levels and contrast consistency to elevate it from good to excellent.

The audio presentation of "Mr. Brooks" on Blu-ray, courtesy of Fox, delivers a striking DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, boasting both advantages and areas for improvement in its sonic landscape. The track’s utilization of the 1.5 MB/s lossy core, a limitation due to equipment constraints, still manifests a rich and invigorating auditory experience. The mix impressively employs the rear surround channels, crafting an enveloping atmosphere that enhances the film's dimensional feel. Dialogue clarity and positioning are executed with precision, ensuring each word is easily discernible amidst the film’s chilling musical backdrop and occasional sharp audio jolts. This meticulous attention to auditory detail places this mix among the higher echelons of Fox’s Blu-ray sound productions.

However, despite its technical prowess, the audio mix on "Mr. Brooks" exhibits a restrained aggressiveness, particularly in its surround sound presence which feels underutilized. This nuance becomes more apparent in a film that leans heavily on character introspection over horror elements, where a robust surround implementation could have intensified its atmospheric tension. The ambient scoring and sound design, while creatively distinct and well-recorded with crystal-clear fidelity across frequencies, shy away from a full immersion by sparingly bleeding into the rear channels. This cautious approach, while still producing an impeccably clear and listenable track, unfortunately limits the potential depth and envelopment of the film's soundscape.

On a positive note, the audio presentation excels in delivering flawlessly recorded dialogue, standing out as a highlight within the mix. Combined with an absence of volume balancing issues and a deep bass that adds a satisfying weight to the audio composition, "Mr. Brooks" maintains a commendable level of audio quality. While there exists room for enhancement in surround sound dynamism and environmental immersion, the audio track remains a proficiently engineered component of this Blu-ray release, ensuring a satisfactory auditory experience throughout.

The "Mr. Brooks" Blu-ray extras package, while boasting a decent quantity of content, offers little in actual substance or insight, reflecting an overarching sense of self-congratulation from its creators. The audio commentary with director Bruce A. Evans and co-writer Raynold Gideon is disappointingly smug and often lacks engagement, barely scratching the surface of the film's deeper thematic elements or production challenges. The three offered featurettes, including insights on the film's writing and character development, feel overly promotional and fail to provide meaningful depth, acting more as extended commercials than informative behind-the-scenes looks. Deleted scenes add slight variety but lack significant impact, with most being unremarkable extensions rather than entirely fresh content. However, the inclusion of high-quality theatrical trailers for "Mr. Brooks" and other Fox Blu-ray titles presents a redeeming feature with their superior visual and audio presentation, making them a brief highlight in an otherwise underwhelming set of extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Director Bruce Evans and Writer Raynold Gideon: Limited insights into the film's production and themes.
• The Birth of a Serial Killer: The Writing of Mr. Brooks: A self-congratulatory look at the screenplay's development.
• Murder on their Minds: Mr. Brooks, Marshall and Mr. Smith: Cast reflections on their characters' psychological depths.
• On the Set of Mr. Brooks: A superficial behind-the-scenes featurette.
• Deleted Scenes: Six minor scene extensions with minimal impact.
• Theatrical Trailers: High-quality trailers for "Mr. Brooks" and select Fox Blu-ray releases.

Mr. Brooks," starring Kevin Costner in an unanticipated yet gripping role as a serial killer, marks a distinguished departure from his more traditional roles and propels the film beyond the realm of typical genre offerings. Alongside William Hurt, who portrays Mr. Brooks’ darker alter ego Marshall with chilling efficacy, the duo navigates the tumultuous waters of a psychological thriller that intertwines elements of police procedural intricacies and in-depth character studies. The narrative delves deep into the psyche of a seemingly ordinary man, revealing a horrifying hobby of systematic killing. This exploration is made even more compelling by the inclusion of a subplot involving a blackmailer with sinister desires, played convincingly by Dane Cook, and a complex detective character portrayed by Demi Moore, whose performance, despite being critiqued for narrative underdevelopment, adds a crucial dynamic to the unfolding drama.

The strength of "Mr. Brooks" lies not just in its stellar cast but also in its nuanced storytelling and its ability to maintain tension through a mix of domestic normalcy and underlying malevolence. The film skillfully paints a portrait of Mr. Brooks as a man battling with his murderous impulses, likening his addiction to murder to that of any other addiction, which adds a layer of plausibility to his efforts to resist his gruesome urges. This psychological depth, matched with unexpectedly humanizing moments, elevates the narrative beyond mere horror tropes, proposing a blend that’s both innovative and disturbing.

However, despite these commendable aspects, "Mr. Brooks" doesn’t entirely escape criticism. Its ambitious setup hints at a broader narrative arc possibly intended to span a trilogy, resulting in a conclusion that feels somewhat unresolved, leaving audiences hanging with unanswered questions and underexplored characters, particularly in the case of Moore's Detective Tracy Atwood. Such narrative shortcomings notwithstanding, the film’s exploration of its titular character's dual life and the performances that bring this duality to life make "Mr. Brooks" a fascinating, if flawed, delve into the mind of a serial killer, signalling it as a must-see for those fascinated by the darker aspects of human nature embedded within suburban façades.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Mr. Brooks" provides an engaging experience for viewers fascinated by the darker side of cinema, thanks to its compelling narrative and the remarkable performances of William Hurt and Kevin Costner. These actors step out of their comfort zones to portray characters deeply entwined in a psychological drama that is both disturbing and intriguing. The film itself, despite having its share of narrative issues and an underwhelming final act, manages to captivate with its unique take on the serial killer genre, offering enough intrigue to possibly improve upon subsequent viewings. The technical aspects of this Blu-ray edition particularly shine, featuring a high bitrate encode that does justice to the film's challenging visual material and a DTS HD-Master Audio soundtrack that’s both active and thrilling, ensuring an immersive viewing experience.

However, the release does not come without its drawbacks. The supplemental section of the Blu-ray disc is somewhat disappointing. It falls short in providing an expansive array of extra features that could have offered deeper insights into the film’s complex narrative and production. This aspect stands as a missed opportunity to enhance the overall viewing experience, leaving fans and new viewers alike wanting more. The video and audio quality, while good, don’t quite reach the levels of excellence some might expect, although they still significantly contribute to the enjoyment of the film.

In conclusion, while the Blu-ray release of "Mr. Brooks" excels in delivering a high-quality visual and auditory experience, it doesn't quite fulfill expectations regarding supplemental content. Despite these minor shortcomings, the outstanding performances, coupled with a fresh twist on the serial killer theme, make "Mr. Brooks" a worthy addition to any collection, especially for those who have a penchant for psychological dramas and horror movies._EV0005