“I am Shiva, the god of death.” GAWD! What a line! I still say that line with no abandon! lmao!

Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder, who played the lead counsel for U/North, was exceptional as the lawyer hired to protect the company (and her job!). Every person in this film was great to watch. She definitely deserved the Oscar!

There are definitive moments in the film that are almost breathtaking with the precision of the writing as well as the dialogue <sic>.

One case in point is the scene where the otherwise completely delusional Edens (loved the way this character was written!!!) suddenly provides remarkably lucid reasons why, under the N.Y law, Clayton and the firm are going to find it virtually impossible to have him put away. (e.g. in Citizen Kane where Orson Welles starts to recall a list of his assets to someone pointing out his, for lack of a better term, 'mindset' toward his own personal interests.)

This will definitely be in my collection. A must see for anyone who enjoys complexity. Great selection Vincent! Thank you!

I love your comments, Earende!

I had the exact same thought when Clayton was confronting Edens in the street. One moment he's babbling about fresh bread and getting his thoughts together, and the next he's outlining what it takes to involuntarily commit someone legally. Too good!

Clayton: "I'm not the enemy!"

Edens: "Then what are you?"

Here's the bonus question: Did you see "Mr. Brooks"? I LOVED that!

”Regular people do strange things sometimes”. - Mr. Brooks

Pretty good entertaining thriller in the “serial killer” theme with a lot of suspense and creepy look into criminal’s mind.

Unlike other movies about serial killers (American Psycho <nuts!>, Silence of the Lambs<historic!>), this is the first movie that lets the viewer into the world and into the mind of the serial killer.

'Til now the mind of a murderer was impenetrable, and we couldn't relate to them, they seemed to be, well, just freaks. The great thing about the Costner cast as 'Mr Brooks' is that by him being a regular family man and a serial killer makes him more human and even more creepy.

The chemistry between Earl Brooks and Marshall is amazing! I just loved it. Marshall is whispering into Brooks’s ear like Smeagol into Gollum’s ear in LOTR, but, Marshall feels so real to me, it’s not immediately obvious that he’s not. It took me a second to notice that.

His daughter Jane (stealthly played by Danielle Panabaker) was a pretty interesting character because (implausibly) she might have inherited her father’s killer gene (and might even have couple of unsolved murders on her resume as well.). She could have been developed a little more though.

All in all I enjoyed it. Crazy ending.

You are a mind-reader, Earende. I thought the conversations between Marshall and Mr. Brooks were fantastic. One moment Brooks was swearing he'd never do it again (while Marshall was laughing at him), and the next Marshall is comforting him because Brooks realizes his daughter has inherited his problem.

I also thought Dane Cook did a superb job. His was an unlikeable character, and he also had to display such a wide range of emotions (contempt, anger, disappointment, just to name a few)

I thought the part about the daughter possibly inheriting his predisposition was frightening enough, but then I remembered she's pregnant (and may have killed the baby's father) so there's yet another human being who might be just like Brooks and his daughter!

You make great observations, Earende--insightful and well put.

This movie was insane! Gotta love the quotes! Too funny.

I'll admit it. Not a big fan of Clooney's. However, my girlfriend is. When she wanted to see the movie, I was like oh no....no brother...but this movie made me take notice. All of the characters should have been nominated for oscars. I was impressed. Edens was just sane/insane. In/out. I didn't know what the hell was gonna happen.

I agree. Great insight E! Highly recommended.

Mr. Brook's. Yep. Dragged my girlfriend to see THAT one!

One thing...I know that Brooks/Marshall conversation when they were in the car and commented/wanted/wished Dane Cook's character

would be hit by a car, (and almost was) and they both burst out laughing had me dying for about 10 minutes!!!!

Sick!

I'm going to admit it--the scene you referenced, Zen, is my favorite in the whole film. They're sitting there watching Dane Cook (Mr. Smith) as he waits for them to pick him up, and Marshall makes the comment about hoping Mr. Smith will get hit by a car crossing the street.

Up to that point the dialogue between Brooks and Marshall had been pretty antagonistic, and yet this is where we are reminded that Marshall IS Brooks. For a moment it looks like Kevin Costner is about to scold Marshall for even thinking such a thing, but then they both crack up laughing (they start and stop at the same time, too).

Great observation, Zen.