could have been better without demi subplot

Exactly.

So true.

*spoilers*

Yeah - for the most part. The extended attention the movie pays to her character's divorce does serve the plot a bit in that it gives the Thumbprint Killer a couple of targets later on in the movie. And Mr Brooks does lead Moore's character to the Hangman Killers. I got the idea the movie was trying to establish some type of relationship/connection between Moore & Costner, but it never really worked. Demi Moore's character was someone we were supposed to bond with, but that never really worked, either. Rather than being sympathetic she was instead annoying.

I actually enjoyed Atwood's character and her subplot in the film, though there were too many subplots in the film added in. However Atwood was an interesting character in her determination to find the killer while her life was also spiralling out of control with her divorce.

I would have liked the relationship with her father to have been explored more since he was a key factor in what has shaped her motivations in life.

I thought her subplot was surprisingly interesting, both of her subplots actually...

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001