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OR EMAILMovie Notes: Zodiac
= 5 stars
Starring Jake Gyllenhall, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
Directed by David Fincher
Amazon Link
Synopsis
Based on true events, late sixties bay area is stalked by a serial killer named the “Zodiac.” Reporters and cops alike are caught up in a never-ending search for the killer.
The Good
- Based on a true story, the film has an attention to detail that is admirable. A brief overview of the actual case itself reads like a play by play of the film.
- David Fincher’s style is perfectly suited for the material - clinical prescision, dark shadows (a basement scene near film’s end is particularly creepy).
- Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhall), a Chronicle cartoonist, becomes increasingly obsessed over the case, and his story soon takes over the film. We get an interesting take on his collapsing marriage, rather similar to Richard Dreyfuss’ alien obsession in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.
- The identity of the Zodiac proves an extremely effective Hitchcock-esque macguffin.
The Bad
- There a several moments where the elation of discovery washes over, where clues line up and the killer seems near capture, only to be whisked away. I grew to enjoy this suspenseful feeling of elation and disappointment, but it may piss people off who eventually want a film’s mysteries resolved.
- The film is darned long - 2 1/2 hours.
Conclusion
I found Zodiac so very haunting because transcends the murders and examines the complex nature of evil itself. The desire to expose evil has a damaging effect on the characters investigating the case. We see characters obsessing over the Zodiac decades after the killings, with no resources to do anything about it - they have the will but not the means.
Ultimately, sanity tells us to accept horrific evil and just move on with life. So is the endless quest to stop evil noble - or possibly insane? That Zodiac was made decades after the original case adds yet another layer of obsession.
IMBD: Zodiac
Wikipedia: Zodiac
Rotten Tomatoes: Zodiac
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"Heh... yeah now that I think about it, was that theater as empty as youremember? So many plot holes - of which you list several. I think Hubbardwrote himself into a corner with the premise - the humans are enslaved by anall powerful alien race, so how exactly do you get the humans to a levelwhere they can overthrow their masters? It seems half the solution wasmaking the Psychlos complete morons... anyhow, it's definitely good forlaughs." - 
Great film… a little long but you should see that!!!
I enjoyed this movie and thought the acting was very well-done. The elements used to recreate the feel of the time period were good - there was never anything that broke out of that. But the film’s pacing did lag about 2/3 of the way thru and got a bit bogged down for about 15-20 minutes.
I found myself eager to know more after it was over, so I’d say that’s an indicator of an effective mystery movie in itself.
Totally agree with Rob. When I watch a movie and start hitting up wikipedia for more info and am still thinking about the film for teh next couple of days I know I’ve just watched something worthwhile.
Despite the running length, it’s a worthy investment. It’s also great to see Robert Downey Jr. in a great role rather than on the cover of the tabloids in the supermarket checkout. I hope that guy can keep it up with Iron Man.
I did the same thing as Dave - I was looking up the Zodiac murders online right after the film was over. The filmmakers certainly paid attention to detail as all the characters and events line up pretty darned well.
thanks for the recommendation. I would have already seen this movie, because of the subject matter (I grew up in the Bay Area and was 6 when all of this started–but happily didn’t take a bus to school–although I did have it in my consciousness and had nightmares about bus accidents and children dying at that age) and because I like both Jake G. & Mark R. alot (and even Chloe Sevigny). But it got such bad reviews (mostly from my friends). But I thought it was a very good film. A little understated and slow at times, but for an American film those are more virtues. I also followed up by doing more reading online–always a good indication that it was an effective film.
In that vein I recommend the movie “Shattered Glass” which triggered online research after the film. Another very good film built on real life events.
I’m glad you gave it 5 stars ~ it made me go watch it.
Hi Liza, glad you liked it. Greg and Jesse said they liked it, so I checked it out. It reminded me of an old Hitchcock movie at times.