RUNNING
TIME: 2 hr. 40 min.
RATING: R - some strong killings, language,
drug material and brief sexual images
CAST: Mark
Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey, Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox
DIRECTOR:
David Fincher
GENRE:
Docudrama, Mystery, Police Detective Film
During the late
1960’s and the early 1970’s while I was thinking the world was just perfect
watching Scooby Doo and reruns of Lost in Space, a horror was taking place in
northern California. A masked executioner, known as the Zodiac Killer, was
randomly killing people – couples, loners etc.
Although the
killer was never captured, there were several suspects that the police felt
with their hearts and souls were the killer, especially one Arthur Leigh Allen.
This mystery and
horror is now captured by David Fincher in the absorbing Zodiac. Honestly, I could
kick myself for not seeing this in the theater. To me, this is Fincher’s best
storytelling to date. I have been a big fan of Fincher’s work – Se7en, Fight
Club – not such a big fan – Panic Room – and thought he was downright awful –
Alien 3.
As in Se7en, he
is dealing with an unseen serial killer, but here, the killings are far more
brutal and less theatrical than Se7en, if that makes sense. The stabbing of a
tied up couple in the park or when a mother with infant is alone in the car
with the killer are some of the most harrowing scenes I have witnessed in ages.
But I’m getting
ahead of myself.
Zodiac actually
is actually a story of parallels as we follow San Francisco Chronicle
cartoonist, Robert Graysmith (who eventually wrote the book on which the film
is based) played by the exceptional Jake Gyllenhaal and reporter, Paul Avery
(Robert Downey Junior) as well as San Francisco detectives, played by Mark
Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards as they hunt for the identity of the killer.
This is a
mystery that hooks you from the opening credits. I think for two reasons. One –
it really happened. And two - the foursome is so damn good at creating
characters who we really want to go along on the ride and win.
This is also a
story of obsession, how something can consume us to the point of pushing the
ones close to us away from us. Or even destroying ourselves, as is the case of
Avery.
Fincher poses
the question, “is it better to
just step away or see the mission through?”
The film’s first
half deals with recreating some of the more famous Zodiac murders, beginning
with a young couple up on a Lover’s Lane. It also launched the famous taunting
he would do to the police and our reporters in various letters.
The second half
picks up years later once the killings have died down. The police have lost
interest. Robert Graysmith and detective Dave Toschi become obsessed with
finding the Zodiac.
Graysmith pieces
together various police reports to figure out who the killer is. Don’t worry I
won’t give it away.
Although rather
long, Fincher has put together one of the finest police dramas I have ever
seen. It perfectly captures the paranoia of the seventies. And is well worth
the viewing just to see the confrontation between Graysmith and the killer. It
will stay with me for quite a long time.
Don’t watch it
alone.
MOVIE: FIVE
BALL POINT PENS
EXTRAS: FIVE
BALL POINT PENS
Other David Fincher Movies: Se7en, Fight Club, Panic Room
Other Jake Gyllenhaal Movies: Brokeback Mountain, The Good Girl, The Day After Tomorrow
Other Robert Downey Jr. Movies: Less Than Zero, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Wonder Boys