Zodiac

Zodiac (2007)

Runtime: I saw the 162 minute Director's Cut

Directed by: David Fincher

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey, Jr., Anthony Edwards, Chloe Sevigny

From: Paramount/Warner Bros.

Now's the topical time to view and discuss Zodiac.

For those unaware, just a few days ago several code-breakers collaborated on breaking a cipher from the Zodiac Killer, 51 years after it was sent. As important information-such as his identity-could have been hidden in that screed, it could have been huge news. The end result: it was more of Zodiac being braggadocious and echoing the insane blatherings he had boasted about before & after. Yet it was still a surprising development-and there are still some ciphers which still have not been cracked as of this time-and it finally inspired me to check it out. In hindsight, this screening should have happened last year, despite me not loving director David Fincher like most others do... details to come later.

As it's one of the most famous unsolved crime sprees of the past 100 years, I am not revealing any spoilers by mentioning how the identity of the Zodiac Killer has never been proven, or how he killed five people and attempted to kill two others-although he did claim far more murders-or his handwritten notes or those ciphers. The movie (based on two books by Robert Graysmith, who was portrayed here by Jake Gyllenhaal) suggests that it was Arthur Lee Allen behind the mysterious identity; indeed, plenty of circumstantial evidence pointed his way, although some other evidence seemed to exclude him so that's why he was never charged and there have been no shortage of other possible suspects.

The film has plenty of familiar faces who by and large delivered quality performances; also key for a period piece was how well Northern California from 1969 through the 70's was presented and that was done great whether it was the on-point soundtrack of period music or the overall look. Zodiac is not just the investigation of this infamous serial killer-rather, it also shows the damage done to Graysmith, police officer Brian Toschi (an inspiration for both Bullitt and Dirty Harry) & newspaper reporter Paul Avery. By Hollywood standards this motion picture seemed to be pretty accurate, although apparently Avery did not have a close relationship w/ Graysmith and his personal issues were not entirely because of any obsession with this case. I will give Graysmith credit for presenting himself as someone who ruined his marriage by becoming so wrapped up in attempting to crack the case.

Last December after I saw Memories of Murder it was recommended to me by someone on a messageboard to then see Zodiac; besides it taking so long because I am me, Memories was something I did not enjoy at all because the three cop leads were all pretty repugnant people that were not enjoyable to follow at all. At least the three leads here were all memorable characters I did not hate even with some of their foolish choices. Director David Fincher I do not love like most other people; not all of the movies I've seen from him have been reviewed on Letterboxd but one day Fight Club should be given a second shot so it can be discovered if it was as intolerable and smug as I thought it was 20 years ago. Gone Girl had about 50 plot holes and logical fallacies so that wasn't a pleasant time for me either... at least Zodiac can be given high marks by myself.