“Zodiac”
"Zodiac" Directed by: David Fincher. Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Chloe Sevigny, Anthony Edwards.
"Zodiac", based on books by Robert Graysmith, is the retelling of the zodiac murders in 1970's San Francisco. I'm going to start out this review by admitting that I attempted, a few years ago, to read Graysmith's "Zodiac" and after several nights of horrible nightmares, put the book away and never picked it up again. So seeing this movie was a little bit of test for me. Would I have the same reaction to the story as a film version?
I'm happy to report no nightmares this time around, but not for lack of trying on David Fincher's part. I was absolutely entranced by this dark, realistic retelling of the murders. That the focus laid mainly on the investigators with the actual killings taking a backseat is what, I believe, saved me from more nightmares.
While this is a story about catching a serial killer, it is really about the effect of the chase on the men and women involved. Reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) and cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), get involved through the arrival of letters from the Zodiac killer at their San Francisco Chronicle office. From the perspective of the police, Mark Ruffalo is David Toschi, an animal cracker-loving inspector who's assigned the case with his partner Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards).
As the murders continue through the years, the police continue to find themselves just a step behind the killer. Eventually all the leads dry up and the police are unable to prosecute anyone. But by this time, Graysmith is obsessed with finding the killer and he takes it upon himself to catch him. With a little help here and there from Officer Toschi, Graysmith slowly puts together his case. But the closer he gets to it all, the more dangerous it becomes for he and his family. He starts receiving strange phone calls in the middle of the night and his wife fears for his life and the lives of his family.
"Zodiac" is more of a story about obsession than murder. The toll taken on all involved with the chase is undeniable. Relationships and health suffer as each person deals with it in their own way. Fincher's storytelling style hooks viewers into getting tangled up in the obsession as well. The closer Graysmith gets the more you want him to go on. That it's a story of unanswered obsession makes it even more interesting. While you realize a killer was never found, you'll almost believe he'll somehow solve the case anyway.
Story: B+
Acting: A
Visuals: B+
Originality: B
Enjoyability: B+
Overall: B+
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