Zodiac: The Director's Cut
3.5/4
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Chloe Sevigny, Elias Koteas
Rated R for Some Strong Killings, Language, Drug Material and Brief Sexual Images
During the late 1960's and early 1970's, Southern California was terrorized by a serial killer who called himself the Zodiac and taunted the police through the newspapers. He was never caught.
David Fincher's film details the investigation from the second murder to the Robert Graysmith's resolution (while the killer was never officially caught, the story is resolved). At first, we follow police inspectors Dave Toschi (Ruffalo) and his partner, William Armstrong (Edwards) chase down leads and investigate. Once the killings stop, the film shifts gears as the investigation comes to a standstill. From there, the film's focus turns to Robert (who up until this point has been more or less a background character) whose obsession with closure may make him an unofficial casualty of the Zodiac.
There are three things one can be certain of when going into a movie directed by David Fincher: the acting will be strong, the film will please the eye, and it will be compelling (even if it doesn't quite work). All three are evidenced here. Fincher doesn't play favorites when it comes to cast members, seeing as he's never used a name actor more than once (at least thus far). From top to bottom, the actors are in top form. Jake Gyllenhaal is terrific as the Eagle Scout First Class who nearly solves the case. At first, Robert is like the young intern, tagging along with the big boys like legendary journalist Paul Avery (Downey Jr.). But when the case dries up for everyone else, he takes up the reins, and becomes more independent (and obsessed). Robert Downey Jr. is great as always as the rebellious writer who is sinking deeper and deeper into addiction. Mark Ruffalo has never been better than playing the devoted but pragmatic lead investigator. The supporting cast reads like a dream list of character actors (in a way, it's kind of like "JFK"): Chloe Sevigny, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, John Carroll Lynch, Philip Baker Hall, Elias Koteas, Donal Logue, Dermot Mulroney, Zach Grenier and Clea Duvall (who, surprisingly, is actually pretty good in her one scene).
David Fincher has a superior visual sense (he did, after all, make his mark on music videos). That's certainly true here, but not like in "Seven" or "Alien 3." Rather, the shot composition and the cinematography are extremely pleasing to the eye. It has a feel of one of those classic thrillers from the 70's (in fact, the opening logos for Warner Bros. and Paramount are the ones they used at the time the film is set). There are some truly beautiful cityscapes, bringing to mind Dante Spinotti's work in "Heat."
At 2.5 hours, the film is a hair long. There are so many characters that it's hard to keep track of who is who, and how it all fits together. There are times when it drags a little, particularly in the middle. A little judicious pruning, even for the director's cut, would only have helped things.
That said, anyone who loves crime stories must see this movie.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Chloe Sevigny, Elias Koteas
Rated R for Some Strong Killings, Language, Drug Material and Brief Sexual Images
During the late 1960's and early 1970's, Southern California was terrorized by a serial killer who called himself the Zodiac and taunted the police through the newspapers. He was never caught.
David Fincher's film details the investigation from the second murder to the Robert Graysmith's resolution (while the killer was never officially caught, the story is resolved). At first, we follow police inspectors Dave Toschi (Ruffalo) and his partner, William Armstrong (Edwards) chase down leads and investigate. Once the killings stop, the film shifts gears as the investigation comes to a standstill. From there, the film's focus turns to Robert (who up until this point has been more or less a background character) whose obsession with closure may make him an unofficial casualty of the Zodiac.
There are three things one can be certain of when going into a movie directed by David Fincher: the acting will be strong, the film will please the eye, and it will be compelling (even if it doesn't quite work). All three are evidenced here. Fincher doesn't play favorites when it comes to cast members, seeing as he's never used a name actor more than once (at least thus far). From top to bottom, the actors are in top form. Jake Gyllenhaal is terrific as the Eagle Scout First Class who nearly solves the case. At first, Robert is like the young intern, tagging along with the big boys like legendary journalist Paul Avery (Downey Jr.). But when the case dries up for everyone else, he takes up the reins, and becomes more independent (and obsessed). Robert Downey Jr. is great as always as the rebellious writer who is sinking deeper and deeper into addiction. Mark Ruffalo has never been better than playing the devoted but pragmatic lead investigator. The supporting cast reads like a dream list of character actors (in a way, it's kind of like "JFK"): Chloe Sevigny, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, John Carroll Lynch, Philip Baker Hall, Elias Koteas, Donal Logue, Dermot Mulroney, Zach Grenier and Clea Duvall (who, surprisingly, is actually pretty good in her one scene).
David Fincher has a superior visual sense (he did, after all, make his mark on music videos). That's certainly true here, but not like in "Seven" or "Alien 3." Rather, the shot composition and the cinematography are extremely pleasing to the eye. It has a feel of one of those classic thrillers from the 70's (in fact, the opening logos for Warner Bros. and Paramount are the ones they used at the time the film is set). There are some truly beautiful cityscapes, bringing to mind Dante Spinotti's work in "Heat."
At 2.5 hours, the film is a hair long. There are so many characters that it's hard to keep track of who is who, and how it all fits together. There are times when it drags a little, particularly in the middle. A little judicious pruning, even for the director's cut, would only have helped things.
That said, anyone who loves crime stories must see this movie.
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