Length: 162 minutes Rating:R (MPAA) Rating Reason: some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images UPC: 097361313245 Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
Dramas, Detectives, True Story, Murder, Cops, Theatrical Release, Crime, Serial Killers, California, Murder Mysteries, 1960s, 1970s, Murder Investigations, Based On A Novel
Description
David Fincher's (FIGHT CLUB, SE7EN) adaptation of the Robert Graysmith book masterfully transports viewers to the Bay Area in the 1960s and '70s by drawing on actual case files from the notoriously unsolved Zodiac killer mystery. As a murderer with seemingly random targets starts sending terrifying threats and cryptic codes to police and publishers all around San Francisco, fear and paranoia descend on the city. Through slow pacing, Fincher creates an effectively chilling atmosphere in which he spins a thick web of character-driven plotlines. Early scenes depicting the Zodiac's first-known murders vividly capture the victim's fear and agony and will leave viewers haunted. When the Zodiac's ciphers arrive at the San Francisco Chronicle, they spark the interest of Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a young cartoonist with a penchant for puzzles. As the former Boy Scout earnestly tries to decode the messages, eccentric reporter Paul Avery approaches the case from a career-boosting angle. Meanwhile, a string of investigators from four jurisdictions carry on a complex and unsatisfying search for the elusive killer. Inspectors Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) at times collide with Avery and Graysmith, whose interest in the case extends long after most have given up.
Even at two-and-a-half hours in length, this dense murder mystery should manage to keep its audience riveted throughout. Paired with stellar performances from Ruffalo, Downey, Gyllenhaal, and countless others, a clever script produces well-developed characters, and the film's art direction, music, and costumes all combine to create an authentic sense of time and place. The somber tone of the atmospheric thriller gives the film a documentary-like aesthetic at times, lending weight to the story's facts while never relying on cheap tricks. Unlike murder mysteries such as THE BLACK DAHLIA, ZODIAC invites viewers to develop theories of their own, allowing them to come to their own conclusions.
DVD Features
Blu-ray Disc Features:
2-Disc Set Sensormatic Director's Cut Full Frame - 1.33 Widescreen - 1.85 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus - English Subtitles - English, French, Spanish Additional Release Material: Featruettes: 1. Zodiac Deciphered HD 2. Blue Rock Springs HD 3. The San Francisco Chronicle HD 4. The Hall of Justice HD 5. Presidio Heights HD 6. Lake Berryessa HD 7. Obsession HD 8. The Visual Effects of Zodiac HD 9. Previsualization 10. Blue Rock Springs 11. Lake Berryessa 12. San Francisco 13. The Facts 14. This is the Zodiac Speaking 15. Lake Herman Road HD 16. Prime Suspect 17. His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen HD Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer HD Audio Commentary: 1. David Fincher - Director 2. Jake Gyllenhall - Star, Robert Downey Jr. - Star, Brad Fischer - Producer, James Vanderbilt - Writer, James Ellroy - Writer Featurette: 1. The Visual Effects of Zodiac 2. Previsualization Documentary: 1. Zodiac Deciphered 2. This is Zodiac Speaking 3. His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen
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I am not sold on this film. At over two and a half hours, it seemed as long as the investigation itself. Why didn't David Fincher give us a tight and exciting film like Se7en? Yes, the investigation... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
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"Zodiac" is the latest film from David Fincher whose movies so far (with the depressing exception of "Alien 3") have been great examples of brilliant filmmaking. David definetly has a style all his... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on November 11, 2007
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This movie is a perfect example of how being driven to solve a mystery or a puzzle can give way to obsession. Finding just enough a clue to keep you looking for the answer, but not revealing anything... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
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