...an effective reenactment of some riveting real-life events.
In forsaking the typical serial killer genre, Fincher dove headlong into the dreaded "based on actual events" genre. We're even told that at the outset: "...based on actual case files." And that's, alternately, what is right and wrong with this film: It adheres so closely to the books written by the real-life Graysmith, it never pops its head up to care what its doing. The information is all there, irrefutably, but the emotion is gone. When Graysmith's wife leaves him (along with the kids), he doesn't start cursing uncontrollably or vow to give up the Zodiac investigation; he lets her go and focuses even more on Zodiac. This is a man whose priorities are seriously out of touch with where they should be.
Before we wrap up, it would be wrong not to mention the cast. Gyllenhaal shows he is more than a one-note cowboy. In the aforementioned basement sequence, there is a terror in his eyes absent during the rest of the film. Somehow, at that moment, we understand the horrific thoughts running through his head, more horrific than the idea of losing his family. He is fearful for himself. Downey, Jr., does what he does best: the just-off-center character who brings a bit of spice to the story. Regrettably, the Paul Avery character drops out of the narrative far too early. Brian Cox, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Chloe Sevigny, Clea DuVall (in a blink and you miss her role), Philip Baker Hall...they all add to the overall narrative, flawed as it is.
The overload of information about the Zodiac feels too much like reading a case file without any real human emotion. Well produced, "Zodiac" is a diversion and a history lesson, but, sadly, little more.
Jason's Film Rating: 6/10
The Film According to Dean:
The name David Fincher first came to my attention when I needed someone to blame for the horrid debacle known as "Alien 3." The "Alien" franchise was among my favorites after the first two films, but Fincher's creation simply stunk. The director then made some amends with the powerful and gripping thriller "Se7en." That was perhaps my favorite film of 1995. The next time David Fincher's name came to my attention was his second collaboration with Brad Pitt, the thought-provoking and entertaining picture "Fight Club." These two films are evidence that Fincher can excel with proper material, and his two other major motion pictures, "The Game" and "Panic Room," are themselves solid films, and Fincher followed them with the true-life thriller "Zodiac."
"Zodiac" is based upon the books by Zodiac killer chronicler Robert Graysmith. Graysmith was a cartoonist for the San Francisco "Chronicle" during the height of the Zodiac murders. Graysmith had become heavily involved with the details surrounding the mysterious serial killer and devoted his entire life to pursuing the facts and hoping to discover the identity of the killer that had baffled police. The picture stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith and features a strong supporting cast including Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Chloe Sevigny and Elias Koteas.
On July 4th, 1969, the Zodiac killer slaughtered Darlene Ferrin and nearly killed her boyfriend Mike Mageau. The film begins with this event and starts looking at the investigation into the Zodiac killer. San Francisco detectives David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) are assigned to the case and struggle to uncover evidence and create some cooperation with Vallejo detectives and the press, which includes reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) and cartoonist Graysmith. The Zodiac killer had sent a letter to Avery, and Graysmith had decrypted one of the coded messages sent by the killer. They start to begin their own investigation into the killings and are not always supported by the detectives in charge of the case. Eventually, the police uncover a prime suspect, Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch), but are unable to find enough supporting evidence to charge Allen as the Zodiac killer.
As the years pass and the trail begins to get cold, Armstrong transfers to a new department and leaves his partner Toschi as the sole investigator for the case. The hard-drinking and hard-living Paul Avery dies of a respiratory problem as a result of his smoking. There is hardly any interest in uncovering the facts of the Zodiac killings, but Graysmith becomes infatuated with his own investigation and continues on with the case. He finds a reluctant partnership with Toschi and some of the police detectives from Vallejo and other communities that had been part of the investigation. Graysmith's fanatical research into the killings brings about an end to his marriage, but it does not stop his pursuit of knowledge. Eventually, Graysmith finds the man he is searching for and believes he has uncovered the true identity of the Zodiac killer.
"Zodiac" is a good film by Fincher. The film moves slowly and delves deep into the police investigation and details pertaining to the Zodiac and Graysmith's writings. With the film's strong attention to detail, the film feels plodding and heavy for long stretches of time, but it never becomes uninteresting. The very strong cast assembled for the production helps "Zodiac" through every scene. There are not many better actors in Hollywood today than Robert Downey, Jr., but Jake Gyllenhaal continually proves he is worth an almost equal amount of praise. The rest of the cast builds credibility towards the real-life case detailed by Graysmith, and "Zodiac" becomes a superior true-life crime drama that is intriguing in its details and purposeful in its vision. The film cannot eclipse Fincher's own "Se7en," but that was a fictional work, and this one is based on true life. The events in "Zodiac" are not difficult to believe, whereas "Se7en" was completely over the edge. Grounded in realism, "Zodiac" does feel heavy, and it never fails to hold one's interest.
Dean's Film Rating: 8/10
Video:
Here's the thing: I don't think the video quality on this disc is among the best I've ever seen, but, then, when I originally saw the movie in a theater, I didn't think it had the best picture quality I'd ever seen there, either. Yes, the MPEG4/AVC transfer is probably as good as one can expect because it conveys all of the film's 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and its colors and definition are just as I remember them from the theater. However, the colors are not at all bright or particularly vivid; Fincher intended them to look subdued to complement the understated tone of this movie. Like "Fight Club," especially, he seems partial to mild greenish-yellow tints and the occasional dark, murky scene. Definition is slightly soft in medium and long shots, better in close-ups. And although the screen is quite clean, one notices a normal light film grain and a few minor moiré effects in the lines of perpendicular buildings and Venetian blinds.
Audio:
There isn't a lot to say about the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 sound. Certainly, there was little reason for Paramount to put a TrueHD track on the disc, even if they had room for one. The fact is, Fincher took the sort of semidocumentary approach to the subject matter I mentioned earlier, and that means that very few scenes contain any dramatic sonic content. Mostly, Fincher creates a realistic setting of subtle surround sounds, like typewriters, crowd noises, footsteps, rain, and thunder. The bass line is modest but dependable, the highs are sparkling when necessary, and the midrange is admirably smooth and clear. Otherwise, there just isn't enough going on to speak of.
Extras:
Disc one contains the feature film and a pair of no-nonsense audio commentaries, the first by director David Fincher and the other by co-stars Jake Gyllenhall and Robert Downey, Jr., producer Brad Fischer, screenwriter/producer James Vanderbilt, and crime novelist James Ellroy. In addition, you'll find twenty-seven scene selections; English as the only spoken language; English, French, and Spanish subtitles, with English captions for the hearing impaired; and, of course, pop-up menus, bookmarks, and an Elite Red 2-Disc HD case.
Disc two contains the rest of the extras, most of them newly made documentaries in high definition. These bonus items are divided into two categories, "The Film" and "The Facts." First up under "The Film" is "Zodiac Deciphered," a seven-chapter, fifty-four-minute documentary on the making of the movie. It is a highly detailed behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking, with segments on "Blue Rock Springs," "The San Francisco Chronicle," "The Hall of Justice," "Presidio Heights," "Lake Berryessa," and "Obsession," featuring interviews with practically everyone involved in the production of the film. Following that documentary we get a fifteen-minute bit called "The Visual Effects of Zodiac," self-explanatory; and about six minutes of "Previsualization," split-screen comparisons of three scenes in CGI storyboards and finished product (and the only sections in standard definition); they include "Blue Rock Springs," "Lake Berryessa," and "San Francisco." Finishing up "The Film" section is a widescreen theatrical trailer.
Next, we come to "The Facts," which contains two more documentaries. The first and longest of these is the 102-minute doc "This Is the Zodiac Speaking." It's divided into four chapters, each corresponding to a key murder scene: "Lake Herman Road," "Blue Rock Springs," "Lake Berryessa," and "San Francisco." This documentary takes you into the crime scenes with archival footage, present-day footage, maps, and interviews with the surviving officers and participants in the actual events. Then, the final bonus item is probably the most fascinating of all: "Prime Suspect: His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen." In this forty-two-minute documentary we hear from a number of people who knew the leading suspect in the case, and they describe his personality and behavior.
Parting Thoughts:
So, there you have it: Three different people, three different opinions. David Fincher did not make another "Fight Club" or "Se7en," but he did make a good movie version of a real-life crime spree that still intrigues people a quarter of a century later. Neither horror film nor thriller, "Zodiac" is nevertheless a competent drama and splendid character study, filled out with some of the finest acting you'll see in any Fincher film. While I'm not sure that the Director's Cut adds much of value, it probably serves its purpose in offering bargain hunters something more for their money. About four minutes more, when a little less would have been better. Oh, well....
Before we wrap up, it would be wrong not to mention the cast. Gyllenhaal shows he is more than a one-note cowboy. In the aforementioned basement sequence, there is a terror in his eyes absent during the rest of the film. Somehow, at that moment, we understand the horrific thoughts running through his head, more horrific than the idea of losing his family. He is fearful for himself. Downey, Jr., does what he does best: the just-off-center character who brings a bit of spice to the story. Regrettably, the Paul Avery character drops out of the narrative far too early. Brian Cox, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Chloe Sevigny, Clea DuVall (in a blink and you miss her role), Philip Baker Hall...they all add to the overall narrative, flawed as it is.
The overload of information about the Zodiac feels too much like reading a case file without any real human emotion. Well produced, "Zodiac" is a diversion and a history lesson, but, sadly, little more.
Jason's Film Rating: 6/10
The Film According to Dean:
The name David Fincher first came to my attention when I needed someone to blame for the horrid debacle known as "Alien 3." The "Alien" franchise was among my favorites after the first two films, but Fincher's creation simply stunk. The director then made some amends with the powerful and gripping thriller "Se7en." That was perhaps my favorite film of 1995. The next time David Fincher's name came to my attention was his second collaboration with Brad Pitt, the thought-provoking and entertaining picture "Fight Club." These two films are evidence that Fincher can excel with proper material, and his two other major motion pictures, "The Game" and "Panic Room," are themselves solid films, and Fincher followed them with the true-life thriller "Zodiac."
"Zodiac" is based upon the books by Zodiac killer chronicler Robert Graysmith. Graysmith was a cartoonist for the San Francisco "Chronicle" during the height of the Zodiac murders. Graysmith had become heavily involved with the details surrounding the mysterious serial killer and devoted his entire life to pursuing the facts and hoping to discover the identity of the killer that had baffled police. The picture stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith and features a strong supporting cast including Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Chloe Sevigny and Elias Koteas.
On July 4th, 1969, the Zodiac killer slaughtered Darlene Ferrin and nearly killed her boyfriend Mike Mageau. The film begins with this event and starts looking at the investigation into the Zodiac killer. San Francisco detectives David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) are assigned to the case and struggle to uncover evidence and create some cooperation with Vallejo detectives and the press, which includes reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) and cartoonist Graysmith. The Zodiac killer had sent a letter to Avery, and Graysmith had decrypted one of the coded messages sent by the killer. They start to begin their own investigation into the killings and are not always supported by the detectives in charge of the case. Eventually, the police uncover a prime suspect, Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch), but are unable to find enough supporting evidence to charge Allen as the Zodiac killer.
As the years pass and the trail begins to get cold, Armstrong transfers to a new department and leaves his partner Toschi as the sole investigator for the case. The hard-drinking and hard-living Paul Avery dies of a respiratory problem as a result of his smoking. There is hardly any interest in uncovering the facts of the Zodiac killings, but Graysmith becomes infatuated with his own investigation and continues on with the case. He finds a reluctant partnership with Toschi and some of the police detectives from Vallejo and other communities that had been part of the investigation. Graysmith's fanatical research into the killings brings about an end to his marriage, but it does not stop his pursuit of knowledge. Eventually, Graysmith finds the man he is searching for and believes he has uncovered the true identity of the Zodiac killer.
"Zodiac" is a good film by Fincher. The film moves slowly and delves deep into the police investigation and details pertaining to the Zodiac and Graysmith's writings. With the film's strong attention to detail, the film feels plodding and heavy for long stretches of time, but it never becomes uninteresting. The very strong cast assembled for the production helps "Zodiac" through every scene. There are not many better actors in Hollywood today than Robert Downey, Jr., but Jake Gyllenhaal continually proves he is worth an almost equal amount of praise. The rest of the cast builds credibility towards the real-life case detailed by Graysmith, and "Zodiac" becomes a superior true-life crime drama that is intriguing in its details and purposeful in its vision. The film cannot eclipse Fincher's own "Se7en," but that was a fictional work, and this one is based on true life. The events in "Zodiac" are not difficult to believe, whereas "Se7en" was completely over the edge. Grounded in realism, "Zodiac" does feel heavy, and it never fails to hold one's interest.
Dean's Film Rating: 8/10
Video:
Here's the thing: I don't think the video quality on this disc is among the best I've ever seen, but, then, when I originally saw the movie in a theater, I didn't think it had the best picture quality I'd ever seen there, either. Yes, the MPEG4/AVC transfer is probably as good as one can expect because it conveys all of the film's 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and its colors and definition are just as I remember them from the theater. However, the colors are not at all bright or particularly vivid; Fincher intended them to look subdued to complement the understated tone of this movie. Like "Fight Club," especially, he seems partial to mild greenish-yellow tints and the occasional dark, murky scene. Definition is slightly soft in medium and long shots, better in close-ups. And although the screen is quite clean, one notices a normal light film grain and a few minor moiré effects in the lines of perpendicular buildings and Venetian blinds.
Audio:
There isn't a lot to say about the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 sound. Certainly, there was little reason for Paramount to put a TrueHD track on the disc, even if they had room for one. The fact is, Fincher took the sort of semidocumentary approach to the subject matter I mentioned earlier, and that means that very few scenes contain any dramatic sonic content. Mostly, Fincher creates a realistic setting of subtle surround sounds, like typewriters, crowd noises, footsteps, rain, and thunder. The bass line is modest but dependable, the highs are sparkling when necessary, and the midrange is admirably smooth and clear. Otherwise, there just isn't enough going on to speak of.
Extras:
Disc one contains the feature film and a pair of no-nonsense audio commentaries, the first by director David Fincher and the other by co-stars Jake Gyllenhall and Robert Downey, Jr., producer Brad Fischer, screenwriter/producer James Vanderbilt, and crime novelist James Ellroy. In addition, you'll find twenty-seven scene selections; English as the only spoken language; English, French, and Spanish subtitles, with English captions for the hearing impaired; and, of course, pop-up menus, bookmarks, and an Elite Red 2-Disc HD case.
Disc two contains the rest of the extras, most of them newly made documentaries in high definition. These bonus items are divided into two categories, "The Film" and "The Facts." First up under "The Film" is "Zodiac Deciphered," a seven-chapter, fifty-four-minute documentary on the making of the movie. It is a highly detailed behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking, with segments on "Blue Rock Springs," "The San Francisco Chronicle," "The Hall of Justice," "Presidio Heights," "Lake Berryessa," and "Obsession," featuring interviews with practically everyone involved in the production of the film. Following that documentary we get a fifteen-minute bit called "The Visual Effects of Zodiac," self-explanatory; and about six minutes of "Previsualization," split-screen comparisons of three scenes in CGI storyboards and finished product (and the only sections in standard definition); they include "Blue Rock Springs," "Lake Berryessa," and "San Francisco." Finishing up "The Film" section is a widescreen theatrical trailer.
Next, we come to "The Facts," which contains two more documentaries. The first and longest of these is the 102-minute doc "This Is the Zodiac Speaking." It's divided into four chapters, each corresponding to a key murder scene: "Lake Herman Road," "Blue Rock Springs," "Lake Berryessa," and "San Francisco." This documentary takes you into the crime scenes with archival footage, present-day footage, maps, and interviews with the surviving officers and participants in the actual events. Then, the final bonus item is probably the most fascinating of all: "Prime Suspect: His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen." In this forty-two-minute documentary we hear from a number of people who knew the leading suspect in the case, and they describe his personality and behavior.
Parting Thoughts:
So, there you have it: Three different people, three different opinions. David Fincher did not make another "Fight Club" or "Se7en," but he did make a good movie version of a real-life crime spree that still intrigues people a quarter of a century later. Neither horror film nor thriller, "Zodiac" is nevertheless a competent drama and splendid character study, filled out with some of the finest acting you'll see in any Fincher film. While I'm not sure that the Director's Cut adds much of value, it probably serves its purpose in offering bargain hunters something more for their money. About four minutes more, when a little less would have been better. Oh, well....
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]22166[/release]