zodiac 2007

Zodiac (2007)

Ever loved a place that you'd swear to heaven and hell that no matter

what happens you'll come back. Well, that is exactly what i promised

myself the first time i've stepped my little footsies in the city by

the bay, San Francisco. The place was so lovely i felt like Audrey

Hepburn stepping off that cab in the opening scene of Breakfast At

Tiffany's, a bit delirious, out of reach and the proper frame of mind.

I was ecstatic. I felt instantly safe, even the first night walking

round the block to get Chinese takeout, to think that the street was

filled with beggars and junkies. And that was Mission Street. I never

once had an inkling that something horrific is going to happen to me,

I don't know why, but i just happily bopped along with the dealers and

addicts.

I should have been extra careful, courtesy of Zodiac, David Fichner's

lastest film, the man behind Se7en and Fight Club. He unflinchingly

portrayed the city i've come to love as a populace of vulnerable lab

rats succumbed to the will and pleasures of a mad man. And the city

police had nothing on him, they just watch as he kills more people in

the process. The premise offly sounds like Se7en, but on that film,

the killer picks off his victims on previous sins committed, in

Zodiac, he kills in random, there may be a pattern, but it is often

broken, confusing the already baffled law enforcers.

Wide eyed, Jake Gyllenhaal, cult favorite in Donnie Darko and the

often critized Brokeback Mountain, plays a newspaper cartoonist,

absorbed by the mysteries that plague the killings. Mark Ruffalo

(Collateral), plays the cops who never seem to get close to the

killer, well, almost. and Robert Downy Jr. (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang),

serving as the much needed comic relief in the dark, somber film. The

killings were brutal, yet low key. I admire the courage of the woman

with the flat tire, considering that these things are based from

actual events. I can't even begin to imagine how she manage to escape

from a fast moving vehicle and with a baby in hand. That is truly

amazing. You should see it for yourself, it its not drawn in detail,

but you'll surely feel the tension, as the "Zodiac" killer says and

this is verbatim, "Before I kill you, I'm going to throw your baby out

the window." Chilling. Other cast highlights worth mentioning are

Chloe Sevigny, Philip Baker Hall, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas and Anthony

Edwards.

Clocking in a mere 2 hours and 38 minutes, it's a bit short,

considering the length of the case, some scenes could have been kept

to the minimal though. Its a bit disappointing in the end, but, well,

can't really have closure to these types of incidents in reality. Next

time, i check in the bay area i'll turn in a more watchful eye, you

can't be too careful, nowadays, considering the "Zodiac" killings

happened in the late 60's, when everyone felt safe.

Posted by Eboy Donato at 7:15 AM