zodiac

Zodiac

� 2007 Ray Wong

z0

Based on James Graysmith's true crime bestseller about an unsolved

serial killer case, Zodiac is a riveting suspense-thriller despite its

slow pace and long running time.

z1 In the summer of 1969, a murder rattles the communities of Vallejo,

CA. When the killer, who calls himself the Zodiac, sends an anonymous

letter with an encrypted code to the San Francisco Chronicle (as well

as the Examiner and other media) admitting to other murders and

demanding the codes to be printed, the city rises to the realization

that there's a psychotic serial killer among them.

z2 James Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) is a cartoonist at the Chronicle, who

follows the case closely as reporter Paul Avery (Downey) and the

editorial board struggle to get to the heart of the story. When the

Zodiac Killer strikes in San Francisco, inspectors David Toschi

(Ruffalo) and William Armstrong (Edwards) become in charge of the

investigation. Letters from the Zodiac Killer threatening to kill

schoolchildren send the city into full panic mode, as Toschi and

Armstrong try to outsmart the killer.

z3 Their leads from four California counties point them to a few

possible suspects, including Arthur Leigh Allen (Lynch), who fits all

the circumstantial evidences. However, there is never enough hard

evidence to make an arrest, and the case remains open for more than 20

years. As the investigation lingers in limbo, Graysmith's obsession

with the case, especially the true identity of the Zodiac, leads him

on a personal journey despite many obstacles. His discoveries reveal

details the police has neglected and make many connections overlooked

by others. For once, Graysmith is on the verge of finding the true

identity of the Zodiac Killer, at the risk of his own life.

z4 Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) is very good as James

Graysmith. His role remains peripheral as he observes his colleagues,

but once his takes action and his own story arc takes off, he shows

great intensity and the kind of vulnerability that makes you root for

him. Mark Ruffalo (All the King's Men) is also excellent as the

dedicated, frustrated inspector. He has a down-to-earth quality that

makes you believe.

z5 In fact, the performance of the entire cast is excellent. There are

no frills, no over-the-top extravagance. Just good, solid

characterizations that make the fact-based story real. Okay, maybe the

exception is Robert Downey Jr. (Fur), who shines in every scene he's

in as the flamboyant report. He steals the movie from both Gyllenhaal

and Ruffalo. The outstanding all-star cast includes the solid Anthony

Edwards (The Forgotten) in his first major role in three years, the

prolific and always spot-on Brian Cox (Running with Scissors) as

Marvin Belli, the imposing John Carroll Lynch (Full of It) as the

creepy Arthur Leigh Allen, Chlo� Sevigny (Sisters) as James

Graysmith's wife, and Dermot Mulroney (The Family Stone) as Captain

Marty Lee.

z6 Writer James Vanderbilt (Darkness Falls) has successfully weaved

Graysmith's detailed recounts of facts and police procedures into a

coherent, complex story with multiple view point characters and a

focused arc, spanning over 20 years. Graysmith's true crime story

provides a lot of information for Vanderbilt, but it's his ability to

develop the characters and the believable dialogue that make this long

script tense, suspenseful, and incredibly satisfying. z7 Even though

there's a true villain in the film, we never really know who that is

-- the audiences are guessing as the investigation continues -- and we

never really know who the protagonist is either. Sure, in part it's

James Graysmith's story, but in truth it really is an ensemble effort,

and everyone does a great job.

z8 Director David Fincher (Panic Room) returns to the crime genre and

delivers a heck of a thrill ride. His approach is methodical, and

sometimes deceptively slow. The detailed unfolding of the story may

seem anticlimactic at times, but Fincher ensures us that there is

enough information, doubts, conflicts and tension to pull us through.

There's not a moment without some kind of dread or tension. Fincher

has the good sense of revealing the murders upfront in intense (but

not specifically graphic) scenes, hooking us immediately, then holding

us by sustaining the tension and suspense throughout the entire film.

z9 There's always a sense of dread (if and when will the Zodiac strike

again?) and intrigues (will they ever find the guy?) At the same time,

both Fincher and Vanderbilt don't want to commit to a definitive

conclusion -- they try to let the audiences make up their own mind and

come to their own conclusion. z10 However, they're also true to

Graysmith's analysis, experiences and speculations. We may think that

they're all trying to coerce us to come to a certain conclusion, but

there is always a certain doubt. We just won't know for sure. And as a

true crime film, Zodiac is fascinating in many aspects. What a

satisfying ride.

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Robert Downey

Jr., Brian Cox, John Carroll Lynch, Chlo� Sevigny

Director: David Fincher

Writers: James Vanderbilt (based on Robert Graysmith's bestseller)

Distributor: Paramount

MPAA Rating: R for violence, killings, language, drug, and brief

sexual images

Running Time: 158 Minutes

Ratings:

Script - 8

Performance - 8

Direction - 9

Cinematography - 8

Music/Sound- 7

Editing - 8

Production - 8