Zodiac (2007)

Overall Rating From 1 to 100: 69

Directed by David Fincher
Jake Gyllenhaal / Robert Downey Jr. / Mark Ruffalo
158 min. Crime / Thriller
MPAA: R (for some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images)

Review by Jason Pyles / March 26, 2007

“Zodiac” begins as the American-movie masterpiece that it was hyped-up to be. But then, after about the first hour, “Zodiac” meanders and fumbles and drags to its arguably inconclusive end — 98 minutes later.

There’s an unfortunate trend in the movies these days. Filmmakers will choose a historical occurrence that’s almost worthy to film but not quite: Either the true story had no real resolution, or it wasn’t quite remarkable enough to make a movie about in the first place.

“Catch a Fire” (2006) is just one example of the latter: a story that had potential but wasn’t quite remarkable enough to immortalize on film. “Zodiac,” on the other hand, loses its steam because the writers ran out of conclusive information from the real-life tale. Again, this could be argued, but it’s no secret (so, this is not a spoiler) that the Zodiac killer was never officially captured.

Even so, “Zodiac” was a very well made film. What it lacked in story satisfaction, it made up for with the performances of all involved, the filmmakers — as well as the actors.

Based on actual case files, “Zodiac” begins on the fourth of July, 1969, in Vallejo, Calif. A couple on a lovers’ lane encounter unpleasant brutality while in their car. Four weeks later, in San Francisco, a letter to the editor is brought to Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), the San Francisco Chronicle’s Crime Beat writer.

The letter is a cipher, a secret method of writing in which letters are substituted by symbols. The author claims responsibility for the July 4 killing. This begins the mad reign of the serial killer called The Zodiac.

But really, this movie isn’t about the Zodiac killer as much as it’s about obsession.

The film’s tagline is excellent: “There’s more than one way to lose your life to a killer.” Paul Avery (Crime Beat writer), homicide detective David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), the Chronicle’s cartoonist and puzzle lover, all become preoccupied with solving the Zodiac case, especially Graysmith.

This film is about how fierce determination can easily cross over into obsession. Because the movie is about its characters (and not a conclusively packaged plot), it is fairly entertaining. It might have been better if the movie weren’t so lengthy. But this investigation spanned years, and perhaps the filmmakers were trying to make the viewer feel a sense of what it was like to toil with the same question for so long: Who is the Zodiac?

The film’s R rating is primarily a result of some graphic killings. I’m fairly desensitized to such images of violence (for better or for worse), but one particular violent act that takes place on a lakeshore made me wince.

I admit that I’m oftentimes too hard on the films I review. Perhaps that’s the case with “Zodiac.” But the movie’s photography is beautiful. The soundtrack evokes the time period quite well, primarily the ‘70s. And the movie has suspense, to be sure.

I should tell you, “Zodiac” is based on the real Robert Graysmith’s book about his compulsive search for the Zodiac. With Graysmith’s conclusion, the filmmakers have made a noble attempt at closure and resolution for the film’s ending that will appease many. It just didn’t appease me; and if the Zodiac killer shows up at my door, someday — I’m gonna be ticked.

O Masterpiece (95-100)
O Excellent / theater option (75-94)
X Good video rental (60-74)
O Merely OK (50-59)
O Pure mediocrity (30-49)
O Medusa: don’t watch (1-29)

Copyright 2007.
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