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Film Review by Daphne Laura

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This film is based on actual case files about a serial killer named "Zodiac" with references from the books written by Robert Graysmith. Graysmith is the San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist, portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal, who got obsessed with the case. David Fincher, who also helmed "Se7en", "Panic Room" and "Fight Club", uses a now familiar visual technique prominent in most of his films: dim, grainy images and a few jarring hand-held effects to depict the era/setting of the film. "Zodiac" starts in the late 60s and spans four decades.

To give the film more of a documentary feel, the time frame is shown on screen to indicate the evolution of the case. But it distracted me because I kept trying to figure out "8 weeks later from which month?". Well, I was never good in math anyway!

The ensemble cast of mostly good actors essay their well-developed characters efficiently. Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Robert Downey Jr and even Elias Koteas all sport the 70's look, complete with wavy hair, bushy sideburns, bell bottoms and tight suits. But how come Jake Gyllenhaal looks the same throughout the movie? He does however make up for this little oversight by portraying his character with a quiet subtlety - Graysmith is a man driven by the need to find out the truth behind the mysterious killings.

The digital recreation of San Francisco circa 1970 is pretty compelling and just enough to provide a solid sense of atmosphere. There's humor, but it's not cloying. Overall, the film is interesting not so much as the story of a murder mystery and the attempts to solve it, but as a study of personal obsession. It works as a kind of commentary on the kind of personality who becomes intimately involved with a mass media story, taking it as his own, making it into a kind of cause, a personal quest. The "conspiracy theorist" is now a recognizable type, and one which is sometimes the butt of ridicule. While there is some of that in this film, there's also a fascination, yet with enough respect so that we are granted more insights into the criminal hunter, the mass media sleuth. That's one thing that is really good in this film.

The violence is rather graphic in some shots and yet merely implied in other scenes so it isn't too disturbing to watch. Yet how else can you expose the evil machinations of a serial killer without resorting to violent scenes? It makes you wish that DNA profiling had been available back then so that the killer could have been caught right away. Yet the very fact that technology wasn't up to par back then is what makes the "Zodiac" case, and the film for that matter, so engrossing to follow.

Fincher presents us with factual information and thankfully, he doen't sugarcoat it with embellishments just to give it some dramatic Hollywood effects. Yes, the film is long but it is also cleverly edited so that every scene is vital for the audience to get a better understanding of the case. It has the right mix of gripping suspense, tinges of violence, good repartee among the actors and a coherently solid plot to sustain your interest and attention.

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Zodiac DVD Release: July 24th

Thought I would post this reminder here that the DVD release for Zodiac is on July 24, 2007:

ZODIAC DVD RELEASE ON JULY 24, 2007 - AMAZON

Just wanted to give everyone a "heads up" sort of speak that the July 24th DVD release of Zodiac, is a bare bones and no frills DVD. It has recently been announced, that there will be a Special Edition Directors Cut of Zodiac, coming in 2008! The July 24th Zodiac DVD supposedly contains a preview announcing the Zodiac Directors Cut Special Edition that is coming in 2008. Below is a link explaining what extras will probably be on the 2008 Directors Cut:

ZODIAC DIRECTORS CUT DVD EXTRAS ON 2008 SPECIAL EDITION

Also, the July DVD edition is the only theatrical release version you'll be able to get supposedly. The Special Edition DVD, will contain a new, extended directors cut.

Thanks Daphne for the great review! I've only seen 2 Fincher films, Se7en and Panic Room, but I loved Se7en! It totally creeped me out, LOL. I have not seen Zodiac yet. I'm a Jake fan and I really like Robert Downey Jr.'s acting as well so, I hope to get to see this sometime soon.

Jan , July 24, 2007

=)

You're welcome Jan. Yes Se7en was pretty creepy. Thanks for telling us about the Zodiac DVD release.

Daphne Laura , July 25, 2007

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