Another fine thriller; "Zodiac"
Added 10/6/2009
First off; this is one loooooong film. Punching in at nearly three hours, it will not be something "everyone" will be bothered to watch (as if that would be a goal, but I'm just saying...). Interestingly enough the film centres around a dark subject, piquing the morbid interest most humans for some reason have; unsolved murders, ooooh! The inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay area were quite driven by fear of the so-called "Zodiac killer" in the late 60's and even stretching far into the 70's. They probably never caught him, something most people will be aware of, since this film is based on reality and word gets around about these cases. The killer makes a little fuzz about himself by writing strange and conflicted letters to newspapers, carrying out some kind of love-hate relationship with both the media and the police, which he constantly taunts. All the while, the slayings continue, innocent young people are found murdered for no apparent reason except being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The film focuses on three people mainly; Gyllenhaal as a young bright cartoonist/artist working in a newspaper, Downey as the alcoholised journalist-colleague of his and finally Ruffalo as a relatively obsessed police detective. The acting is simply great, nothing to add there. These three variously work together or fight, all the time striving towards discovering the identity of the elusive "Zodiac". Quite rare in films of this calibre, the time span stretches over 20 years and beyond, as the years drag on and the murders stop. There are several suspects over the years, yet eventually very few are still working on the case, even though it officially remained open in various places, due to the wide area of crime.
The three mischlinge become obsessed with the subject; catching "the Zodiac", sacrificing both friendships and marriages in the process. I won't say how it ends, except that there is no clear "happy ending" here, just as there mostly isn't in real life. It is a veeery dark film, quite brutal and uncomfortable to watch at times. Yet at the same time, it is very well made, and you can see the changes in American society as it gradually declines after the mid-60's, due to the "Culture of Critique" and various other factors.
I guess this is what would be judged an "epic film" if I ever saw one. Highly recommended and 4,5 stars from me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Captures the mystery
Added 10/2/2009
This film is amazing on many levels. Firstly, it is not simply a film about a serial killer but rather a film about both the public reaction to horror and the journalistic realm behind a killer's demands and desires. The cast is immaculate in their portrayal of the characters, with particular emphasis on gyllenhaal. If there's anything about these murders its the fact that the whole gruesomeness is shrouded in dark mysteries. The mystery concerning who the killer is, but mostly behind what the scenes were like ontological. Since the victims have no voice fincher had to use his artistry to communicate their story. Fincher captures these scenes and images with cinematic brilliance. His use of the interactions of the characters explains the ambiguous confusion that surrounds the manhunt for a subject such as this. This film is a must see for any criminology enthusiast or fincher fan. This is not another Seven or anything like that. It is its own animal. And man is the most dangerous game of them all.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Fincher's masterpiece of terror
Added 9/29/2009
I'm not sure if I submitted a review of this but I have seen this absorbing David Fincher film twice, once in the theater and again in HD DVD--and it is awesome. Like the numerous details that Fincher incorporates in the film to keep on your toes, the HD DVD version boast almost 3-D like realism and I'm sure the Blu-Ray version is the same except that it does cost considerably more than $8!! Don't be put off by the length of this film, you surely will not be bored and there are several frightful moments in this docu-drama that will surely make you jump. Compared to the trashy slasher movies that are coming out of Hollywood, this film is a true original in its own low-keyed way--it grips you and won't let go. I feel this film even more than "Seven" establishes Fincher as the best young director out there since Scorsese!!
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Zodiac investigation
Added 9/13/2009
It has a deliberately dated look which I didn't really care for. I would have liked a more intense experience. Had I told this story, I'd probably explored a more conspiracy - oriented look, since even the name Zodiac refers to something of a greater magnitude than just plain murder. In particular, I'd explored the possibility that it wasn't just one person but maybe something related to the spirit world and the animal world. Just one person would have most likely been caught with modern investigative tools.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Well-Done Crime Drama
Added 6/19/2009
I really enjoyed this film.
Unfortunately, it was inhibited by its source material.
The film was very well done, as far as it goes. Great performances by Robert Downey Jr. and the entire, sprawling cast.
What mitigated the film's power was the fact that it had to stick to its roots as a "true story."
In true life, as in the film, the Zodiac investigation(s) (there were many, all over CA and Washington, DC) were drawn-out, dropped altogether, grew cold and finally resuscitated again. This fragmented, meandering timeline takes its toll on the film's pacing.
In addition, the "lead" character, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, was somewhat of a schlubby cartoonist. Oh that damn "truth" again, rearing it's undramatic head.
And finally, after all of those years and lives shattered and man-hours expended on the notorious case, it was never actually resolved. There was never an arrest in the case. No justice served up - no satisfactory ending for all of the people involved.
Not exactly the stuff of great fiction. But then again, unfortunately, the Zodiac killer wasn't someone's fiction.
But even working within these stringent parameters, the film was engrossing and worth your time. Especially if you enjoy noir and crime drama. Then I'd highly recommend it.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Another fine thriller; "Zodiac"
Added 10/6/2009
First off; this is one loooooong film. Punching in at nearly three hours, it will not be something "everyone" will be bothered to watch (as if that would be a goal, but I'm just saying...). Interestingly enough the film centres around a dark subject, piquing the morbid interest most humans for some reason have; unsolved murders, ooooh! The inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay area were quite driven by fear of the so-called "Zodiac killer" in the late 60's and even stretching far into the 70's. They probably never caught him, something most people will be aware of, since this film is based on reality and word gets around about these cases. The killer makes a little fuzz about himself by writing strange and conflicted letters to newspapers, carrying out some kind of love-hate relationship with both the media and the police, which he constantly taunts. All the while, the slayings continue, innocent young people are found murdered for no apparent reason except being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The film focuses on three people mainly; Gyllenhaal as a young bright cartoonist/artist working in a newspaper, Downey as the alcoholised journalist-colleague of his and finally Ruffalo as a relatively obsessed police detective. The acting is simply great, nothing to add there. These three variously work together or fight, all the time striving towards discovering the identity of the elusive "Zodiac". Quite rare in films of this calibre, the time span stretches over 20 years and beyond, as the years drag on and the murders stop. There are several suspects over the years, yet eventually very few are still working on the case, even though it officially remained open in various places, due to the wide area of crime.
The three mischlinge become obsessed with the subject; catching "the Zodiac", sacrificing both friendships and marriages in the process. I won't say how it ends, except that there is no clear "happy ending" here, just as there mostly isn't in real life. It is a veeery dark film, quite brutal and uncomfortable to watch at times. Yet at the same time, it is very well made, and you can see the changes in American society as it gradually declines after the mid-60's, due to the "Culture of Critique" and various other factors.
I guess this is what would be judged an "epic film" if I ever saw one. Highly recommended and 4,5 stars from me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Captures the mystery
Added 10/2/2009
This film is amazing on many levels. Firstly, it is not simply a film about a serial killer but rather a film about both the public reaction to horror and the journalistic realm behind a killer's demands and desires. The cast is immaculate in their portrayal of the characters, with particular emphasis on gyllenhaal. If there's anything about these murders its the fact that the whole gruesomeness is shrouded in dark mysteries. The mystery concerning who the killer is, but mostly behind what the scenes were like ontological. Since the victims have no voice fincher had to use his artistry to communicate their story. Fincher captures these scenes and images with cinematic brilliance. His use of the interactions of the characters explains the ambiguous confusion that surrounds the manhunt for a subject such as this. This film is a must see for any criminology enthusiast or fincher fan. This is not another Seven or anything like that. It is its own animal. And man is the most dangerous game of them all.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Fincher's masterpiece of terror
Added 9/29/2009
I'm not sure if I submitted a review of this but I have seen this absorbing David Fincher film twice, once in the theater and again in HD DVD--and it is awesome. Like the numerous details that Fincher incorporates in the film to keep on your toes, the HD DVD version boast almost 3-D like realism and I'm sure the Blu-Ray version is the same except that it does cost considerably more than $8!! Don't be put off by the length of this film, you surely will not be bored and there are several frightful moments in this docu-drama that will surely make you jump. Compared to the trashy slasher movies that are coming out of Hollywood, this film is a true original in its own low-keyed way--it grips you and won't let go. I feel this film even more than "Seven" establishes Fincher as the best young director out there since Scorsese!!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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