Zodiac (2007) – Director’s Cut
AKA: NA
Year: 2007
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Chloe Sevigny, Anthony Edwards, John Carroll Lynch, Dermot Mulroney
Country: USA
Language: English (English subtitles)
Runtime: 02:42:35
Genres: Serial Killers, Detective/Mystery, Based on a True Story
Plot – Spoilers:
The Zodiac Killer has been one of the favorite sources of inspiration for literature and cinema mostly because of the hype around the unresolved killer and the fact that he constantly taunted the public and police for years. So given the magnitude of the legend, it takes a master director like David Fincher to make a fine movie about such a discussed topic.
The movie pretty much follows the Zodiac case – a serial killer in the ’60s and ’70s killed and claimed credit for killings. He often phoned in or mailed letters to prominent newspapers and was never arrested. The police had a strong suspect and Zodiac by Fincher does a great job of capturing Mark Ruffalo’s (lead detective) and Jake Gyllenhaal’s frustrations at having to deal with a stuck up old handwriting expert and never really being able to get that one final bit that could nail their suspect.
The story is told from their perspective and leaves almost no room for any sympathy for the killer. When the film’s done, you end up shaking your head and ruing all the what-ifs.
Favorite scenes:
The interrogation scene with John Carroll Lynch. You can feel the tension and nervousness from the cops. The Zodiac has by this time become a legendary character and you feel a couple of them almost fear him and just about hold it together.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s terror while in the basement with the projector guy who he suddenly fears could be the Zodiac.
This brilliant movie been posted nov 2017 and had no comment during the past 3 years ???
I watched this movie because of all the stars in it, but unfortunatly, it did not shine.
Grew up in Vallejo 68-80 summer camp at Blue Rock Springs, joyrides on Lake Herman Rd good time Leigh!
I saw this years ago and I remember being disappointed. I’d watch it again if it wasn’t 3 hours long.
What troubles me about the Zodiac case, the Green River Killer case and the Unibomber case is that the detectives in charge were making 6 figure salaries for their whole careers and were really lousy at their jobs. Zodiac was never caught. Gary Ridgeway was convicted of killing 49 woman but most likely killed way more than that over about 40 years. The Green River Killer taskforce were given bonuses and hailed as heroes when they finally caught Ridgeway only because of DNA analysis, not because of good detective work. The dickhead that led the Unibomber task force for 25 years while receiving a 6 figure salary was as useless as tits on a bore. When Kaczynski was dimed out by his brother, they dragged the Unibomber taskforce leader out of retirement to be there at the cabin during the arrest so he could take the credit and the bows in front of the media for his capture. They tried to make it a 2 for 1 and convince people Kaczynski was the Zodiac as well to no avail.
Most of the detectives on these cases went on to have careers as “experts” on the talk show circuit and documentary shows. I remember seeing one of the detectives from the Zodiac taskforce giving his “expert” opinion on a program about Jack the Ripper and on “Geraldo” giving his 2 cents about the phony Charles Manson pipsqueak boogeyman fairy tale. Hint: Hippie love beads, long beards, ripped dungarees and sunglasses are not allowed in maximum security prisons or at parole hearings for mass murderers.
A great cinema experience. I liked it