THE ZODIAC (2007)

Directed by David Fincher. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Anthony Edwards, Mark Ruffalo, Chloe Sevigny, Brian Cox, Robert Downey Jr., John Carroll Lynch, Phillip Baker Hall. Drama/Historical/True Crime. Synopsis: The story of the investigation into the Zodiac killer- a serial killer who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 60's and early 70's and was never positively identified or caught-from the perspective of the lead investigators and newspapermen who were very involved in the case.

Treated myself to this one in the theater for a matinee today and I'm glad I did. Somewhere it was in the back of mind that this had gotten bad reviews, and I can see why it might not be knocking 'em dead at the box office, but this is a quality flick about a subject that will be of a lot of interest to some and maybe not at all to the majority.

The film is based on the still unsolved murders in the S.F. Bay area between 1968 and 1971, which gained notoriety due to the killer's penchant for contacting and taunting the press with his letters and details of his crimes and, also in no small part, from being immortalized in the popular culture. (The antagonist in the 1971 classic Dirty Harry was named Scorpio and clearly based on the Zodiac killings)

This film is made up of ensemble cast, told primarily through the eyes of S.F. Chronicle cartoonist Paul Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal Brokeback Mountain) and lead detectives David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo The Last Castle) and  William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards).

The story starts with the first known murder attributed to the Zodiac in July of 1968 and deals with all the following known killings as well as the long time focus on one potential suspect named Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch), who remained a prime suspect until his death in the 1990's.

Director Fincher does a great job of touching on all points of the case: the nervousness of a whole city during the height of the murders; the deep involvement of the press in the case; the actual feel of the early 70's and, of course, the murders themselves.

There are other real life figures portrayed well, here. Columnist Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr Chaplin) is depicted as a brilliant reporter with serious addictions who was directly threatened by the Zodiac. Also, the extremely prolific Brian Cox (Running with Scissors) does a turn as high profile lawyer Melvin Belli.)

Chole Sevigny as Graysmith's wife, Clea Duvall, and John Carroll Lynch also add even more weight to a distinguished cast. (Those of you from the 80's might like to look for Ione Skye in an uncredited cameo role as one of the fortunate to escape and/or survive the Zodiac) The best part of the film is the reluctant cooperation over the years between Graysmith and Toschi. The film depicts Graysmith's growing obsession with the case (he later wrote a best selling book on it and became a true crime author).

Negatives? Well, its a long film, clocking in at over 2 hours. I can't say it felt like it dragged, but I think this film is better suited to DVD, especially if its released with special features that include factual information on the case.

I think Zodiac will appeal mostly, if not exclusively, to those with an interest in the case or an interest in true crime and/or serial killers, like moi. 

And, there is nothing wrong with that.