In an age of American cinema where original ideas are sorely lacking, many filmmakers used the "based on a true story" plotline to provide a blueprint from which to showcase their talents. The key to this is making the decision on how much "truth" to replace with fictional style.
"Zodiac" is one of the rare "true story" films, remaining truthful to its source while providing more than enough cinematic juice to become one of the best psychological thrillers in recent years.
Based on the true story of the Zodiac serial killer who terrorized the San Francisco Bay area for over a decade, the film uses Robert Graysmith's two published books "Zodiac" and "Zodiac Unmasked" as its source material. Graysmith, a cartoonist for the "San Francisco Chronicle" during the Zodiac killings, made some controversial conclusions to the murderer's identity. Jake Gyllenhaal ("Jarhead") plays Graysmith with studied reserve.
When a letter taunting a recent murder is mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle complete with a puzzle, Graysmith is fascinated. Eventually, the cartoonist becomes a little too involved for his own good.
San Francisco Police Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo, "All the King's Men") and his partner, Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards, "The Forgotten"), are in strong pursuit of the Zodiac killer throughout the film. Unfortunately, they continue to find themselves chasing a ghost as none of their promising leads ever pan out.
As the Zodiac continues to kill and tease authorities, Graysmith's attraction to the investigation and the killer's identity becomes an obsession. With the help of eccentric crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr., "A Scanner Darkly"), Graysmith learns the ins and outs of the case, taking the law into his own hands and conducting his own investigation.
Along with the engaging storyline, the acting in "Zodiac" is brilliant. There is not one weak performance to be found in the many characters in the film. If any one comes out on top, it is Downey Jr. His portrayal of a self-destructive, sarcastic, and obsessive newspaper reporter is some of his best work to date.
The plot is thick and the characters are very well developed. Covering such a long span of time, the movie provides a lot of detail and information, which might explain why it has a running time of two hours and 40 minutes.
Director David Fincher ("Panic Room") has achieved perhaps his best film with "Zodiac." A veteran director of music videos, Fincher reinvented the crime film for the 1990s with his complicated, intelligent, yet violently engaging film "Se7en." Starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, the movie illustrated the director's ability to incorporate stylistic film technique with a by-the-books thriller. Fincher would later stray more towards shock and awe with "Fight Club," a cult classic that established him as a filmmaker for the next generation.
The movie's relentless suspense is quite an accomplishment considering the movie's length. Fincher shows his versatility by abandoning his usual stylized dark and earthy tones. His new film is more realistic, while maintaining an eerie feel that works well with the haunting real life case.
Although the movie is incredibly long, it is put together extremely well. While the identity of the Zodiac may never be officially proven, this film serves as a taut examination of both the criminal mastermind and the people who allowed themselves to become absorbed in his wrath.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
