Investigative drama done expertly

Rating: Null/10 (29 July 2007)

I must admit that I sat down to watch "Zodiac" with an entirely misconstrued notion of what I'd be seeing. Maybe that was my fault, or the fault of the marketing, or a bit of both. Yet, I should have known better as I've become familiar enough with David Fincher's work to know that he does not tread old turf, & why would he, when he has a movie like Sev7n to contend with? So thankfully, I was happy to see that Zodiac was more a crime drama, than a copycat serial killer movie. I can't say that every minute is packed with excitement, but nonetheless, it's a worthwhile view, with a vast multitude of well played performances from a ridiculously diverse group of actors, some of whom I hadn't seen work in a movie in ages. Really, it's like a endless parade of familiar faces in there.
Prepare yourself for a two & a half hour fact finding mission, spanning more than twenty years, that does keep you interested, & invested in the many characters. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a subdued, but still expressive performance, as the cartoonist who's incapable of letting go of this mystery. Mark Ruffalo does a better job, than I'd expected, playing the increasingly tormented lead detective. There are also quite a few supporting players that are a joy to watch, such as Brian Cox, & the always intriguing Robert Downey Jr.
Fincher is as precise to form & fact as he has ever been, & though I've heard tale of him being an overly meticulous director to work for, it seems it's not without its merit, & who can argue with it, when it works out, in the end? Overall, I recommend this movie, though being in the mood for a lengthy crime drama will be extremely beneficial for the common viewer. People like me always wish a 158 minute movie could've been a bit shorter, but honestly, I don't really see how that could've been possible. Zodiac is not loaded with flash, & the bulk of the terrorizing shows up early on, but regardless of that, you'll likely munch away, & keep watching