Rambling Thriller

Rating: 7/10 (9 April 2010)

Based on true events in late 1960s and early 1970s, a cartoonist for a San Francisco newspaper becomes obsessed with finding the Zodiac killer. The film moves in fits and starts as the detectives investigating the crime pursue one fruitless lead after another. Although fascinating initially, this approach becomes somewhat tiresome after a while, especially considering the running time of nearly three hours. This one could have benefited from tighter editing. There are good performances from Ruffalo and Edwards as detectives, Downey as an alcoholic reporter, and Gyllenhaal as the cartoonist, whose book is the basis for the rambling screenplay.