An enjoyable and well-crafted movie that gets a little mired in the facts

Rating: 8/10 (31 December 2018)

Zodiac is a suspenseful and entertaining account of one cartoonist-turned-writer's attempt to identify the Zodiac Killer after investigators have given up.
The movie clocks in at 2.5 hours, even in the pared-down theatrical release, but it's one of those films that manages to go by in a flash. This is thanks in part to the excellent technical work on the cinematography, sound, and editing - which in my eyes were done perfectly. The early part of the film builds up an incredible suspense plus an investment in the efforts of all the characters to solve the mystery of the Zodiac Killer. This makes for a really entertaining and enjoyable movie. On top of this, the 1970's aesthetic is well done too.
Part of what makes the movie so engaging is that it is based on thorough research of the real facts of the Zodiac Killer. But this also contributes to the movie's slight unraveling towards the end. As much as I admire their commitment to portraying the real case, the filmmakers didn't fully capitalize on the incredible suspense and dread they created in the few action scenes. Instead, the movie begins to flash a dizzying array of facts from all kinds of talking heads, to the point that I lost track of what they were talking about. Gyllenhaal's character doesn't really seem like the lead until you slowly realize that the story centers on him and that he takes most of the screen time. While the movie is based on this real-life person's account, it may have been wise to instead balance the story on a few of the characters including the Zodiac Killer himself, who constantly looms over the watcher at the beginning but eventually seems absent in his own film. Movies can take some liberties, otherwise they become documentaries.
Those flaws prevent Zodiac from reaching its full potential, but it is nonetheless a great movie worth watching.