Good reality based thriller

Rating: 7/10 (15 August 2009)

Recap: Based on a true story about a serial killer, calling himself the Zodiac, who played hide and seek with both the police and the newspapers. After an attack where a girl is left dead and a boy critically wounded the murderer reports the attack himself. What's more, he sends three separate cryptos to three different newspapers. He claims that it will reveal his identity, and that he will attack again if it is not published. The newspapers comply but the killings go on, with the police unable to catch him. Eventually the killings stop and the police's interest wane. Only a cartoonist risk everything, obsessed with revealing the identity of the Zodiac.
Comments: Based on a true story the flow of the story is a little odd. The killer supposedly vanished for years occasionally and then the move skips time with him. However, that's not really a problem as it is till easy to follow the story and the single events, although maybe months or years apart, feels connected. The story is solid, without major holes to fill in.
But, maybe the movie is a little too focused about following the real events. Because when the end comes, it turns out to be a real anti-climax. Maybe this should have been the point to be creative, but that's not the real point of the movie. The movie intends to be true to the story, and it seem to be (I'm not that familiar with the real story). So OK, the ending is not good, I felt a little robbed after the ending, and that's not a good feeling to leave a movie with. But what's really bugging me after, and what should have been either corrected or left out, are a few ideas, or hints, in the movie that is never picked up and explained to satisfaction. One is that Graysmith at one point believes the Zodiac to be two people. Some evidence supports this but that track is left out. Also the main problem with the Zodiac is his identity. But a woman who barely escaped his clutches isn't even questioned by police. Or this incident wasn't really the Zodiac, he claims it wasn't, but if the producers/directors/police doesn't believe it is, why is it in the movie? Either cut it or follow it up.
Well, those weak points aside, it is a good thriller. There is suspense in the hidden identity, but is got strong support in the sub plots. The personal life of Graysmith or Avery. Or Toschi's struggles to solve the crime, alone against the stream. They do really add up nicely together. It's a good detective story all the way, well right up to the end.
Also it pays to look out for known actors and actresses. Some in really small roles, some in bigger.
All in all, I quite enjoyed it, despite it being long.
7/10