One of 2007's Finest; One of the Best of its Kind.

Rating: 9/10 (8 April 2010)

For a number of years the Zodiac Killer terrorized citizens of the San Francisco area as well as the journalists and police force who worked feverishly to stop him to no avail. "Zodiac" is as much about the murders as it is about the aftermath of the events and the toll it took on a handful of people who perhaps sacrificed more than their job called for in an effort to reveal the killer's identity.
David Fincher brings the true life horror story to life with what is perhaps his most methodical and restrained effort to date. With as much attention to detail as possible (down to matching the wardrobes of the cast to that of the real-life victims) Fincher reels back his usual sense of style in favor for a more matter-of-fact, realistic tone, letting the story and the actors speak for themselves. There are moments such as the taxi-cab scene where his style is in full-effect, but unlike his previous film, "Panic Room," the film doesn't hinge solely on good looks. At times, such as the murder by the lake, it's easy to forget that you're watching a movie.
The film is host to a wealth of knock-out performances, the least of all being Robert Downey Jr. in a comeback role that surely should have earned him at least an Oscar nod. Surely, his turn in this movie was more effective than that in "Tropic Thunder," but I digress. Downey is almost too natural and too perfect as the flamboyant and sensational journalist Paul Avery. Jake Gyllenhaal is given perhaps one of his juiciest roles to date as the cartoonist turned novelist Robert Graysmith who puts everything -- including his wife and kids -- on hold for the sake of his obsession. Also of note are Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards as a pair of detectives hot on the Zodiac's trail.
All in all, "Zodiac" is an in-depth account of real-life events and is certainly a lot to take in. The passage of time thankfully goes by fast, as you'll more than likely find yourself wrapped up in the story much like the people you're watching become. For Fincher, it marks a new standard and shows the director as more than just an MTV-bred cult film-maker. This is without a doubt one of the finest films from 2007 and one of the best of its kind. Not to be missed.