Fincher's Finest

Rating: 10/10 (8 March 2007)

It's really too bad that David Fincher doesn't make movies on a more regular basis because Zodiac and his previous films are masterful work. I imagine Zodiac was a hard project for any director to tackle because they never caught the SOB, but for an artist like Fincher there would be no other way to do it. Fincher understands that the reason the Zodiac killings became so legendary is because this monster was a modern day Jack the Ripper, a creature in the shadows, and we all ways fear what we don't know.Fincher chose the right project, he is a modern day Hitchcock and he is able to surround the Zodiac with mystery as it should be. Rumors had it Gary Oldman was offered the role,I gotta thank Gary for turning it down because the Zodiac is supposed to be a devil in the shadows and Gary would just take too much attention from what is supposed to be a mystery For those concerned about Fincher's use of violence, the killings are all done relatively early in the movie. The movie is a brilliant psychological thriller above anything else, the story is about four men and how the Zodiac killer effected their lives. There is a great scene in the movie where our two police detectives Toschi and Armstrong investigate the scene of taxi driver Paul Stein's murder, the interaction between these great actors and the visuals are outstanding and they were composed by one of the masters of film. Fincher can do that, he has the ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Zodiac is a visually spectacular film. Fincher has a lot of fun with his camera work and set design. One is in awe over the tour of the San Francisco skyline, which if done by a regular director would be considered simple. Fincher has assembled an outstanding cast as well. Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo particularly stand out with outstanding performances. Downey Jr should receive an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Paul Avery. This role was tailer made for him. Jake Gyllenthal is good as Graysmith but then again there wasn't much story to go with along with Graysmith's investigation into the killings. My only real complaint is that more of the movie should have been spent with Toschi and his investigation. Zodiac also works well as a period peace. Fincher spares no expense in bringing us back to the early 70's. Everything is picture perfect right down to the old static TV set. What works best with Zodiac is that Fincher doesn't try to solve the case himself, or present his ideas on who done it. He takes his source material in Graysmith's book and presents it in a thrilling movie. Yes Arthur Leigh Allen is Graysmith's favorite suspect but he has never been proved to be the killer and so Fincher provides an alternative with the investigation into Rick Marshall, another popular Zodiac suspect. The 2007 movie season has finally begun. Zodiac is thrilling and suspenseful and is by far the best movie of this new year.