Realism over Plot

Rating: 8/10 (19 April 2009)

David Fincher returns after the below par Panic Room to bring us the true story of the Zodiac killings; a series of murders in the San Francisco area in the late sixties. The story centers on Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) a cartoonist for the Chronicle, who lays witness to the story unraveling around him as the murderer, who calls himself Zodiac, demands that his cryptic letters are published. Robert Downey Jnr is perfectly cast as the alcoholic reporter who gets in over his head, but it is Mark Ruffalo as the detective heading up the case who turns in the most solid performance. The film is laden with star studded parts, including but not limited to, Anthony Edwards, Chloė Sevigny and Elias Koteas. The film is based on Graysmith's own bestselling novels, Zodiac and Zodiac Unmasked which makes it unlike many Hollywood films based on true events; it's filled with factual incidents. This makes for a fascinating journey.
The only factor which lets it down is its length. Fincher tries hard to inject it with fresh visuals, which he is renowned for and at times, the CGI enhanced shots of period San Francisco are impressive. But even he realizes the story is in his characters and their dialog which is why a mini series may have been a better format. Interestingly, Fincher fought at preserving the 158 page screenplay, though for once, the studios may have been right. At over two and half hours, its matter of fact pacing makes it never ending. However, having viewed it again on DVD, the duration is less of a problem.
Zodiac highlights just how difficult a crime investigators task can be, when it comes to accumulating all the right pieces within the context of the law. Sometimes it doesn't go as we expect, or more importantly, hope. Movies and television have blinded us to the realities of real life crime. They must have a plot, development and a pay-off when we know in reality, life doesn't work that way. It's invigorating to see the realism that has crept into mainstream cinema over the past few years. While every story may have been told, we can look forward to telling them in different ways, where such remarks as 'That only happens in the movies,' may become a catch cry of the past.