Had me watching closely

Rating: 8/10 (25 August 2009)

I didn't know anything about the Zodiac killer before watching this, though I understand that it is a meticulous recreation of the facts, slightly dramatized. Thus, I cannot provide any comparisons to neither what people remember from the actual case nor the novel, I'm afraid. The plot is interesting and the mystery compelling. While this moves at a deliberate pace, it genuinely does not stop being engaging. This took chances, for a mainstream film, all of them justified, and the majority of them working out. It's nice to see Fincher dialing his style back, and going for a traditional, and in no way fancy or dolled up, presentation, that allows the audience to focus on what is said and what clues are provided. The content, not the form, is the focus here. Dialog is nicely sharp and well-delivered, without being overly swift. The acting is strong, and you can tell that the cast consists almost entirely of big names. Most of the music is great. The cinematography and editing are well-done, and as already mentioned, kept relatively simple. This doesn't have as much suspense as one might expect, but what there is, is effective; the threat feels real. The DVD holds three trailers, one for the Director's Cut release of this, one for 300, and one for Blood Diamond, as well as a featurette I will review on its own page. I recommend this to anyone who likes viewing crime-solving fiction. Just know that this is about the process. 8/10