it is only wearying for the characters

Rating: 8/10 (4 June 2007)

Before I went to see the movie tonight, I had read some comments here and in the German press which show a highly controversial discussion about Fincher's new work. Now I know why the opinions are so divergent. You must know what it's all about if you want to understand and enjoy the movie.
This is NOT a movie about a serial killer! The topic is the investigation which is carried out both by the police and the journalists. The only action scenes are the murders which are short and ruthless. During the rest of the movie, many people are talking.
Although it lasts for about two and a half hours, it's not boring. The length of the movie represents the wearying investigation. The weeks, months and years go by and there is no real success. You can actually feel the despair of all the detectives and journalists - and then there is the unresting and pertinacious main character Robert Graysmith, who wants to solve the mystery by hook or by crook. He is the only person who is constantly interested in the case while a cop quits the service and star reporter Paul Avery becomes an alcohol addict.
Although there are some anachronism goofs, it is interesting to see how e.g. the cars and the coke vending machines become modern during the movie.
Nevertheless I can only give 8 out of 10 points because there was hardly anything about the cryptic signs in the movie. Robert only shows a book about code-breaking, but - in contrast to "Da Vinci Code" - it is almost irrelevant. There should have been a better balance of code-breaking and the analysis of handwriting.
This is the third Fincher-movie I saw and it is totally different from "Se7en" and "Panic Room". Except for minor shortcomings, the director proves that even in 2007 you can convince the audience without explosions, chases, bloodshed and sex.