Slow-paced and unsatisfactory

Rating: 6/10 (16 September 2009)

No blatant spoilers here, but better safe than sorry.
When I first heard of this movie, I thought that it would be something similar to Seven, only we'd have people killed for the signs of the Zodiac. Like an Aquarius drowned, Scorpio stung by a scorpion etc. Sorry to disappoint, that's not the case and if that's what you're looking for, steer clear.
The movie is extremely slow-paced. It may be based on true events, but that does not mean we need or want to see every single bit of police investigation, follow every false lead. The huge gaps between resurgences of Zodiac slowed it down even more. OK, you're restricted by the material, but it doesn't mean you can't speed things up a bit. I do prefer more thoughtful movies than action fests, but this had zero tension. The main characters never really felt like they were in danger.
Which brings me to another point. Who on earth is the protagonist? They really can't seem to decide, and it makes it hard to get into the movie. Picking one character and telling it from their viewpoint would have made it so much more immersive. As it was, I felt more like I was watching a documentary than a movie.
And I think that's where the problem lies. They tried too hard to stick to the actual story instead of altering it a bit for the sake of entertainment. Certainly the case is an interesting one, but I don't want to know the facts, I want to know the experience.
If you're looking a fast paced thriller, this is not it. It's not outright terrible, just mediocre. I regret watching it, seemed like such a waste of my evening.