Best Movie By David Fincher So Far.

Rating: 8/10 (29 February 2020)

This movie of Fincher is where you'll find tricks and gimmicks really low and it may makes this movie uninteresting to mass audience but it is just your poor taste which is stopping you from liking this great movie by Fincher. This indeed is one of those underrated gems we always forget to appreciate. The idea was here to showcase those hectic schedule of all workers on this still unknown killer's case in the thrilling way possible. This movie is basically Drama and Thriller mixed in one bag, let me tell you this isn't any cookie cutter idea and this is really hard to handle well enough. D. Fincher didn't perfectly nailed it, it is indeed true but still what he did is way better than what guys like Nolan do most of the time. The soundtrack, cinematography, production design and almost everything else is beautifully handled. I don't recall any flaw in those aspects. The only flaws are into the drama and some cheap thriller tricks of this movie, the cheap thriller tricks were really cartoonish and exaggerated, those were as if they wanted to just create a fabricated childish thrill for us, which was really disappointing, and unnecessary overall. It doesn't ruins the overall experience of the movie tbh. And hence, the movie all in all is pleasant gift to us all with no personal satisfaction.
(IN-DEPTH)
The story of this movie is about reporters and investigators' journey of finding an unknown killer from late 1960s to early 1970s. The story is pretty simple and neat, it is highly based on the true events of life. This movie's main purpose was to show you the drama between those workers who were searching for this mysterious murderer. The personal issues, the pride and pretentious acts... everything here is available for us to witness in this movie. The story is nicely handled without any doubt but sometime comes some part which are really simple but not well executed scenes. In another word, there were some really formulaic scenes which could have been improved in this movie. They can be shown with some originality but here they were shown as they are normally always done in movies. There wasn't any charm of their own in them. This kinda makes this movie sometimes a bit stale.
The Direction of this movie is flawless and beautifully done. It is Fincher! Of course, this part was gonna be on rocks! The scenes are well directed, camera work is a pure gem, the idea of showcasing this drama in such shady thriller way is highly the effort of director which makes it shine. The shootouts, choreography, dialogue delivery, and everything else is nicely handled by the director here. The direction is obviously not some Nolan type with majority of childish executions and plot-holes/errors/bugs outta nowhere. It is profound in its own kind.
Screenplay is really good but still yet it is the main issue of this movie. The dialogues are really "already used ones" stick here, and most of the scenes are highly predictable and sometimes some are goofy too. The whole famous basement scene which I had heard a lot about, was really an exaggerated thriller scene done in really childish way tbh. It was emitting from the start that it will be some common horror scene to thrill us. It was really looking cartoonish to even exist in this mature drama. The whole build up of it was really disappointing. Now, many will claim it to be showcasing Jake Gyllenhal character's fear or anything, and look I get it but the usage is a bit really over the top in this moment. The way they talk and all was really childishly handled. This scene was really not needed as well in any manner. And also, this scene yet had no originality in any manner as well. Many more scenes there were like this. The lack of anything new and original was something this movie was suffering from. It doesn't matters if you are doing something normal or simple or otherwise, the main deal is to modify it or do something to create it in such way, so you can call it your own work. It is something many directors need to learn.
Actors have done justice to their characters. Without any doubt they have act well enough. Characters are really good and interesting to watch but still they aren't something which we will remember after this movie. The issue is on the writing which I have already talked about. There is a lot of typical and stale vibe in those characters in many times. It could have been improved and we all would have seen something new.
The soundtrack is really nicely handled here with songs and music fitting every situation you are roamimg in this movie. The cinematopgraphy is profound too, it is the heart of this movie. If you want to enjoy a visual ride of San Francisco, this movie is among the best rides. The whole design and I mean every single one be it set design, costume design or any one, is phenomenal, and is worth your time and even dime.
Now, the best and most subtle, mature and profound thing apart from Drama into Thriller genre is the universe of this movie. The whole world build in this movie is so depth and well made, you'll remember it no matter what. This is not something you'll see in Nolan movies which is a blank world with beautiful practical effects and set design and all. Nolan and many gimmicky directors or even highly thriller directors always lack this aspect. They just build up a set design and then, they are done. David Fincher just showed once again, why the building up and making it more natural and more detail is more better than just a blank universe. The universe of this movie is filled with small, small details and small characters which are portrayed accurately. The whole universe is really a big delight in this movie cuz it is well established and well maintained.
All in all, this movie is the best Fincher movie tbh, this movie carries Fincher's big weapon of thriller with intense drama. This movie is providing the trademark of D. Fincher but the good news is that it is not it. It do have some issues which I have already stated but it is still great enough to have a time which you'll enjoy or not but you'll remember for sure.
ZODIAC
8/10