Subtle Darkness

Rating: 9/10 (30 March 2007)

More than a decade after 'Seven' put David Fincher's name on the big stage, the visionary director returns to the same subject that brought such success. Serial killers. 'Zodiac', a mature and brooding film, reaccounts one of our country's most tantalizing unsolved mysteries. Who was the Zodiac killer? Fincher sets out to answer that very question, and in doing so, creates a masterpiece of epic proportions.
It's 1969, and the country will soon be captivated by the actions of one, villainous man. The Zodiac killer. Over the period of several years, this mysterious figure will terrorize San Francisco and surrounding areas. Brutally, yet flawlessly, taking the lives of his victims, he will repeatedly elude investigators. It's lowly cartoonist Robert Graysmith, who works at the San Fransisco Chronicle to which the Zodiac has been writing letters to, who will become obsessed with the case and the unknown face behind it all. With the help of Paul Avery, a newspaper editor who becomes 'blacklisted' by the Zodiac, and David Toschi, a local investigator looking into possible leads in the case, Graysmith will embark on a more than decade long effort to unmask the uncatchable killer.
For David Fincher, whose resume includes 'Seven', 'Fight Club', and 'Panic Room', 'Zodiac' marks a new step in Fincher's already terrific career. While 'Zodiac' may not be Fincher's best piece of work, it's certainly his most mature and accomplished effort to date. Subtle and low-key, it's a film that doesn't offer many answers, yet leaves you unnerved and disturbed because of its own murkiness. Topping 160 minutes, 'Zodiac' remains a taut and steady-paced film that rarely stumbles. It could have been edited down to a more economical length, but being the precise man that he is, Fincher does what he does for a reason. And I sure as hell won't question his motives. Because at its best, 'Zodiac' works as a suspense-ridden and edge-of-your-seat thriller. And at other times, a smart sharp-witted drama. It perfectly conveys its atmosphere of fear and unease, and don't doubt that you'll cast a glance or two over your shoulder coming out of the theater. 'Zodiac' is a sweeping masterpiece. Beautifully shot, the cinematography manages spectacular shots of San Francisco that captures the look and feel of the time.
'Zodiac' catches much of its cast at the height of their respectable careers. With Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr., it's hard to distinguish who is superior. Gyllenhaal can add 'Zodiac' to his already impressive list of films that includes 'Donnie Darko', 'Brokeback Mountain', and 'October Sky'. Gyllenhaal's take as a man obsessed with a case seemingly out of his hands allows the audience, who is on the same page as Gyllenhaal despite possibly knowing the outcome, to connect the dots alongside Robert Graysmith. 'Zodiac' also finds Ruffalo at the top of his game, who is slick and sharp in his performance as an investigator who is slowly watching the baffling case slip beneath the cracks. And it's great to see Robert Downey continue his rebound. After an impressive performance in 'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang', Downey plays the amusing newspaper editor who descends down a slipper slope when he gets the attention of the Zodiac himself. A terrific ensemble, each of the film's players disappear into their characters who are but pawns in the Zodiac's villainous scheme.
A faithful interpretation of a frustrating crime, 'Zodiac' is made all the more frustrating for those who know its unsettling conclusion. David Fincher continues to be a breath of fresh air, a meticulous storyteller who mixes style and substance with compelling results. It's Fincher the way we like him, fine-tuned and creating a subtly haunting film. 'Zodiac' may not have in store for us a grand and explosive finale, but the end result is a rewarding payoff for those who take the journey.