Contains the spirit of Graysmith's obsession.

Rating: 10/10 (28 February 2008)

Some might say David Fincher is an obsessive film director. He is notorious for doing dozens of takes for specific scenes, often frustrating actors and crew. He is also one of the most innovative and methodically successful directors in recent memory. Following similar material used in his previous sinister masterpiece Seven, Fincher takes his skills to the mostly real world by portraying the infamous Zodiac Killer of the late 1960s and early 1970s that paralyzed the San Francisco area and eventually the United States.
There are many theories and myths surrounding the Zodiac Killer and especially the author who has given perhaps the most detailed and complete account of the multiple incidents. The character of Robert Graysmith, played with charming angst by the remarkably chirpy Jake Gyllenhaal, is the main focus of the investigation team as he went on to write two books on the killings. However, Fincher wisely spreads his net wider, also including the head investigator (Mark Ruffalo) and a key journalist who was contacted by the Zodiac (an incredible Robert Downey Jr.) All the acting is quite wonderful, especially Downey as a drunken and paranoid man driven to loss by the case. All of them succeed best in portraying obsession, the main theme of this film.
Obsession has been a trademark of David Fincher films, be it attempting to kill a terrifying alien, a serial killer using the seven deadly sins as his MO or trying to revolutionize humanity through revitalized masculinity. Never is this more fully realized or better handled than in this film, which makes a strong case of being Fincher's best. It is so methodical, so professionally paced that despite its long running time it is never boring; every scene is necessary to create a plethora of characters that are individuals as well. It is remarkable to see Fincher subvert his own genre clichés here as we never get the various scenes you would expect in a serial killer film. Thus, you are constantly guessing.
With obsession being the main target, we witness its consequences on the investigators and their personal lives. Often it is unpleasant and yet refuses to go away. The film ends best it can: ambiguously. Zodiac remains a mystery, one that will continue to boggle minds and challenge notions. Yet, despite whatever flaws Graysmith's research may have, he has done an incredible sacrifice of willingly giving up a huge portion of his life to better understand this horrific incident. For unknown reasons, he persevered at remarkable costs. Never have I seen a film that embraces its protagonist's spirit so well. Fincher does so here.