Zodiac (2007/I)

Director:

David Fincher

Writers (WGA):

James Vanderbilt (screenplay)
Robert Graysmith (book)

Release Date:

2 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There's more than one way to lose your life to a killer

Plot:

Based on the Robert Graysmith books about the real life notorious Zodiac, a serial killer who terrorized San Francisco with a string of seemingly random murders during the 1960s and 1970s.

Plot Keywords:

Newspaper | Shooting Range | True Crime | Interrogation | Golden Gate Bridge

Awards:

24 nominations

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Robert Graysmith
Mark Ruffalo	...	Inspector David Toschi
Anthony Edwards	...	Inspector William Armstrong
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Paul Avery
Brian Cox	...	Melvin Belli
John Carroll Lynch	...	Arthur Leigh Allen
Richmond Arquette	...	Zodiac 1 & 2
Bob Stephenson	...	Zodiac 3
John Lacy	...	Zodiac 4
Chloë Sevigny	...	Melanie
Ed Setrakian	...	Al Hyman
John Getz	...	Templeton Peck
John Terry	...	Charles Thieriot
Candy Clark	...	Carol Fisher
Elias Koteas	...	Sgt. Jack Mulanax

Also Known As:

Chronicles (USA) (working title)
Zodiaco (Mexico) (Venezuela) [es]
Sodiaak (Estonia) [et]
Zodíaco (Argentina) [es]
Zodíaco (Brazil) [pt]
Zodiákus (Hungary) [hu]
Zodiac (Italy) [it]
Zodiac (Greece) [el]
Zodiac (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Zodiac (France) [fr]
Zodiac - Die Spur des Killers (Germany) [de]
Zodiak (Poland) [pl]
Zodiaque, Le (Canada: French title) [fr]
Zodijak (Serbia) [sr]

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images. (also director's cut)

Runtime:

158 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:MA | Norway:15 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:R-13 | France:U (with warning) | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Ireland:16 | USA:R | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (certificate #42944) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Brazil:16 | Germany:16 | Italy:T | India:UA | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

4th Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Being edited using Final Cut Pro.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Several times, "The Most Dangerous Game" is referred to as a novel. It isn't; it's a short story.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mike Mageau: Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.

Movie Connections:

Featured in This Is Zodiac (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

The New Scooby Doo Movies

"This is the Zodiac speaking..."

I have been highly interested and engrossed in the Zodiac killer story for the last 5 years now and I can say, without doubt, that this is the best and most accurate telling of the story. The film presents numerous details that were unknown to me before seeing it. All of these facts and theories are thrown together in a way that strings the viewer along, you think it's someone, then you get new information and that person is no longer a suspect. Fincher really puts you into the life of a detective working on the case. You feel just as excited when new information comes about and are equally disappointed when it leads to another dead end.

The film is beautifully shot (on VIPER digital cameras) and once again, Fincher shows us his wonderfully adept skills with CGI shots. All of the actors shine and truly become their characters. Jake Gyllenhall and Robert Downey Jr. put in excellent performances, as does Mark Ruffalo. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Phillip Baker Hall join the ensemble.

The only complaint I have heard that holds any water is that the film is too long. At roughly 2 1/2 hours, I can see how many would think that is long, but you have to realize that this is an intricate story with deep characters who need to be examined and understood. A standard 90 minute film, or even a two hour cut, would not have been able to tell the story as well. Character motivation and important details would have been left on the cutting room floor.

If you have followed the Zodiac case, you will be happy to see how well done this movie is. If you don't know anything about the case, you will be given an excellent story that will make you want to learn more about it. Regardless, you should do yourself a favor and see this movie. If nothing else, it's better than "Wild Hogs".