ZODIAC

David Fincher, the director of the true-life story of the California serial killer of the late 60's and early 70's who referred to himself as "Zodiac," made his film as historically and accurately detailed as possible. Dialogue was pulled directly from police transcripts. The story was not altered to make it more dramatic. Fincher's obsession with authentic detail carried over to the set when he could demand 50-plus takes of a shot, and also mirrored the obsession of Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who was so possessed with finding the serial killer that his wife left him. The obsession was contagious. By the end of the film I totally identified with Graysmith, wanting to learn more about this self-promoting, psycho killer.

Fincher likes to make his audience uncomfortable, evident by the graphic way in which he shot the two murders allegedly committed by the Zodiac killer in the first third of film. Fincher's frame remained steady during the violent scenes, unlike shots from previous films he directed, such as Se7en, Fight Club, or The Panic Room, where the camera was an active participant. His willingness use the camera as voyeur made the murders even more horrific because they seemed more real; the audience stood by, helpless, without the artifice of the moving camera. This subtle touch would heighten the understanding of how important it was to capture Zodiac during the remaining two-thirds of the film.

Structurally, the film is unconventional, like its subject matter. In most films the story focuses on the protagonist. In Zodiac, the investigation and search for the killer focus on Graysmith, then on Inspector David Toshci (Mark Ruffalo), then on investigative reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.), and, finally, back on Graysmith. This technique in no way diminishes the quality of the film, or the brilliant performances of the three principal players.

This police-procedural/serial killer film has created, as strange as it might sound, a film obsessed with obsession. Fincher was obsessed with getting the historical details accurate. Zodiac is obsessed with self-promotion and killing. Graysmith, Toschi, and Avery are all driven to find the Zodiac killer. And, by the end of the film, audiences will be just as obsessed to learn more about the Zodiac killings.

                                                        James R. Janowsky