On DVD: Zodiac

Directed By David Fincher

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal

David Fincher is a director who really knows how to do dark and to do it in a way that makes his work stand out above other similar directors.  I even liked Panic Room, a film that many critics didn't appreciate.  So, way back when it was first that David Fincher would be helming a film about the Zodiac I was drooling with anticipation.  The film just sort of came and went in theaters and now we finally get a look at it on DVD.

The Movie

Political Cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) became obsessed with the Zodiac killings back in the late sixties as they were happening.  He wasn't directly involved with the reporting of the stories as they came out but he ended up being a sounding board for the reporter that was, Paul Avery (Downy Jr.).  Graysmith seemed to have a nose for the situation from the beginning predicting many of the Zodiac's moves and helping to solve some of the Zodiac's puzzles, or at least figure out how the Zodiac created the puzzles after they were solved.

This film is able to stick with the procedural nature of the book and still make the main character interesting.  Over the years when the murders slow and the letters stop everyone seems to give up on finding the murderer except for Graysmith and one lone detective.  Slowly the obsession with the case destroys many lives including sending not just one but two people spiraling into drunken retirement and causing Graysmith to lose his family.  The parallel to these very humanized characters is the inhuman Zodiac himself.  During the height of his killings he is shown simply in shadow and represented as something outside of humanity, something almost otherworldly.  What we do get of the killer in depth is the murders he commits.  They are grotesque and disturbing, very much in your face compared to the rest of the film.  They are very effective in building tension and detailing the fear that the Zodiac caused in the late sixties.

I never realized just how long the saga of the Zodiac lasted and how anti-climactic the finality of the search for the killer was.  It started in the late 60's and finally ended in the 80's with the case even now open and considered unsolved even though for the most part the case is solved.  The ending is the least complicated of the movie, so if you don't know the story of the Zodiac I won't give it away.

I also never realized how complex the hunt for the Zodiac got and how many leads the police and reporters found that seemed almost perfect and ended up being dead ends.  Graysmith was apparently one part brave and another part obsessive to a life destroying degree.  He had built a family and at one point the Zodiac was calling him and breathing into the phone, showing that he knew that Graysmith was chasing him and that he could be in danger.

The thing that makes the movie so fascinating is also the biggest fault of the film, it just runs too long.  Here's the thing though, it's hard for me to tell you where to cut it down.  There's a lot of information here, about all the work that went into chasing the Zodiac, how the cops, reporters, and on the outside for most of the film Graysmith chased the Zodiac but were never able to pin him down.  I have no doubt this film was too long for many viewers but I was riveted.  it's epic in length, and it should be because it's such an epic story.  Other than the length I really don't have any complaints (and that's barely a complaint).  The acting is fantastic, especially from Robert Downy Jr. and Jake Gyllenhaal.  Chloe Sevigny has a small part in the film but she really immerses herself in the world and I didn't even recognize her at first.  Fincher established himself in his early career as someone with a lot of style and skills in editing for style, but in this film he plays it more subtle, with no fast cutting and his artistic style is there but it's portrayed in establishing the environment and making the night time look beautiful and scary at the same time.  I've seen a few other movies covering this same subject and none compare to this film.  The film stays about as true to the procedure and the characters as possible without straying into heavily pandering territory.  Fans of Robert Downy Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, and David Fincher must see this film as should those interested in serial killers.

8/10

The Video

The anamorphic presentation is fairly solid with good detail and solid blacks.  Detail is strong and the contrast is as it should be.  What I mean is that it's a bit soft but it seems to be purposefully so not due to the transfer.  It seems that the softness and color choices are meant to represent age because the more modern shots at the end appear to be sharper and feature more crisp color that the earlier shots in the film.  So some of the not so vivid colors and the softness may be left up to interpretation but the horrid pixilation on some lines and in the CGI shots is unacceptable for such a new film.  Other than that complaint, for a film shot digitally this transfer looks quite good.

8/10

The Audio

The Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation is very strong and offers some solid atmospheric effects.  My favorite scenes involve the rain, it literally feels like it's all around you.  It's touches such as that which really make the film feel immersive.  Balance is great and dialogue, effects, and score are crisp and clean throughout.  It's no Star Wars but it's very well done considering how dialogue heavy the film is.

8.5/10

Packaging and Bonus Features

OK, let's make this short and sweet, there's nothing, nada, zero for extras.  The single disc release comes in a standard amaray case with OK artwork that's mostly just floating heads.  What's most insulting is that there's a preview on the disc for a spiffy director's cut of the film with a ton of extras coming next year.  So right after you spend your 20 bucks you'll find out that if you want extras you're going to have to spend that 20 all over again next year.

0/10

I loved this movie, sure it's too long but how can I complain if I can't find one thing I'd cut?  This is a deep story presented here in an epic way.  To me, Zodiac is a must see.  Robert Downy Jr. again as is usual nearly every time he is in a movie, deserves some attention for his work here.  It's a shame the lack of extras will bring the overall score of the release down.

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10

The Movie 8/10

The Video 8/10

The Audio 8.5/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 0/10

Overall (Not an Average) 6/10

-Stephen Lackey