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| Movie Review: Zodiac Alternate Title: What's Your Sign?
Story: Raise your hand if you
think Hollywood has sucked the life blood (no pun intended) out of the
serial killer franchise? Anyone? Anyone? I, for one, have always been
interested in true life serial killers and how these predators manage
to roam amongst us. How do these sociopath's exist? What makes them
tick? Director David Fincher (Se7en,
Fight Club) deftly revisits the California Zodiac killings that spawned
at least eight previous films (including Dirty Harry) and several
books. This film is based on the book by Robert Graysmith
with a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. The plodding, painstaking, pre-DNA, pre-computer
investigative process is at the heart of the film. Graysmith, an editorial
cartoonist for the SF Chronicle, becomes obsessed with the killings
as do several SF police detectives. We watch as the Zodiac killer claims
many more victims than simply the people he killed. The film covers
the period from 1969 to 1991. Why do these 40 year old crimes still spark interest?
Probably because the killer was never found and brought to justice.
The main suspect died before he could be indicted. If you like old fashioned who done its
mixed in with a good cast, interesting camera work and a fine script
than this film is for you. Be warned - it is overly lengthy. Acting: Jake Gyllenhaal is terrific
as the eager cartoonist. Mark Ruffalo is also great
as the obsessed detective. Robert Downey Jr., has played
this drug addled boozer before and does it perfectly. Anthony
Edwards, Chloë Sevigny, Brian Cox, Dermot Mulroney and
John Carroll Lynch as the suspected Zodiac killer are
all fine too. Predilection: I am interested in serial killer films
(but not the gory, stupid ones) Critters: squirrels
Food: BLT's, burgers, carrots and animal crackers.
Blatant Product Placement: Animal Crackers
Soundtrack: Appropriately haunting
Opening Titles: Simply typewriter font
Theater Audience: Crowded for a Monday afternoon.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: The recreation of several of the killings
from eyewitness accounts is very squirmy indeed.
Drift Factor: I started to look at my watch at about
the two hour mark.
Predictability Level: Not a factor as I know the
story.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Nit Picking: No need to the film to run 2 hours and
40 minutes. EDITOR!
Big Screen or Rental: Go for the big screen. There
are not many good films out at this time of year.
Length: 40 minutes over the Lobo two hour rule.
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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