Zodiac
David Fincher's Zodiac is just plain overrated. While it is certainly a good film it is far from a great one. After seeing it I just can't understand how people are going gaga over it.
The film is adapted by James Vanderbilt from Robert Graysmith's book. Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) was a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle. But as the paper continued to print articles about the killer Graysmith got more and more involved until it became an obsession. He is joined on his quest by Chronicle writer Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) who is also very interested in the case.
Meanwhile, the police are trying their best to capture the Zodiac. The main team assigned to the case, Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards), who are beyond frustrated.
The film is partly about police procedural and partly about how the press influences a criminal case. This is at times interesting and at times dull. That is because Fincher dragged things out. The film is two hours and forty minutes long and really needed to be cut. Then you would have a tighter and more interesting film. The murder sequences are well done and very chilling. This is where Fincher's work really shines. Although there is some suspense I wanted more and the film just didn't come through on that level.
Gyllenhaal is okay as Graysmith but he isn't always believable in the role. Downey, Jr. is terrific as the washed out, drunken Avery. Ruffalo is solid and Edwards is his typical bland self. Brian Cox is wonderful in his small role as attorney Melvin Belli. And John Carroll Lynch has a good turn as the number one suspect Arthur Lee Allen.
For a number of reasons I couldn't get to see this film until it was playing for a few weeks. Now that I've seen it I feel that it could have waited for DVD. If you have limited time and want to see a good thriller then check out Breach, which boasts an outstanding performance by Chris Cooper. And wait to rent Zodiac because when things get a little slow you can pause it, take a break and fix yourself a nice snack before you go back to watching it.
The film is adapted by James Vanderbilt from Robert Graysmith's book. Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) was a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle. But as the paper continued to print articles about the killer Graysmith got more and more involved until it became an obsession. He is joined on his quest by Chronicle writer Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) who is also very interested in the case.
Meanwhile, the police are trying their best to capture the Zodiac. The main team assigned to the case, Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards), who are beyond frustrated.
The film is partly about police procedural and partly about how the press influences a criminal case. This is at times interesting and at times dull. That is because Fincher dragged things out. The film is two hours and forty minutes long and really needed to be cut. Then you would have a tighter and more interesting film. The murder sequences are well done and very chilling. This is where Fincher's work really shines. Although there is some suspense I wanted more and the film just didn't come through on that level.
Gyllenhaal is okay as Graysmith but he isn't always believable in the role. Downey, Jr. is terrific as the washed out, drunken Avery. Ruffalo is solid and Edwards is his typical bland self. Brian Cox is wonderful in his small role as attorney Melvin Belli. And John Carroll Lynch has a good turn as the number one suspect Arthur Lee Allen.
For a number of reasons I couldn't get to see this film until it was playing for a few weeks. Now that I've seen it I feel that it could have waited for DVD. If you have limited time and want to see a good thriller then check out Breach, which boasts an outstanding performance by Chris Cooper. And wait to rent Zodiac because when things get a little slow you can pause it, take a break and fix yourself a nice snack before you go back to watching it.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:16 PM
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