Zodiac (2007/I)

Regista:

David Fincher

Writers (WGA):

James Vanderbilt (screenplay)
Robert Graysmith (book)

Data di uscita:

2 marzo 2007 (USA)

Genere:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Slogan:

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:

Encryption | Rainstorm | Stabbed In The Back | Glove | Shot To Death

Premi:

24 nominations

Recensioni degli utenti:

"Zodiac" – A Favorable Sign

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

Alias:

Chronicles (USA) (working title)
Zodiac (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

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

Durata:

158 min

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese

Colore:

Colore

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sonoro:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Divieti:

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

Luoghi delle riprese:

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

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Curiosità:

Director David Fincher's attention to detail is so great that, if one listens closely, there is a reference to the then-forthcoming The Rolling Stones free concert at the Altamont Speedway on the radio as Robert Graysmith drives his son to school. Coincidently, it was Melvin Belli's recommendation to The Rolling Stones to hold this particular concert.

Errori:

Anacronismi: One of the books Robert Graysmith has in 1969 had a barcode on the back. Barcodes were not in commercial use until several years later.

Citazioni:

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

Movie Connections:

Fa riferimento a The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

Colonna sonora:

Deacon Blues

"Zodiac" – A Favorable Sign

I knew a good amount about this case going into the film as I always found the famous serial killer ones very interesting when I'd see a TV special about them on. It's also no secret that it's one of the few that went unsolvable to this day, so I really didn't know what to expect from a thriller that pretty much everyone already knows how it'll end. However "Zodiac" was made with a style that allowed the perspective to seem fresh, even if it ultimately wasn't. This is a must see for any true lover of real police work that gets down to the nitty-gritty of what detectives have to go through in actuality. No one's job is glamorized and in fact it's portrayed as the other way around…people get fired, demoted, or simply go flat out crazy. What fascinated me so much about the 'Zodiac Killer' more than the other murderers I've heard about was how he kept changing his methods, which is the main reason why he was able to elude capture for so long. All in all this made for one excellent cinematic puzzle that remained that way.

The biggest surprise of this movie was that David Fincher directed it. Even though he doesn't come out with many new films…with the exception of maybe "Panic Room", those that he does direct are both highly innovative and entertaining. However this effort strayed away from the beaten path and was very different from the type of flick he usually churns out, which turned out to be a worthy venture. While I still prefer the likes of "Seven" and "Fight Club", this was close to them in overall quality. So much detail was taken into account when recreating the time period and crimes. Even though the film was shot digitally they edited it so the appearance had a grainy texture as it did back in the 70's. Also the costumes, settings, modes of transportation, and everything else was matched to a T.

The acting was strictly topnotch here and the biggest kudos goes to Robert Downey Jr. He was absolutely amazing! It's sad that he's at his best when he's playing a character that gets lost in a world of drugs and alcohol as his life has imitated this art for quite some time. Nevertheless he was so amusing to watch and added a playful quirkiness to Paul Avery that I don't think it would've been possible to play him any better. While Robert easily stole the show, a very honorable mention was Mark Ruffalo. He did quite well too and while he usually does, this went above and beyond what he's normally capable of. It's evident that as decent as Mark always has been in the past, there's always room for improvement. Everyone else put in great turns too, and there wasn't a single performance that came close to being unbelievable.

Potential viewers should also be warned, this film isn't for everybody. There are a few very disturbing sequences, that while they aren't even terribly graphic…still manage to be creepy beyond belief due to their realism pertaining to the sheer coldness in which they're displayed. Another factor is the 160-minute running time, which except for the first third when the actual killings are taking place, quickly starts dragging on following that. All the facts had to be included though, so it really couldn't have been much shorter without losing its potency. You also have to remain open-minded if you watch it and can't demand any kind of closure except for what you can conclude on your own; otherwise you'll leave awfully disappointed. Finally it can be argued that only one viewpoint is being showed here and that is the author's, this automatically leads to a bias. I personally think it's the most logical account of events, but if you want an impartial take on what went down, your best bet is to watch a documentary on the history of events that took place.

It's very scary to think that such a gruesome individual could go about undetected for so long and that we'll never get to find out the real answer on who it was behind everything. Fincher's latest contribution is a compelling view for all those with strong stomachs and was eerily refreshing compared to what junk has been streaming out of Hollywood lately. There are many notable guest appearances and is quite simply a well-done movie, even if it did get hammed up a little bit. I personally am going to avoid secluded places for awhile…just in case my astrological sign reads anywhere near the same as it did for all the poor victims.