Zodiac

Director: David Fincher

Writer: James Vanderbilt (based on the book by Robert Graysmith)

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.

Between the 1960s and the 1970s, the coast of California is rocked by the apparently random murders by a serial killer, calling himself the Zodiac.

Detective in-charge David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) is determined to find the killer, but his investigation is constantly hampered by the press’s own obsession, led by The San Francisco Chronicle’s Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.). Enter cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose social ineptitude is matched only by his love of puzzles, especially in the Zodiac’s cryptic ciphers.

As the years tick by and the Zodiac remains at large, hope begins to fade from all but Graysmith, who knows he can crack the code and find the Zodiac. But when the law fails, who will be left to pick up the pieces and bring the killer to justice?

This is a film about obsession. Not only in the Zodiac killer, but in the men who are trying to bring him to justice. It consumes them. In essence, they become victims of the Zodiac, having their lives snatched from them by this cruel fixation. How much must you sacrifice to see it through to the end; and if the end comes, will there be anything left of the men worth salvaging? In a perverse way, it reminds me of “National Treasure” with Nicholas Cage. There is an endless trail of clues, but they are always one step away from the victory they can never seem to capture.

Based on the book by the lead protagonist, Robert Graysmith, it’s a fascinating look at how the people of San Francisco were tormented by this murderer. And while we do spend much time focusing on the killer and even his act of killing, we never forget that this story is about the men after him, not the killer himself.It is this clear direction that proves David Fincher is still at the top of his game. He lets viewers absorb the movie, without ever having to shove it down their throats. Where other directors must use snappy camera work to keep you awake, Fincher just give you a gentle push, and it’s all you need.

I’m always so impressed by the use of lighting in his movies. There is an air of realism in how the light hits each scene and each character, that makes his movies truly tense. The atmosphere is haunting and yet also so wonderfully normal. And although this new movie doesn’t compare to his masterpiece “Se7en,” it nonetheless keeps you enthralled till the end.

There is one negative to the film – the length. It’s just too long. I love long movies, when there is cause. However, I didn’t find reason why this movie couldn’t have concluded at two hours, rather than two-and-a-half. We get answers, but not a definitive end. After the nail-biting descent into the basement by Robert Graysmith, we never again get to a moment so high in drama and tension.

We need reason to stay and although great acting can keep us there, it just isn’t enough to keep us happy.

Enter Jake Gyllenhaal. I honestly believe, with all my heart, he is the greatest actor of our generation. Always watchable and always believable, he envelops each and every character he plays, and makes this movie what it is. Of all the cast, we feel the most for his obsession – not creepy or dangerous, but just somehow sad.

Which is not to say the other actors aren’t in fine form. Robert Downey Jr. steals scenes as the eccentric journalist Paul Avery, who smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish, while wearing flamboyant jackets to boot. He shares a fruity blue drink with Gyllenhaal, only to order 10 more, and that brought a smile to my face.

Although Mark Ruffalo is just like any other cop, right out of the pages of “L.A. Confidential” or “Chinatown,” he still keeps it fresh, which is far harder than it sounds.

But is it enough? Is great acting and solid directing enough to rise to greatness? Sometimes yes, but in this case, no.

I blame the story, and not in the sense of poor writing, but although semiconclusions based on belief is enough for a book, it just doesn’t fly with cinema-goers.

Good, bad or ugly, we want our conclusions concluded. And we never get it. And we waited too long to not get it.

Overall: A thought provoking movie, dominated by excellent directing and acting, but sadly just too long. And with too few solid answers to justify the wait, it can’t catch up to its older brother “Se7en.”