Following the events surrounding the pursuit of the notorious 'Zodiac' killer in 1970s California this film concentrates as much on the lives of those involved as it does on the hunt itself.
As such this means that it is not sensationalist, voyeuristic or insensitive. Of the murders shown onscreen they are cold, brutal and very realistic. Human beings are rather tough creatures and being stabbed or shot once or twice rarely kills them as it does in most movies. This creep's victims suffer and many survive and that makes them more disturbing to watch than any gore-splattered slasher flick.
Actually, this is closer to a drama-documentary than it is to most run-of-the-mill cinema and has much in common with the likes of United 93 in look and tone. The main difference being a stellar cast giving credible, if all-too familiar performances throughout. Robert Downey jr reprises the kooky, alcoholic junkie once more and one wonders if it's his masochism or the crass insensitivity of the casting system that considers it wise to put a recovering addict in this role. A thought; are they just banking on it not mattering if he falls off the wagon again by casting him in roles where he could turn up as pissed as a fart and just be thought to be acting his ass off?
Even if the latter is the case then one wonders what Jake Gyllenhaal's excuse is for playing Peter Parker? Hell, apart from the lack of red jammies and being a cartoonist rather than a photographer there's not much light shining through the gap between these characters. Or is he auditioning to be Tobey Maguire's replacement?
Oh, and what's with the wig on Anthony Green? He's the spitting image of Kevin Costner in it and that can't be at all helpful for his career these days!
As for the film itself, it's far too long, too waffly and suffers badly from having no central protagonist. It's meant to be Jake Gyllenhall, but as he spends the initial 2/3rds of the film bumbling around in the background, it's hard to relate to him. Characters bow out of the story with hardly a mention and are not really noticed once they've gone. With no resolution, no threat and no tension the film suffers badly and, quite frankly, should have been a made-for-telly drama/documentary. Without the 'character development' it would have been 40 minutes quicker and all the better for it. It doesn't help that this is a story whose main impact outside of the US was in being used as the loose basis for the first Dirty Harry film. It, at least, had tension and pace.
This is getting rave reviews. God knows why as by the final reel you'll be begging for the Zodiac Killer to just get them all so you can get up and get some feeling back into your ass.
As such this means that it is not sensationalist, voyeuristic or insensitive. Of the murders shown onscreen they are cold, brutal and very realistic. Human beings are rather tough creatures and being stabbed or shot once or twice rarely kills them as it does in most movies. This creep's victims suffer and many survive and that makes them more disturbing to watch than any gore-splattered slasher flick.
Actually, this is closer to a drama-documentary than it is to most run-of-the-mill cinema and has much in common with the likes of United 93 in look and tone. The main difference being a stellar cast giving credible, if all-too familiar performances throughout. Robert Downey jr reprises the kooky, alcoholic junkie once more and one wonders if it's his masochism or the crass insensitivity of the casting system that considers it wise to put a recovering addict in this role. A thought; are they just banking on it not mattering if he falls off the wagon again by casting him in roles where he could turn up as pissed as a fart and just be thought to be acting his ass off?
Even if the latter is the case then one wonders what Jake Gyllenhaal's excuse is for playing Peter Parker? Hell, apart from the lack of red jammies and being a cartoonist rather than a photographer there's not much light shining through the gap between these characters. Or is he auditioning to be Tobey Maguire's replacement?
Oh, and what's with the wig on Anthony Green? He's the spitting image of Kevin Costner in it and that can't be at all helpful for his career these days!
As for the film itself, it's far too long, too waffly and suffers badly from having no central protagonist. It's meant to be Jake Gyllenhall, but as he spends the initial 2/3rds of the film bumbling around in the background, it's hard to relate to him. Characters bow out of the story with hardly a mention and are not really noticed once they've gone. With no resolution, no threat and no tension the film suffers badly and, quite frankly, should have been a made-for-telly drama/documentary. Without the 'character development' it would have been 40 minutes quicker and all the better for it. It doesn't help that this is a story whose main impact outside of the US was in being used as the loose basis for the first Dirty Harry film. It, at least, had tension and pace.
This is getting rave reviews. God knows why as by the final reel you'll be begging for the Zodiac Killer to just get them all so you can get up and get some feeling back into your ass.
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