When the San Francisco Police Department pulled resources away from the first media driven serial killer investigation in history, author Robert Graysmith began his own inquiry. Over the course of a decade plus journey, he chased clues and witnesses all over California. Sometimes he worked against the police, sometimes with them. Relentless. Fearless. And in some way, hopeless, Graysmith paid a heavy price for his truth, losing his family to what they considered an obsession. Now his exploration forms the basis of a major motion picture. A good one, at that.

Countless producers and studios considered adapting the book for screen; only David Fincher had the nerve and skills to make it happen. I’m glad Fincher did, because in another director’s hand, this project might have degraded into the realm of the un-watchable. And it wouldn’t have been the material that caused the issue.

The backdrop, in fact, is fascinating. A lone murderer–possibly with military training, definitely with a flair for the cinematic–taunted police and the media with letters filled with ciphers, and attracted international attention. After all the time and effort, to this day no one has ever been arrested for the crimes, which may number from five to thirteen murders. The film, like the book, paints a clear picture of one particular suspect. Yet, no matter how compelling the case for this suspect may be, it does not resolve the case. Without a prosecution, the killings stand as an open wound, an affront to one’s sense of justice.

And this standoff may continue. It’s a conflict that one can live with, for one hundred and fifty three minutes of the film’s run time, and well beyond. Because that’s how it is. All who let the case affect them, are never the same.
What works about Zodiac:

1) Great cast. Robert Downey Jr. is brilliant, and Jake ( as Graysmith ) does the obsessed writer thing to a T.

2) Aesthetics. Impossible camera angles and shots make Zodiac an interesting film to watch.

3) Believability. Taking Graysmith’s account as an honest recreation of facts, the story arc is plausible.

What needs improvement:

1) A little less investigation into the Zodiac, a little more Zodiac in action. But then, that’s how it happened. Lots of time and effort chasing a ghost.

Verdict: For Fincher/Zodiac noir fans, theater full price / DVD purchase. For the casual observer, DVD purchase.