Alright, Internet- you win.
At long last, I've given in and watched David Fincher's 2007 Film known simply as Zodiac.
It's not about Astrology- sorry.
It's actually about the Zodiac Killer, who plagued California for a while and still remains an unsolved case- at least officially. Everyone is 99% sure who did it, but he's dead and was never formally convicted.
This Film tells the entire tale and is based on Robert Graysmith's Book. Coincidentally, he's also the young, handsome Lead Character in the Film.
Alongside a Reporter and countless Cops, he (eventually) works to try and solve the unsolvable case.
Where is the mystery when you know the case is unsolved?
That's a question surely asked by Fincher and company.
Maybe that's why he pivoted to Mindhunter- they were already in jail!
Is this Film a masterpiece of details or an example of cinematic excess?
To find out, read on...
In 1969, a Couple pulls off alone on July 4th.
A car pulls up and a flash blinds them until he walks up and shoots them, killing her and nearly the guy too.
A letter is sent to a bunch of newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle. It contains a confession and a cipher message.
The Cartoonist- Graysmith- unofficially works with the lead Reporter- Paul Avery- to figure out what is going on.
Is this legit?
In September, another Couple is targeted.
This time, Zodiac is wearing a full Supervillain outfit and stabs the duo, killing the woman.
Later still, he kills a Cab Driver- Paul Stine- and the Cops miss him leaving the crime scene.
This brings in our 3rd Lead....
A Detective- Paul Toschi- who learns that this case is connected to the other killings.
It becomes his life for the next few years.
All of a sudden, this is about Robert again, as his date with Chloe Sevigny is interrupted by having to call Avery, who they suspect is in danger.
He all but taunted Zodiac and is seeking out an anonymous Lead.
The Cops eventually get enough partial leads to bring them to see a man named Arthur Leigh Allen, who fits the bill in so many ways.
John Carrol Lynch would go on to play a Killer Clown on American Horror Stories and then the most famous one not created by Stephen King.
Did this set him up for that?
Here's where the trouble really picks up...
A bunch of time passes now and the Zodiac remains silent for some reason.
Avery leaves the Paper and the case eventually becomes the obsession of Graysmith.
He's now our Lead again as he tries to connect old clues and find new ones.
Other than making him get weird phone calls and a book deal, this goes nowhere.
He goes to see Allen...and does nothing.
In 1991 (8 years after the last Graysmith Scene), the Book comes out and the survivor of the Opening Scene reappears.
He picks Allen out of a lineup...
...and the Film cuts to black now. We get text telling us that Allen died before questioning and this didn't go anywhere.
What an unsatisfying conclusion.
A Film whose appeal is 100% clear to me...but I didn't love it.
Objectively, the Film is well-made. It's shot well, directed well and has a good Score.
So, what's my issue exactly?
The format. To me, it is all wrong.
The Film tells the tale chronologically and leaves out almost no details.
That's why it is so damn long and requires SO (pause) MANY (pause) TIME JUMPS.
A simple way is to tell the Story entirely from Graysmith's point of view. Have it start when this one really makes him the Lead and you can still have the big reenactments of the murders.
Instead of happening and then being litigated an hour or so later, they happen when he covers the case for the Book.
Make him the focus and make the format of the Story- which covers from 1969 to 1983- work FOR you and not AGAINST you.
I'm sure that it is blasphemy to some people to say 'Remake this Film by Fincher,' but I'm all for it.
Speaking of things I'm all for, here's the return of James LeGros after I literally just covered his Episode of
The Outer Limits!
Next time, let's resume our normal, non-anniversary activities. In a complete tonal shift, it's time to revisit the Scary Movie franchise (since I paid $3.18 for a DVD). Stay tuned...
