Hollywood Hues
Serial terror
Zodiac is a well-made film, writes Ervell E. Menezes

Robert Downey Jr and Jake Gyllenhaal in Zodiac

Serial killers come in a variety of hues, many of them being psychotic or imbalanced. Some are clever and try to be one up on the cops and the newspapermen. In Zodiac we have one who calls the cops pigs, is a sort of killjoy when it comes to couples enjoying themselves and says he prefers killing people to animals because man is the most dangerous animal.
It is in the Bay area of San Francisco he operates and his first target takes place on July 4, 1969. Two youngsters on a date in their car. What’s more, he sends a note to the editors, seeking publicity or else threatening them with more murders. He also phones them up, giving clues and sends ciphers.

The San Francisco Chronicle is the newspaper he chooses to interact with. It is rookie cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is drawn to the killer like a magnet even though there are more competent seniors, like hard-drinking crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr).
Actually Zodiac is a true story, based on a novel by Graysmith and director David Fincher, of Fight Club fame, zeroes in on the subject in his inimitable style. Moving on more than one front he gives the viewer an insight into the killer’s psyche and in this he is abetted by a taut screenplay by James Vanderbilt and swift cutting and editing helps maintain the easy flow. It may not be racy but the fare is thoroughly absorbing.

Ambitious homicide inspector of the SFPD David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), replete with the 70s sideburns, is put on the case and with him is low-key but meticulous partner William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards). There are a plethora of clues and with the killer always a step ahead of the pursuers. Red herrings are plenty and leads often hit a dead end.

But Fincher is in complete control and has his audience in a vice-like grip (or is it a trance). It is 160 minutes of absorbing, edge-of-the-seat fare and at times one is reminded of the villain John Malcovich in In the Line of Fire. But liberties cannot be taken since it is a true story.

The ending may be a bit of a let-down but Fincher fans will relish every moment of it. He is ably supported by an excellent cast. Jake Gyllenhaal goes the whole hog as an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the killer and Mark Ruffalo is no less enthusiastic. Robert Downey Jr, after a long absence, lends good support and Anthony is merely academic. But be ready for dialogue-heavy whodunit and don’t see it after a hard day at work. Set Zodiac aside for a holiday.

HOME