a fact based drama,a great portrayel.
a serial killer sends coded messages ( after the crime ) to 'the police' 'the television network' and 'the press' he calls himself 'the zodiac'
later he 'taunt's' the 'authorities' and the 'media' by making threat's, describing what his murderous intentions
are.
a 'cartoonist' working for the 'newspaper' becomes obsessed with the 'zodiac' case, he is with the aid of books from the library able to decode the messages sent.
despite collecting a vast ammount of evidence the 'police'
are unable to convict 'the prime suspect' as the evidence
would not stand up in court.
some years on and long after the case ceases to be a priority,the 'cartoonist' ( no longer working with the newspaper ) remains obsessed with the 'zodiac' killer and
continues to search for evidence.
eventually he feels he has got enough evidence to take to the law,this includes the name,which proves to be the same as 'the prime suspect' as the police had also found
years earlier.
even though the police now have an '80 percent' positive
i.d. all this is still not enough to bring the suspect to justice.
this is a well known case that has been the subject of previous 'films' and well presented 'documentary's.
the standard of this film's presentation is high, i can without any question recommend at least a viewing.

My title is one of my fave lines from the movie, obviously said by the fabulous Robert Downey Jr! Man that guy can kick out the one liners!
I really enjoyed this film, not only is it intriguing from a watchers point of view, but also, even more interesting as this whole movie is based on real fact! I love films like that, actors playing real life people from the past with true events mixed in, its like 'wow, that really happened'! Of course a lot has obv been played around with for the increased enjoyment of the film but it is all based on real facts! This Zodiac guy really existed and this case spanned more than 3 decades! WOW!
Thats not the only WOW from the film, all the actors were FANTASTIC and cast perfectly! I like all 3 actors, but love one in particular.......Downey Jr! He is my fave actor (had to get that in) and he is BRILL in this! Unfortunatley he disappears in the last hour or so and only pops up a couple of times during that time, but before he leaves he is great! I heard a guy say in Roberts bio on the bio channel that Rob carries the first half of this film and im gonna try not to be biased, but he does! (oops)
Thats not to take stuff away from Mark and Jake, coz when Robert is not on screen these guys are ace anyway, they are all really great actors and they all blend so well together!
Now I like little bits of trivia, so I sometimes spot links in films between fellow actors and I noticed 3 diff guys who are briefly on screen who hav all been in tv show Friends (The 'pretty huge PHD' guy, Chandlers roommate that wont leave, Eddie, and Gavin, a guy Rachel hates then dates in s9).....The 'PHD' guy was also in Ally McBeal when RDJ was in it! So they are linked in this film too!
I must also say that the guy in the car with the girl right at the start is Lee Norris, who is in one of my fave shows, One Tree Hill! Go Lee! Obv dont just watch the film for that, even if u do ull be dragged along by the strength of story! It is a thriller based on fact.....intrigued??
I will also just say that I loved the relationship between Robs character, Paul Avery and Jakes charcter, Robert (how funny, Robert and Robert!) and when they are in a bar, Robert (Jakes character, not Rob) drinks this weird lookin drink and Robs character, Paul.....confused yet? lol........says "This can no longer go ignored. What is that you're drinking?" and Jakes character, Robert, says 'Its and Aqua Velva. You wouldnt make fun of it if u tried it"....so Rob, ie Paul, takes a sip, gets a twitch and the next scene is them getting smashed on them! HILARIOUS!

i thought paramount didn't make challenging stuff anymore, fincher does however. absorbing film making, like the offspring of coppola and pakula, superb script, fine lead players and great support off john carroll lynch, chloe sevigny, brian cox etc. at some point a film so layered and ambtious should fall away a little, finchers real skill is that this 150 minute plus affair doesn't, its rivetting from the opening shots to the final reel.

'Zodiac' has everything you could want in a thriller, it's got mystery, suspense, action, electrifying performances and fantastic direction.
Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as case-obsessed Robert Graysmith is fantastic and Robert Downey Jr.'s role as alcoholic reporter Paul Avery is on a high-wire.
Fincher's direction has made this movie fantastic, with eerie cinematography and stylistic camera-work, he has built a real hard-hitting atmospheric experience.
So what's actually wrong with 'Zodiac'?
It's far too long.
In total the movie is 2 hours and 31 minutes long, it needed to be around 1 hour and 40 minutes long.
I managed to find three places where this film could of easily ended without spoiling the narrative structure and plot.
Nevertheless, 'Zodiac' is a great film that should be seen by all.
A definite purchase.

David Fincher is back with his second dark serial killer movie, his first was the classic Se7en. It's a well crafted and gripping movie that focuses on the main characters' obsession with capturing the Zodiac killer. The acting is superb from Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr and the direction is brilliant.
Zodiac is one of the most Intelligent movies I've seen in years and Fincher proves once again that he is one of the best directors around. I highly recommend this movie.

Like other reviewers have stated, I was not aware of the Zodiac serial killings that this film is based on. My opinion is that Fincher has created a great absorbing film, using his usual dark brooding style. The 3 lead actors put in fine performances as well, Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo especially. Be warned though, people looking for a film the style of Se7en will probably be disappointed, as this film centres on Gyllenhal's character and his obsession with the case.

As a standalone fictional film David Finchers portrait of the Zodiac killer would comfortably reach 4 stars, however it in reality it's meant to be telling a true story which David has fabricated in order to gain a better box office figure. The story should've concentrated more on the killings which in reality is what happened, the obsession with the letters never really took place to the extent the film details. When time passes by in the film Jake goes from no stubble to stubble, a poor attempt at showing 10 extra years of age.

I did however enjoy the film; however it felt like it dragged when it could've been made more interesting. If you are planning to watch this film, please watch the 2005 version first, it's more chilling and a much more accurate representation of how the people living during this time experienced the events....

A very well made movie that is not all that predictable, well worth viewing

The film's brilliant, don't feel the need to go into mass detail as most people know the story of the Zodiac killer. The films brilliant, it never gets boring, its creepy in some parts and gripping in others. Robert Downey Jnr. comes out with some pretty funny one-liners as well.

Its a very good buy.

******

Very gripping, very intelligent, the creators of this film really knew what they were doing, overall very good.
When it was supposed to be dramatic, it was dramatic, when it was supposed to be funny, it was funny, when it was supposed to be serious, it was again serious.
It was always what it was intendid to be.
Very near perfect but wasn't quite perfect enough to reach the five, but still awesome.