DVD Review: Zodiac: 2-Disc Director's Cut

David Fincher, the director of such psychological dramas as Fight Club and Se7en was the perfect person to helm a film about the Zodiac killings. He has created a portrait punctuated by realism, even though true-crime fans know the outcome from the start. Many already know that the Zodiac was never caught and the case never officially solved. Instead, Fincher turns his attention to a thorough analysis of the investigation of the case done by young, Eagle Scout San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) and gruff, veteran police inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo.) Zodiac, based on two books by Graysmith as well as Fincher's own extensive research, unfolds as a haunting portrait of crime and obsession.

Zodiac's attention to minute facts and theories corresponds with both Graysmith and Toschi's obsessive need to catch the killer--who petrified the Bay Area with murders and taunting letters to newspapers and police (complete with strange ciphers.) that, per the killers demands, were published on the front page--but also Fincher's own need for perfection (which reportedly required up to seventy takes for a single scene). It seems appropriate that a perfectionist minded filmmaker like Fincher should take on a project like this, given the obvious influence film had on the killer and vice versa. In one of his first letters to the San Francisco Chronicle the Zodiac makes reference to The Most Dangerous Game, a 1932 film about an insane hunter who arranges for a ship to be wrecked on an island, so he can engage in a killing spree. Later on, life imitates art when someone calls Toschi "Bullitt"--reportedly, the inspector was the inspiration for Steve McQueen's iconic character. In a late letter, the Zodiac himself opines: "Waiting for a good movie about me, I wonder who will play me." Obviously films played a big part in the Zodiac case from the beginning.

Through numerous letters to the press, the Zodiac cunningly manipulates the media to achieve his own duplicitous goals. At the same time, the press latches on to the story, not just for informational purposes but for personal gain. "He's [Zodiac] in it for the press," exclaims San Francisco Chronicle reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr., in his best performance since 1992's Chaplin). By the end of the film it is clear that everyone from the Zodiac, the police detectives and the press, all attempted to use the case for their own personal gain.

Though the media appears to be what drives the frenzy of the Zodiac case throughout the film, Fincher attempts to change that as Robert Graysmith becomes increasingly obsessed with the case and the larger media moves on. A Vallejo, CA. sergeant (Elias Koteas) breaks the rules and gives Graysmith access to confidential files because Zodiac "is yesterday's news, so what's the harm? This just show how much attention from the press can affect whether a case continues to move along, or gathers dust in an 'unsolved case' file somewhere.

Fincher shot Zodiac in a very dark, drab manner that lends itself to the authenticity of the story. James Vanderbilt's script never loses focus on his story's human element. While the film is the story of a killer, at the heart of it is a tale of all consuming obsession. Zodiac keeps the focus on the destructive ramifications of Graysmith and Toschi's work on their professional and personal lives. Graysmith allows himself to bring himself and his family to the brink of ruin to capture a serial killer, despite the fact that he was a cartoonist. To this day, Graysmith continues to write about the never solved Zodiac case.

Zodiac was one of the best films of 2007. David Fincher's expertly directed tale begins as a story about a serial killer but evolves into a psychological study of obsession, mania and family dynamics. No nonsense performances by Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. bring James Vanderbilt's impressive script to life and David Shire's taut score adds to intensity of the hunt for the killer.

Paramount released a less than impressive single disc version of Zodiac back in July 2007. Perhaps in anticipation of Oscar nominations, Paramount has done a great job with Zodiac: 2-Disc Director's Cut. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound with subtitles in English, French and Spanish. The image is clean and crisp.

Zodiac: 2-Disc Director's Cut comes packed with special features. David Fincher, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy all provide insightful commentaries. "Zodiac Deciphered" is an all-inclusive look behind the scenes look at the making of Zodiac. "The Visual Effects of Zodiac - Previsualization" - split-screen comparisons between animatics and the finished film for the three murder sequences. "This is the Zodiac Speaking" is a new feature-length documentary (produced and directed by David Prior) covering all aspects of the investigation, including new interviews with the original investigators and surviving victims. "His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen" is a look at the prime suspect in the Zodiac killings. The documentary features interviews with people who knew him and police investigators.