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That's what cartoonist-turned-investigator Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) confesses to his wife. But the statement serves as much to put forward this film's thesis than to highlight Graysmith's obsession. You see this film is not necessarily about the Zodiac Killer, but rather about how three different people become obsessed and ultimately consumed by the "need to know".
Starting in 1969, Zodiac mostly focuses on Graysmith, but it also follows police detective Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.), all of which "need to know" who this killer is for different reasons; even if it is at the expense of their careers, their families, or even their lives.
David Fincher uses a clever story structure to reel us in with a bunch of incredibly intense, and sometimes gruesome murder sequences during the first act. Much like the Zodiac Killer himself used different modus operandi for each murder, the way Fincher handles these sequences is different, but they're all incredibly effective. I can say that the Lake Berryessa scene is one that sticks with you.
However, as the film progresses, Fincher turns the tables on us to focus more on these three characters, becoming more of a character study than a plot-driven film. Thankfully, all three actors are up to the task delivering excellent performances all around. Downey, Jr. is particularly impressive in one of his best performances before he became absorbed by the MCU machinery.
However, it is Gyllenhaal the one that delivers the most interesting and probably complex performance. By focusing on his obsession, Fincher is putting us in his shoes, entangling us in the same quest to find out who is this killer, even though we all know the quest will ultimately be "pointless" and the end will not be "satisfactory".
But much like The Game, this fits perfectly into Fincher's usual themes and tropes, making us follow isolated characters obsessed with "games" that lead them into dark, dangerous, and morally ambiguous places. Graysmith needs to know, and yes, we need to know as well, but Fincher doesn't know and maybe doesn't even care. It's up to us to live with that answer.
Grade:
ZODIAC
(2007, Fincher)
(2007, Fincher)
"I... I need to know who he is. I... I need to stand there, I need to look him in the eye, and I need to know that it's him."
That's what cartoonist-turned-investigator Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) confesses to his wife. But the statement serves as much to put forward this film's thesis than to highlight Graysmith's obsession. You see this film is not necessarily about the Zodiac Killer, but rather about how three different people become obsessed and ultimately consumed by the "need to know".
Starting in 1969, Zodiac mostly focuses on Graysmith, but it also follows police detective Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.), all of which "need to know" who this killer is for different reasons; even if it is at the expense of their careers, their families, or even their lives.
David Fincher uses a clever story structure to reel us in with a bunch of incredibly intense, and sometimes gruesome murder sequences during the first act. Much like the Zodiac Killer himself used different modus operandi for each murder, the way Fincher handles these sequences is different, but they're all incredibly effective. I can say that the Lake Berryessa scene is one that sticks with you.
However, as the film progresses, Fincher turns the tables on us to focus more on these three characters, becoming more of a character study than a plot-driven film. Thankfully, all three actors are up to the task delivering excellent performances all around. Downey, Jr. is particularly impressive in one of his best performances before he became absorbed by the MCU machinery.
However, it is Gyllenhaal the one that delivers the most interesting and probably complex performance. By focusing on his obsession, Fincher is putting us in his shoes, entangling us in the same quest to find out who is this killer, even though we all know the quest will ultimately be "pointless" and the end will not be "satisfactory".
But much like The Game, this fits perfectly into Fincher's usual themes and tropes, making us follow isolated characters obsessed with "games" that lead them into dark, dangerous, and morally ambiguous places. Graysmith needs to know, and yes, we need to know as well, but Fincher doesn't know and maybe doesn't even care. It's up to us to live with that answer.
Grade: