Zodiac (2007)

DVD COVER/SIDE

Length of film: 157 Minutes (Directors Cut: 162 Minutes)

Rated: R 

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brain Cox

IMDB Rank: 7.7/10

Part 1 Time:  98 Minutes (Directors Cut: 100 Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  59 Minutes (Directors Cut: 62 Minutes)

Where does the first part end?  Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) speaks to Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) in the lobby of a San Francisco theatre following the showing of “Dirty Harry.”

Final line of dialogue on the first part: Robert states “You’re going to catch him!” David responds “How? They’re already making movies about him.”

First line of dialogue on the second part:  “Hi, we haven’t met, I’m Robert Graysmith” Robert speaks to Duffy Jennings (Adam Goldberg) a new employee to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper who has replaced Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.).

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, the SFPD (San Francisco Police Department), has been actively working for three years to solve the Zodiac case. Having investigated multiple suspects, letters, and claims pertaining to be apart of the Zodiac’s crimes and murders, the case is slowly becoming cold.

Which part is better? The first part of the film shows the official crimes committed by the Zodiac and the SFPD’s active investigation in apprehending possible suspects. Part two highlights Robert Graysmith’s continued inquiries, five years after the last confirmed Zodiac killing. Part one is the better of the two as it gives context to the confirmed killings of the Zodiac killer and the correspondence they had with print media.

Academy Awards: None