This is also still my favorite Fincher film. What I love most is how the film shows the ripple effect of violence, even for people seemingly distant from the violence. I love how this film does have a 70s vibe despite being filmed entirely on digital. Less confident director would have felt only 35 mm could capture the period. I love film stock, but in the hands of someone like Fincher, I have no problem with digital, unlike Downey. If you've seen the documentary Side By Side, you'll know what I'm referring to. Nice review.
Just wanted to say it is so refreshing to see someone like yourself that is so passionate and has so much love for film no matter what the genre and I love that you understand how a movie as personal as this movie can have such an impact on anyone willing to having an open mind while watching this great piece of art in my opinion. Thank you for being you..
Excellent review as always! I love Zodiac, it's my second favorite movie of 2007, after There Will Be Blood, and my second favorite David Fincher film, after Fight Club, though it's easily my favorite police procedural mystery movie. Also, congrats that you've almost got 5K subscribers and I'm glad to be one of them. I'll be sure to tell people who like watching movie reviews to check out your awesome channel.
This was a great analysis of Zodiac. It has been a while since I have seen it and I didn't like it that much but you have made me re-appreciate the movie again. I think that is what a great reviewer does in the end, letting you re-appreciate a (neglected) movie again.
I've watched several reviews of both this and Se7en (since they're two of my all time favs and Finchers if my favorite director) but this is honestly the best review I've come across. Great and concise analysis.
Hi Maggie. I've seen it thirty times. My favourite line which I will sometimes watch in isolation, mostly watch the whole movie just to hear is, 'Door to door that is less fifty yards' 'Jesus Christ'
The scene of the frst killing in the parking lot has one of my favorite use of Rock Music in a movie ever. The crescendo of Jimmy Page solo combined with that beautiful slow-mo. Great stuff!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Best review of 'Zodiac' I've seen so far. Like you I have seen this film a LOT (The cafe scene near the end with Graysmith and Toschi actually makes me cry every time I see it, probably because of the release of tension). In my estimation it's easily Fincher's best film thus far.
As soon as I saw the opening titles to 'Seven', I knew I was going to see this! Loved it when it came out, still love it, today. A brilliant movie about obsession and sensationalism. So, when are you reviewing 'Nightcrawler'?
If you forget any historical inaccuracies and purely watch it from a narrative basis this film is a superb master work of suspense and intrigue, can't agree more how under rated this was. I saw it in the cinema when it came out with my cousin, with an almost empty theatre. Didn't really hear anything before seeing it or after, I didn't understand how it flew under the radar so much. I can only guess people avoided it because it's based on an actual case maybe. Who knows. I absolutely love the scene when Gyllenhaal is in the guy's basement and he realises he suspects him, the absolute terror on his face sends chills down the spine. Amazing scene that whole interaction at the old projectionist's house. I agree out of his stuff I've seen this is probably his best, with the game as a close second or maybe even equal to it. Might be a mood thing though.
This film gets better every time I watch it. I think it's a masterpiece. It's not as aesthetically rich as "Seven," but it has so many powerful individual moments.
Easily David Fincher's best work. It's a shame it came out at the same time as There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men, because it would have gotten more attention in any other year.
It's really great to see a film critic on TH-cam that's more focused on actually reviewing and analyzing movies rather than trying to make jokes about it. Good on you, keep doing what you're doing!
Not to be overlooked is the fact that the script was written by James Vanderbilt - there were some 14-15 reasons-writes, and although Fincher no doubt gave input, without a good script, it’s all for not.
I thought Zodiac was terrific, and glad you liked it. I'm not used to agreeing with you, but your reviews are quite good. Makes me reconsider sometimes why I liked or disliked a certain film
Some friends and I happened to be driving on Treasure Island (the island between San Francisco and Oakland) and saw several dozen 70s-era cars neatly parked there, including old police cars and vans with the logos for the Chronicle and local TV stations. I instantly realized they were for there for a film, and I made a guess that it was for a Zodiac film. And I was right!
Have you ever watched Kubrick's Lolita? Just watched it for the first time the other night and would love to hear your thoughts on it! Also, another great review!
I found myself watching the film obsessively trying to figure out who was the killer. After proper research (duh) I had no idea of the history. I found the movie did a fantastic job transferring the OCD the actors portrayed to me the audience. Lol. Great video. A sleeper.
There's also *"The Serpent"* (2021), an *8-episode miniseries* recently featured *on Netflix* and the BBC, dramatizing the life and crimes of the *French* international con-artist and *serial killer Charles Sobhraj* (1944-), starring Tahar Rahim (as the eponymous character) and Jenna Coleman (as his main sidekick and enabler). Jenna Coleman is very promising.
This is an outstanding film. I can watch it again & again. And the truth is, the Zodiac is really just the catalyst that brings us into the lives of the main characters. It's a very character driven movie as opposed to a serial killer/slasher film & I think it far outdoes Seven, which seeing once was enough for me. We end up engaged in the lives of the "hunters" more than in the actions of the Zodiac, and curious about what happens for them. It also helps if you watch the movie already knowing the Zodiac was never identified, there's no disappointment when the film ends that way. This movie is so well done on every level I can think of, wish more movies rose to this level.
This is a terrific "docudrama" in the tradition of other docudramas like In Cold Blood, 10 Rillington Place, and the two recent best-picture oscar winners Argo and Spotlight. in this kind of film, the filmmakers tell a story that follows closely to known facts, and film it in a style that evokes a sense of documentary realism. This is an underappreciated film and GENRE as well, as audiences usually don't find it "entertaining" enough. Those who like to read "true crime" non-fiction books would love this movie, but readers in general find true crime books boring too.
If you're interested in true-life crime dramas, you might like *Vincent Cassel* in the *two-part movie "Mesrine"* (2008): "Instinct of Death" and "Public Enemy Number 1", featuring an all-star international cast playing even the small roles. It's about a French guy who comes home from the war in Algeria, and he can't find a stable job, so he becomes a criminal. The story follows the life of Jacques Mesrine over a period of 2 decades until his very public end : while both parts have some narrative problems, they are both *more compelling than any of the "Godfather" movies.*
Can you possibly review eternal sunshine of the spotless mind? I'd love to hear your opinion on it. The movie is interesting but also a total mind fuck to me, I really don't understand some of it
It was so long ago, I've forgotten so much about it. You have a very spooky look in your eyes when you're talking about serial killers. haha There's a great show called "Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer" on Netflix. I think many want to get caught because they lose their resolve & have nothing to look forward to but the attention & disgust of mankind. To feed on that because there is probably no longer any pleasure derived from murder anymore. Zodiac probably died somewhere mid-stream, perhaps in a car accident. You should also check out the youtube video on Marrying Medusa from Anthony Johnson. He was married to a female psychopath & even when he was surrounded by experts that can spot psychopaths, they couldn't see the one under their own nose. lol...
The basement scene threw me off a bit cus of its lack of realism. It felt like the guy was intentionally creepy just to mess with Jake's character. However, you made an excelent point on the subjective meaning of the whole scene, about how it was supposed to imerge us into the character's mind, and helped me look at it from a different perspective. I'll definitely watch this movie again, after that! Thanks for another great review!! Love your sensibility and ability to describe stuff!
I rewatched this film a few days ago and enjoyed it very much, but I have to say, I was in disbelief listening to your review. You talk about it being more sophisticated with Seven and being introspective and dealing with themes of brutality and why we're drawn to serial killers. Where do you see sophistication and themes being dealt with, because all I see is an entertaining, unsophisticated film about the hunt for a serial killer. It's a good movie, but it's an entertaining story - it's not dealing with anything.
Zodiac was an absolute pile of horse manure. Comedic acting, hilariously unbelievable characters (I literally thought I was watching a parody of a TV crime show, non-shocking "shocking" scenes. Over-rated movie by a "film genius" riding on past glories. If you want a real mystery/thriller, go watch The Wailing. Oh wait, modern audiences don't have the attention span to read subtitles........
If you're that unsatisfied with this movie, you might prefer "Mesrine" (2008), a two-part epic with Vincent Cassel, who plays the real-life French criminal Jacques Mesrine, portrayed over a period of 20 years. It's about a guy who comes home from the war in Algeria, and he can't find a job, so he becomes an international criminal and pseudo-terrorist. And don't worry, a lot of subtitles to catch up on for the average viewer. PS: Don't worry about Chadley Kopper's comment here. He's just intimidated by anything that challenges his douchebag sense of self.
@@U.F.O_0908 I'm glad you're liking it so far! I can guarantee you that while part 1 is more raw and brutal, part 2 is somehow more "fun" as well as "brutal".
*Bonus:* The actress who plays the female prisoner in the very first scene of Part 1 is *Leila Bekhti* , usually accepted as the *second hottest French female celebrity* after Marion Cotillard. She was my celebrity crush for the longest time, and you might've noticed her as *the face for "L'Oréal Paris"* the last time you wondered the wrong way at a department store!
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 68 | คู่เอก "พระจันทร์ฉาย vs โจนาธาน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/F3IM3w-XchI/mqdefault.jpg)
I love this film. The basement scene gives me chills every time.
Same here.
That scene and the interogation scene, god, pure gold!
I did not find the movie to be creepy or eerie at all, but I can acknowledge the impeccable artistry behind it.
That guy was a bully on Welcome Back Kotter.
you always go so in depth on your reviews, i love it
@Brian Molina Hence DEEPfocuslens
This is also still my favorite Fincher film. What I love most is how the film shows the ripple effect of violence, even for people seemingly distant from the violence. I love how this film does have a 70s vibe despite being filmed entirely on digital. Less confident director would have felt only 35 mm could capture the period. I love film stock, but in the hands of someone like Fincher, I have no problem with digital, unlike Downey. If you've seen the documentary Side By Side, you'll know what I'm referring to. Nice review.
Whenever you post a review of a movie I haven't seen, it makes me want to watch that movie just so I can come back and hear your thoughts on the film.
Agree, always thought Zodiac was way under appreciated. Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy man forever creeps me out though. Such a well made film.
Just wanted to say it is so refreshing to see someone like yourself that is so passionate and has so much love for film no matter what the genre and I love that you understand how a movie as personal as this movie can have such an impact on anyone willing to having an open mind while watching this great piece of art in my opinion. Thank you for being you..
Excellent review as always! I love Zodiac, it's my second favorite movie of 2007, after There Will Be Blood, and my second favorite David Fincher film, after Fight Club, though it's easily my favorite police procedural mystery movie. Also, congrats that you've almost got 5K subscribers and I'm glad to be one of them. I'll be sure to tell people who like watching movie reviews to check out your awesome channel.
This was a great analysis of Zodiac. It has been a while since I have seen it and I didn't like it that much but you have made me re-appreciate the movie again. I think that is what a great reviewer does in the end, letting you re-appreciate a (neglected) movie again.
I've watched several reviews of both this and Se7en (since they're two of my all time favs and Finchers if my favorite director) but this is honestly the best review I've come across. Great and concise analysis.
Hi Maggie. I've seen it thirty times. My favourite line which I will sometimes watch in isolation, mostly watch the whole movie just to hear is, 'Door to door that is less fifty yards' 'Jesus Christ'
Thanks for the great review of one of my favorite movies! Notice how yellow seems to be in the middle of a lot of the shots?
The scene of the frst killing in the parking lot has one of my favorite use of Rock Music in a movie ever. The crescendo of Jimmy Page solo combined with that beautiful slow-mo. Great stuff!
Here comes the Hurdy Gurdy man...
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Best review of 'Zodiac' I've seen so far. Like you I have seen this film a LOT (The cafe scene near the end with Graysmith and Toschi actually makes me cry every time I see it, probably because of the release of tension). In my estimation it's easily Fincher's best film thus far.
Thank you so much for this review!!! Zodiac is definitely one of my favorite films!!!
Zodiac is a terrific thriller! Great review!
You have some really great incite into the film. Zodiac is also my favorite Fincher film. I'm glad someone else shares the love of such a great film
I love the fact that you use such a rich vocabulary !
ZODIAC is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen and happens to be one of my all-time favorite films.
As soon as I saw the opening titles to 'Seven', I knew I was going to see this! Loved it when it came out, still love it, today. A brilliant movie about obsession and sensationalism. So, when are you reviewing 'Nightcrawler'?
I am not Paul Avery.
Great comment!!
If you forget any historical inaccuracies and purely watch it from a narrative basis this film is a superb master work of suspense and intrigue, can't agree more how under rated this was. I saw it in the cinema when it came out with my cousin, with an almost empty theatre. Didn't really hear anything before seeing it or after, I didn't understand how it flew under the radar so much. I can only guess people avoided it because it's based on an actual case maybe. Who knows. I absolutely love the scene when Gyllenhaal is in the guy's basement and he realises he suspects him, the absolute terror on his face sends chills down the spine. Amazing scene that whole interaction at the old projectionist's house. I agree out of his stuff I've seen this is probably his best, with the game as a close second or maybe even equal to it. Might be a mood thing though.
This film gets better every time I watch it. I think it's a masterpiece. It's not as aesthetically rich as "Seven," but it has so many powerful individual moments.
Easily David Fincher's best work. It's a shame it came out at the same time as There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men, because it would have gotten more attention in any other year.
It's really great to see a film critic on TH-cam that's more focused on actually reviewing and analyzing movies rather than trying to make jokes about it. Good on you, keep doing what you're doing!
I grew up in the 70's.
This film captures that time & atmosphere pretty well.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that the script was written by James Vanderbilt - there were some 14-15 reasons-writes, and although Fincher no doubt gave input, without a good script, it’s all for not.
I thought Zodiac was terrific, and glad you liked it. I'm not used to agreeing with you, but your reviews are quite good. Makes me reconsider sometimes why I liked or disliked a certain film
Great film,great review! btw how's life treading you nowadays? Iam travelling without moving...😎😍
Some friends and I happened to be driving on Treasure Island (the island between San Francisco and Oakland) and saw several dozen 70s-era cars neatly parked there, including old police cars and vans with the logos for the Chronicle and local TV stations. I instantly realized they were for there for a film, and I made a guess that it was for a Zodiac film. And I was right!
Have you ever watched Kubrick's Lolita? Just watched it for the first time the other night and would love to hear your thoughts on it!
Also, another great review!
Many times. On my list of things to review eventually.
Great stuff! :)
My second fav fincher film after The Social Network.
Definitely my favorite Fincher movie as well. The way Fincher directs time passing is my favorite aspect of the film, it's extremely unsettling
I found myself watching the film obsessively trying to figure out who was the killer. After proper research (duh) I had no idea of the history. I found the movie did a fantastic job transferring the OCD the actors portrayed to me the audience. Lol. Great video. A sleeper.
Subscribed! Pretty sure I'd not heard of this one!
Interesting, this video was just recommended to me in my feed. Ok, I'll always watch Maggie's review of Zodiac.. ; )
There's also *"The Serpent"* (2021), an *8-episode miniseries* recently featured *on Netflix* and the BBC, dramatizing the life and crimes of the *French* international con-artist and *serial killer Charles Sobhraj* (1944-), starring Tahar Rahim (as the eponymous character) and Jenna Coleman (as his main sidekick and enabler). Jenna Coleman is very promising.
I like zodiac more than seven , both are great movies but I found zodiac more interesting probably because it’s a true story
The queen is back Bitches. BOW DOWN
All hail the queen.
Uh...you follow me on twitter right? XD
This is an outstanding film. I can watch it again & again. And the truth is, the Zodiac is really just the catalyst that brings us into the lives of the main characters. It's a very character driven movie as opposed to a serial killer/slasher film & I think it far outdoes Seven, which seeing once was enough for me. We end up engaged in the lives of the "hunters" more than in the actions of the Zodiac, and curious about what happens for them. It also helps if you watch the movie already knowing the Zodiac was never identified, there's no disappointment when the film ends that way. This movie is so well done on every level I can think of, wish more movies rose to this level.
I love this film too. That the crime isn’t solved adds to its re-watchability
great movie its so well done just breathtaking
This is a terrific "docudrama" in the tradition of other docudramas like In Cold Blood, 10 Rillington Place, and the two recent best-picture oscar winners Argo and Spotlight. in this kind of film, the filmmakers tell a story that follows closely to known facts, and film it in a style that evokes a sense of documentary realism. This is an underappreciated film and GENRE as well, as audiences usually don't find it "entertaining" enough. Those who like to read "true crime" non-fiction books would love this movie, but readers in general find true crime books boring too.
I adore this film, my favorite by Fincher. Dragon Tattoo is probably my second favorite.
Its so weird for a movie based on a true story about a real killer, it has a lot of funny moments.
Zodiac is a fantastic movie.
Agreed. One of the best movies of the 2000s. Criminally overlooked.
Can you review his series on Netflix - MindHunter ? It's a must see
Toschi was one of the detectives investigating the murders, not a reporter.
If you're interested in true-life crime dramas, you might like *Vincent Cassel* in the *two-part movie "Mesrine"* (2008): "Instinct of Death" and "Public Enemy Number 1", featuring an all-star international cast playing even the small roles. It's about a French guy who comes home from the war in Algeria, and he can't find a stable job, so he becomes a criminal. The story follows the life of Jacques Mesrine over a period of 2 decades until his very public end : while both parts have some narrative problems, they are both *more compelling than any of the "Godfather" movies.*
*Bonus:* You'll appreciate the gritty atmosphere and aesthetic of the late '70's!
Can you possibly review eternal sunshine of the spotless mind? I'd love to hear your opinion on it. The movie is interesting but also a total mind fuck to me, I really don't understand some of it
Great idea. I'll add it to my list.
deepfocuslens thanks. looking forward to it
great film great review
It was so long ago, I've forgotten so much about it. You have a very spooky look in your eyes when you're talking about serial killers. haha There's a great show called "Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer" on Netflix. I think many want to get caught because they lose their resolve & have nothing to look forward to but the attention & disgust of mankind. To feed on that because there is probably no longer any pleasure derived from murder anymore. Zodiac probably died somewhere mid-stream, perhaps in a car accident.
You should also check out the youtube video on Marrying Medusa from Anthony Johnson. He was married to a female psychopath & even when he was surrounded by experts that can spot psychopaths, they couldn't see the one under their own nose. lol...
Horror movies never give me nightmares but for some reason this crime drama did
All your reviews are Great! It's just some generation gap thing going on. Very thoughtful
There’s a theory it was actually don cheney, I think it was Gareth penn.
I've only watched half of this, on Netflix awhile back. Was it true that the Zodiac killer turned out to be Ted Cruz?
Please review Fight Club.
Definitely one of the best movies I’ve ever seen 👍🏻💯
I am not a fan of Seven but I love Zodiac.
Best Fincher movie.
The basement scene threw me off a bit cus of its lack of realism. It felt like the guy was intentionally creepy just to mess with Jake's character. However, you made an excelent point on the subjective meaning of the whole scene, about how it was supposed to imerge us into the character's mind, and helped me look at it from a different perspective. I'll definitely watch this movie again, after that! Thanks for another great review!! Love your sensibility and ability to describe stuff!
Imagine if this movie featured a young Ted Cruz in a small scene.
This isn't a moster movie.
I rewatched this film a few days ago and enjoyed it very much, but I have to say, I was in disbelief listening to your review. You talk about it being more sophisticated with Seven and being introspective and dealing with themes of brutality and why we're drawn to serial killers. Where do you see sophistication and themes being dealt with, because all I see is an entertaining, unsophisticated film about the hunt for a serial killer. It's a good movie, but it's an entertaining story - it's not dealing with anything.
She explains it very well, just listen to the review
I liked it but the third act tended to drag too much for me.
I love the zodiac, but From Hell was better.
.......boring
lol Whats the matter? You get all insecure seeing an intelligent woman who's actually passionate about something?
@@maciek8159 I simply stated an opinion. Something that we all have, much like your 🎈 balloon knot.
I didn't mean to pop anyone's little man 🍒 cherry
@@gabbyvg.9067 Let me ask you this...What was boring about the video?
Zodiac was an absolute pile of horse manure. Comedic acting, hilariously unbelievable characters (I literally thought I was watching a parody of a TV crime show, non-shocking "shocking" scenes. Over-rated movie by a "film genius" riding on past glories. If you want a real mystery/thriller, go watch The Wailing. Oh wait, modern audiences don't have the attention span to read subtitles........
If you're that unsatisfied with this movie, you might prefer "Mesrine" (2008), a two-part epic with Vincent Cassel, who plays the real-life French criminal Jacques Mesrine, portrayed over a period of 20 years. It's about a guy who comes home from the war in Algeria, and he can't find a job, so he becomes an international criminal and pseudo-terrorist. And don't worry, a lot of subtitles to catch up on for the average viewer.
PS: Don't worry about Chadley Kopper's comment here. He's just intimidated by anything that challenges his douchebag sense of self.
@@Suite_annamite Thanks very much for the recommendation of this film! It sounds fascinating. I already obtained part one.
@@U.F.O_0908 I'm glad you're liking it so far! I can guarantee you that while part 1 is more raw and brutal, part 2 is somehow more "fun" as well as "brutal".
*Bonus:* The actress who plays the female prisoner in the very first scene of Part 1 is *Leila Bekhti* , usually accepted as the *second hottest French female celebrity* after Marion Cotillard. She was my celebrity crush for the longest time, and you might've noticed her as *the face for "L'Oréal Paris"* the last time you wondered the wrong way at a department store!
lol The wailing? I love South Korean cinema but come one bro. You can do better then that