Zodiac (2007)

Long before 'Mind Hunter', David Fincher had learned his way around a serial killer's mind in Zodiac. Based on the late 60's early 70's murders by the infamous killer, who called himself zodiac. Fincher guides us through the 70's bureaucratic police department's convoluted attempt at catching this murderer, who's violence spanned across many different counties. Watching this madness it's no wonder they never caught him and it helps you understand why this was such a hot time for serial killing. There's a ton of characters in this film but thanks to the casting each face is memorable and it's easy to tag along, which is a wondrous feat by Fincher. Considering this film is mostly people talking about murder, Fincher's unique style brings it to life and its both entertaining and eerie. I'm perhaps most impressed with Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as Robert, who is the main character. As a quirky cartoonist obsessed with puzzles he finds himself connecting dots for years and eventually leading to a very plausible case. Gyllenhaal is such a diverse actor. Having recently watched 'Prisoners' and 'Nightcrawler' it's interesting to seem him play such a laid back, awkward character, who while internalizing everything manages to steal the spotlight from Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo. Is there anything Gyllenhaal can't do on screen?

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