This week brings a plethora of desirable titles from a multitude of genres from around the world. If you are looking for some DVD-based joy, there is sure to be something hitting the shelves this week that you will find to your liking. From action to martial arts, drama to horror, television to animation, all sorts of releases are here to tickle your eyes and drain your wallets.
This week's pick is none other than David Fincher's criminally ignored Zodiac. It is a a fantastic recreation of the era, as well as an in-depth procedural that focuses not on the sensational aspects of the killing, but on those who were working towards capturing the man responsible.
David Fincher has taken the serial killer film and put a different spin on it. This is not an action film about the detective hot on the trailer of the killer, nor is it about the star trying to avoid becoming the killer's next victim. What it is, is an accomplished procedural that by all definition should be a dull and boring affair, yet this one is different. Many characters are juggled, the timeline covers decades, and no conclusion is ever reached. The last bit we already knew, as the Zodiac killings were never solved, with the SFPD declaring the case inactive in 2002.
There is amazing attention to detail. The bulk of the film takes place in the 1970s, an era before computers were as ubiquitous as they are now, and investigative/reporting techniques were just a little bit different than they are now. We watch as the main players are sucked into the drama, consumed with finding the killer who is making fun of their efforts.
The procedural form of the narrative doesn't allow for the visual kinetics that are something of a trademark in Fincher's films. However, that does not mean that this is a bland looking film — this is Fincher doing mainstream, which is better than mainstream. There is still room for some visual flourishes, and he even makes a static shot of a conversation interesting to watch.
Article comments
1 - handyguy
Zodiac is great - I call it 'the feel-bad movie of the year.' It's that downer quality that worked against it commercially. Apparently this DVD release is strictly no-frills, but there will be a director's edition with commentary and more footage later this year or next.