DVD Review HTF DVD REVIEW: Zodiac: 2-Disc Director's Cut (1 Viewer)

The Film

David Fincher has taken an almost docudrama approach in directing the murders and subsequent investigation into the San Francisco Zodiac killings in this new director’s cut release of Zodiac. A completely compelling crime procedural featuring a sterling cast of actors and an uncannily accurate depiction of a period more than thirty years ago, Zodiac is one of 2007’s best films. The new director’s cut adds about six minutes of footage to the already released-on-DVD movie, but even at this more advanced running time, the film is so absorbing that it doesn’t feel nearly as long as it is. The gripping investigation which takes many twists and turns and hits dead ends only to be resuscitated repeatedly by a plucky journalist is riveting.

Two detectives and two employees of the San Francisco Chronicle become entrenched in the investigation of a series of murders in the San Francisco area in 1969. Detectives David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) along with intrepid maverick Chronicle reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) are the individuals hottest on the trail of the mysterious killer who uses both guns and knives and begins communicating with the police and newspapers through letters to them and enclosing a series of ciphers which catch the attention of Chronicle editorial cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal). Without the detailed forensics help that today’s crime fighters have at their disposal, the police piece together small fragments of evidence that lead them eventually to a suspect Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch), but without enough strong evidence to obtain a search warrant, they’re powerless to investigate further. Only after three years do they compile enough information for a judge to grant them entry into Allen’s trailer, and there the trail hits a dead end.

James Vanderbilt’s superb screenplay depicts only three murders which the filmmakers seem reasonably sure were committed by the Zodiac killer (other crimes he took credit for at the time are disputed by the facts), but so wonderfully written is this script that the viewer who may not know all the intricacies of the case is constantly on the edge of his seat in anticipation of another hideous murder. The suspense is terrifically taut as the years pass and new leads come to the attention of the police and to Graysmith who by now has become totally obsessed with the case. However, one of the most admirable qualities of Zodiac is not merely in examining the minutiae of the investigation but the notation of the toll that the investigation takes on each of the primary investigators over the years. By the time we get to the final confrontation in 1991, we feel we have aged right along with the men involved in the story. All have been put through the proverbial ringer.

Fincher’s outstanding direction is no surprise having helmed some of the most suspenseful and mesmerizing movies made in the last twenty years (Se7en, Fight Club, Panic Room). The search of Allen’s trailer (I was honestly expecting a bomb to go off) and a journey late in the film into the basement of an oddly peculiar film buff are gut-wrenching experiences as are the reenactments of the three murders which are graphic but not shattering. Fincher’s innate good taste finds that perfect balance between the grotesque and the real.

And what a superlative cast he’s rounded up for these juicy roles! Jake Gyllenhaal is the very model of an Eagle Scout as the driven Graysmith. What better inspectors could there be than Anthony Edwards, Mark Ruffalo, and Elias Koteas (as the Vallejo police captain)? Robert Downey, Jr. steals all of his scenes as the gonzo journalist who allows Graysmith to work with him on the investigation, and Brian Cox as the egotistical and flamboyant lawyer Melvin Belli who gets swept early into the case is spot-on.

Zodiac is another of those crime dramas which benefits from repeated viewings. The director’s cut, which adds a few extra scenes that flesh out motivations or professional relationships of the main characters, is well worth investigating.

Video Quality

The film’s 2.39:1 aspect ratio is presented here in a quality anamorphic transfer. To set the time period, Fincher has given the film a modified antique look by slightly desaturating the color and washing it ever so slightly in light brown. Sharpness is very good with excellent black levels and shadow detail that is impressive, aiding greatly in the moodiness of some of the film’s most tension-filled scenes. The film has been divided into 36 chapters.

Audio Quality

The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track features a good spread across the front channels and intelligent though infrequent use of the rears. There is occasional rumbling in the LFE channel to establish greater tension and impending danger, but again, the subwoofer doesn’t get as much of a workout as it might have had.

Special Features

Two audio commentaries are offered on this new edition of Zodiac. In the first, director David Fincher discusses making the film in all of its aspects from casting through filming techniques and locations in a complete discussion with only the occasional quiet patch. Producer Brad Fischer, screenwriter James Vanderbilt, and author James Ellroy have a lively, laugh-filled (and profanity-laced) conversation about the film and the case with occasional comments from actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey, Jr. intercut into the conversation. There are also some places where the conversation dies down, and the men’s enthusiasm for talking seems to wind down as the film runs on.

All of the documentaries and features on disc two are presented in anamorphic widescreen.

“Zodiac Deciphered” is a very thorough 53½-minute documentary on the making of the movie divided into seven sections covering the major locations used in the filming, and containing discussions with the director, costume designer, set decorator, prop master, leading actors, and the real-life David Toschi and Robert Highsmith.

“The Visual Effects of Zodiac” gives background on the 90 visual effects shots used in the picture including examples of how blood spray during the murders was done, how blue screen was used, how today’s San Francisco was remade to look like the city of thirty-five years ago, how overhead shots were accomplished without helicopters, and how the transformation of the Transamerica building was done. This feature runs 15 minutes.

“Previsualization” is an interesting 6-minute split screen look at the use of CGI animation in planning the three murder sequences shown in the film.

The original theatrical trailer for the film runs 2½ minutes.

By far the longest and most exhaustive documentary on disc two is a 100-minute feature called This is the Zodiac. Compiled of video interviews with all of the surviving investigators, witnesses, attack survivors, and suspects, this very intriguing bonus digs ever-deeper into the complexities of the Zodiac case.

“Prime Suspect: His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen” delves into the life of chief suspect Arthur Leigh Allen with interviews from those who knew him, interviewed him, or briefly met him. By the end of this 41½-minute feature, you may find the quandary of the Zodiac’s identity is still frustratingly present.

In Conclusion

Zodiac is most definitely one of the best films of 2007. This new director’s cut edition which provides absolutely riveting information on the making of the film but more importantly from the actual people who lived through the case in real life makes this the preferred edition of the film to own. This is one time when a double dip is really worth the money.


Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC

Transfer improved at all from the earlier mess?

I just bought a rental of the 1st release for $7.50, but I haven't seen this one yet so I still might hate it (the movie).

Since the DC is only a few minutes longer, I'm guess the extras are the big draw here.

Quick DD on this one...

EDIT: Those looking for comparisons between the releases should look here:

Zodiac - The Director's Cut

I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement:

"the image quality is basically identical to the previous R1 disc."

The new one lacks the messiness and shimmer of the old one. I think it's a definite improvement in PQ:

Zodiac: Director's Cut (2007)

Great review Colin! Pre-Ordered it today. Fincher always does a great commentary, does he give an opinion on Arthur Leigh Allen being Zodiac or not?

Was hoping this would get cleared up for the double-dip, and held out for this new release. Glad I did.

This was my favorite movie of the year so I'm pretty excited about picking up the SE.

Exactly.

Any word on a HD DVD release?

Yeah, it comes out on January 8 too.

Thanks for the review. Despite wanting to revisit this one sooner, I held off for the director's cut. I've been looking forward to the original four year transition. As an avid true crime reader, I'm very pleased that they decided to throw on some intricate docs on the case itself.

As a side note, to anyone who liked this film, I would highly recommend 2003's Memories of Murder. I don't see how anyone who liked Zodiac wouldn't like this film, unless you have an aversion to subtitles.

Not that I recall - pretty sure he makes it clear that the film doesn't intend to endorse one suspect in particular. It DOES, but he views it as simply telling a story from one point of view, that of Graysmith...

Thanks, MattH. Nice review. If I had any doubts about double-dipping, I don't any more. I just wish this would be available in Blu-ray.

Man, where are those $98 HD-DVD players when ya need 'em?

Thanks.

I, too, would love to see this in HD. The film was shot with HD cameras, so it (like APOCALYPTO) will likely look stunning in HD.

I have the HD-DVD and if all goes well I'll have the review up this weekend.

By the way, the packaging is very cool. It looks like a letter sent to the Chronicle, and there's some fun stuff on the back to further enhance the environment.

Would you shed some light on this film ?

^ Memories of Murder is based on the case of South Korea's first known serial killings, which took place over the course of five years. It presents a detailed look at the long-winded investigation, the various suspects and the detectives for whom the case became an obsession. It also has a strong political commentary underneath it all, particularly in regards to the tactics used by SK's law enforcement at the time. Really, it's a fascinating look at a country's first encounter with the unthinkable, and how in the dark they were due to the resources available. I personally think it has one of the most poignant final scenes of any film.

Memories of Murder and Zodiac are similar in many ways. Both films delve into the struggles of local law enforcement, over the course of many years, to solve the mystery behind a string of murders. Both are very detailed procedurals, and both put a major focus on how the cases become intense obsessions for those involved, casting an ever looming shadow over their lives. There are other similarities, but those would involve spoilers. They'd make for a great double feature, though I think Memories is the better film, and the most potent serial killer film that I've seen. I can't recommend it enough.

Sorry if this is considered a thread hijack, by the way.

Hi Justin

Thank you so much for this invaluable information about this SK movie.

I'll PM you so that I am also not hijacking this superb thread

The HD picture is SO MUCH BETTER than the DVD edition. No artifacts at all.

Matt, what was the video like in the first ten minutes of the picture? Specifically where Mageau is picked up by Darlene, on the HD-DVD I noticed some horrible noise and a very weird artifact. This artifact is about a minute and ten seconds in, where Mageau us leaning in talking to Darlene. Look in the top right of the screen in the trees: it looks like a digital paint artifact of some blue digital paint. Very odd, hopefully not my display!

I can check again tonight. But I was looking closely at the beginning - very clean.