Movie Review: Zodiac (2007)

Plot: A San Francisco cartoonist becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac killer.

Rating: 8.5/10

I’ve always been more than a little fascinated with serial killers. It’s interesting to wonder why they turned off the normal path and went ballistic, what experiences and impressions turned them into what they are. I once read this “50 most notorious serial killers” type of book, and it was sooo good. I had to read some really light books before I went to bed after I read this book, but the  point is that I enjoyed it and found it fascinating. 😀

Zodiac is aptly named for telling the story of the Zodiac killer, a mysterious and unresolved case of a series of murders that plagued America in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I was thrilled and really entertained and kept suspecting everyone. Mark Rufallo, Robert Downey Jnr. and Jake Gyllenhaal were all really impressive. I especially enjoyed the young Mark Rufallo. Being a cop in the seventies never looked that good. Jake Gyllenhaal didn’t annoy me as much as usual, which I’m sure my bestie would approve of (he’s not so bad, I just can’t for the life of me like the guy). RDJ is also such an amazing actor. Lately he’s Iron Man even when he isn’t Iron Man, and it seems such a shame that this is now what he’s destined to be his entire life.

As for the serial killer, the events are just sufficiently shrouded in mystery to keep you hooked. I suspected everyone, even the cameraman filming the movie. The story is well laid out. This particular killer had no real modus operandi, it was just that he really liked killing. It didn’t have to be a certain way, it was just about the murders. I naturally would have liked if they included the killer right from the start, or have him part of the police force (I thought that the entire time!). However, this is based on true events, so I guess my story didn’t really go as I wanted it to for a reason.

Another thing that really impressed me was the pacing. The story kept going, it wasn’t dragged out to death, and every scene had a point, no silly plot fillers or anything. As I’ve said, the acting was particularly good and I really loved how authentically 1970’s everything seemed. The only thing is that I would have enjoyed perhaps a dramatic showdown with the killer, but that really the only thing I thought lacked. This is undoubtedly some of David Fincher’s best work, and I will go as far as to say it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen this entire year.

I think it is safe to say that I really enjoyed this. I’ve watched two really great movies so far this month (the other being Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), and it makes me so happy when movies are this well done. It’s definitely a serious movie, so don’t expect anything else, but it is one of the best films I’ve seen this year.

Have you seen Zodiac? What did you think?

PS: Here is Young Mark Ruffalo with a shoulder strap. Delicious.

September 9, 2016September 2, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: 2007, David Fincher, detective, entertainment, excellent, investigative, Jake Gyllenhall, Mark Ruffalo, Movies, Reviews, Robert Downey Jnr, Serial Killer, The Zodiac Killer, Zodiac 2 Comments

Sherlock Holmes: The Abominable Bride (2016)

Plot:Imagining himself back in the 1890s Sherlock is visited by Inspector Lestrade, after newly-wed Emelia Ricoletti, having apparently killed herself in public, murdered her husband Thomas in front of witnesses before vanishing. Some months later Holmes is approached by Lady Carmichael, who tells him that her husband Sir Eustace has been threatened by Emelia, who then, seemingly does away with him. With an intrusive Moriarty crossing him Holmes attempts to solve the enigma, with unexpected help from Watson’s wife Mary and evidence of a conspiracy involving half the population of the country

Rating: 7/10

I’m typing this out without knowing if I will even rate it. I know, I’m a wild woman today. The Abominable Bride was passed to Sherlockians as something to chew on, because the waiting for season four has become slightly ridiculous. It seems silly to wait so long between seasons. Aren’t they running a risk that the crowds will become disinterested?

The AB is the length of a normal Sherlock episode, about one hour and thirty minutes (i.e. a short movie). Sufficient amount of time to tell a story without making an entire movie out of it if you ask me.

The Abominable Bride, once understood what is going on, makes so much sense. Season three ended wildly, and it is obvious that Sherlock has more problems than we’ve always known and accepted, and this slightly deranged and wildly fanciful episode is proof of that. What is real and what is not real becomes the big question. Initially everything simply looks by a design of the creators to bring a special episode set in another world. But could it be? Come one, the writers of Sherlock is way too crafty to let an opportunity go amiss like this.

The AB manages to be spooky and freaky, intelligent and well written. The hooded scene was amazing, the culmination of who and what the Bride was and how she pulled off her stunts are essential to what might happen to season four, in my humble little opinion.

But has this classic episode of Sherlock become too Sherlocky? I don’t know. I thoroughly enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch – he’s just so perfect as Sherlock. However, are they making him be too quirky? I don’t know, I don’t know. There were some scenes where I felt that his character is being exploited too much and losing the essence of the true character of Sherlock Holmes.

Have you seen this episode? What did you think?

March 17, 2016March 17, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Review, Series, UncategorizedTags: Benedict Cumberbatch, British, detective, Emilia Ricoletti, Martin Freeman, Review, Series, Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, The Abominable Bride 1 Comment