Media

Movie Renter's Guide - February, 2009

"Zodiac" (Blu-ray)

Synopsis

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, there was a series of murders in San Francisco that never were solved.

The perpetrator sent messages to the newspapers daring the police to try and catch him by solving coded messages. He signed the messages as Zodiac.

Since the murders are still unsolved, the movie cannot really focus on the killer. Instead, the story revolves around three characters, Detective David Toschi (Ruffalo), newspaper crime reporter Paul Avery (Downey), and, of all things, an editorial cartoonist, Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal).

 

Commentary

What is so maddening is that Zodiac was never caught, although the San Francisco Police certainly had a suspect that was never prosecuted.

Technical

The image is sharp, and there is modest use of the surround channels.

Extras

These include the Director's Commentary, Zodiac Deciphered, The Visual Effects of Zodiac, This is the Zodiac Speaking, and His Name is Arthur Allen.