Zodiac

This has been a long awaited film from hot-shot director David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en) and features an all-star cast about a real life serial killer who terrorized San Fransisco during the 1960's and 70's and based on Robert Graysmith's novel of the same name who plays a central role in the film adaptation.

Graysmith, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is a cartoonist from a major newspaper in San Fransisco who becomes pulled into the crazed drama that is unfolding in front of him as his editors are sent crptic messages from the serial killer and he sinks into a downward spiral of obsession in his search for the truth - just who is Zodiac?

As one can expect from such a cast, the acting is superb all-round and it perhaps wont be long before the Oscar comes knocking for Gyllenhaal and Downey Jr, who plays a fantastic role as journalist who can't seem to let the story of the Zodiac, or the bottle from his hand, free. Fincher's hand at the thriller genre stands up once again which stand alongside excellent set pieces set against a dark and foreboding storyline.

However, at three hours long, the film over-extends itself a little too much and I feel that with a little cutting here and there of the less important scenes, the film would pick up the slack and be better paced.

Nevertheless, Zodiac is a very enjoyable film worth catching in the cinema or perhaps on DVD where you can lounge on the couch and not worry about barnacles growing on your backside with the odd break or two.

I would give this movie 7.1 cryptic clues out of 10