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"ZODIAC" (2007) (Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Extreme Extreme Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Mild Heavy None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Extreme Heavy Heavy Extreme QUICK TAKE: Drama: A cop, a crime beat reporter and an editorial cartoonist separately try to solve the case of the Zodiac serial killer. PLOT: It's 1969 and a serial killer is on the loose. Having just murdered several people, the actions of the self-named Zodiac have drawn the obvious attention of San Francisco detective David Toschi (MARK RUFFALO) and his partner William Armstrong (ANTHONY EDWARDS). It's also piqued the interest of those at the San Francisco Chronicle, particularly since Zodiac has sent the paper a letter warning that if they don't publish it, he'll kill again. Crime beat reporter Paul Avery (ROBERT DOWNEY JR.) immediately starts working the story, but rookie editorial cartoonist Robert Graysmith (JAKE GYLLENHAAL), who's fond of solving puzzles, also finds himself drawn to figuring out the killer's mysterious cipher sent along with the letter. With the murders having occurred in various jurisdictions, David and William find their investigation complicated by having to deal with other police officers such as Sgt. Jack Mulanax (ELIAS KOTEAS), all while handwriting expert Sherwood Morrill (PHILIP BAKER HALL) examines Zodiac's penmanship and attorney Melvin Belli (BRIAN COX) interacts with the supposed killer in a televised interview. While they deal with all of that as well as their captain, Marty Lee (DERMOT MULRONEY), Paul becomes obsessed with discovering Zodiac's real identity, a quest that rubs off on Robert who -- as the months and then years pass -- finds his relationship with new wife Melanie (CHLOE SEVIGNY) becoming ever more strained as his obsession intensifies. Unable to pin the murders on pedophile Arthur Leigh Allen (JOHN CARROLL LYNCH), David similarly allows his obsession to overwhelm him. With the years passing by and the trail getting cold, the various men trying to solve the crime find their lives unraveling due to their actions. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of director David Fincher ("Se7en"), anyone in the cast, or mistakenly think this is a horror-type, serial killer flick, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MARK RUFFALO plays a San Francisco cop who dedicates a good portion of his career to figuring out Zodiac's identity. He uses strong profanity and occasionally smokes cigars. JAKE GYLLENHAAL plays a newspaper cartoonist who becomes obsessed with solving the case, even if it takes years and ruins his marriage. He drinks and uses some profanity. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. plays the paper's crime beat reporter who's the first outsider to become obsessed with the case. He smokes a lot, uses strong profanity, and turns into an alcoholic and presumed druggie. ANTHONY EDWARDS plays David's partner, a detective who eventually becomes too worn out by their exhaustive and long investigation. PHILIP BAKER HALL plays a handwriting expert who examines the killer's penmanship for clues. ELIAS KOTEAS plays another cop who assists both David and Robert. JOHN CARROLL LYNCH plays a pedophile who's the chief suspect of being the killer. DERMOT MULRONEY plays David and William's boss. CHLOE SEVIGNY plays Robert's eventual wife and mother of some of his kids who becomes concerned about his obsession with solving the case. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 14 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as are some brief views of porno pictures featuring partial nudity (a side view of a bare butt). Violence consists of several graphic, bloody, and rather disturbing murders at the hands of a serial killer. Those scenes and other moments of potential peril might be rather unsettling or suspenseful to viewers, while the killer and others have bad attitudes. A great deal of smoking occurs, along with heavy drinking, while some drugs are present and use is implied. Tense family material includes a failing marriage, while all sorts of thematic material is present. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some, but not a great deal of camera movement in the film, including a POV shot of a mail cart moving through the newspaper's offices. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see a brief shot of people drinking in a bar. Paul tells Robert they should have a drink. We then see them in a bar, with Paul wondering about the blue-colored, tropical drink Robert is having. The cartoonist says it's an "Aqua Velva," and after Paul tries it, we next see a bunch of empty such glasses in front of them, with both men appearing a bit intoxicated. Melvin has a "hot toddy." Paul and Robert drink in a bar where others also drink. Paul takes some sort of prescription pills after learning he's Zodiac's target. Melanie has a glass of wine in front of her for her first date with Robert. Paul's editor tells him to stop boozing and whatever else he's doing, but Paul asks Robert if he wants to get a drink, with Robert replying that it's only 10 in the morning. Robert spots some joints on Paul's table. Paul drinks from a bottle of booze, and hands a drink to Robert, but the latter doesn't have any. Sherwood has a drink. Paul has a drink. BLOOD/GORE A couple parks their car at night in a secluded spot (the woman driver picks the spot) but don't get the chance to fool around as Zodiac shows up in a car that pulls up and parks behind them. The killer then shines a flashlight on them, walks up, and opens fire on them with a handgun, shooting both several times (with very bloody results and seen from several angles). We see some blood on a woman's dress as she's repeatedly stabbed. Zodiac suddenly shoots a cabbie in the neck from the back seat, killing him (with bloody results). When David and William arrive on the scene, the cabbie is partially hanging out of the open door, dead and bloody. We see a bloodstained piece of cloth that the killer sent in a letter (seen again later). A woman's hands are a bit bloody after jumping from a moving car (not seen). As Robert looks up some records, Paul (who's been drinking with him) states he's going to stand there and try not to vomit. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The killer or killers obviously has/have bad attitudes. A couple parks their car at night in a secluded spot (the woman driver picks the spot) but don't get the chance to fool around as Zodiac shows up (the date initially wonders if it's the woman's husband, but she says it isn't). About Robert, Paul half-jokingly says he's "a little touched" (meaning in the head). Zodiac (in a letter) threatens to kill schoolchildren. Paul writes (in his newspaper story) about Zodiac possibly being a latent homosexual. Melvin purposefully lies to who he thinks is Zodiac over the phone (during a live TV call-in) about the police not tracing the call. A woman smokes by her infant. After Robert makes a half-callous remark to a coworker, that man replies, "Does it bother you when people call you retarded?" Later, when Robert asks Paul about people calling him names, Paul asks if he means "retard." When David angrily tells Paul, "Go f*ck yourself," Paul replies, "Happily." There's talk of Allen being a pedophile who was fired for touching kids. While intoxicated, Paul gives "the finger" to his boss. In the movie "Dirty Harry," the word "nigger" is seen written. FRIGHTENING SCENES A couple parks their car at night in a secluded spot (the woman driver picks the spot) but don't get the chance to fool around as Zodiac shows up in a car that pulls up and parks behind them. The killer then shines a flashlight on them, walks up, and opens fire on them with a handgun, shooting both several times (with very bloody results and seen from several angles). A couple basks (clothed) by a lake during the day, but the woman becomes concerned when she sees a figure approaching them. It turns out to be Zodiac who's masked and holds a handgun on the two, telling the woman to tie up the man. She does (hands behind the back) and Zodiac then ties her up (pushing her from a kneeling position down to the ground to hog-tie her). He then does the same to the man before proceeding to stab him repeatedly in the back (we don't see the impact, but do see the motion and hear the impact, all in a disturbing fashion). He then does the same to the woman, including then stabbing her in the front of the body, which we do see in graphic detail (although there isn't a great deal of blood then). We later see and hear that the man, although badly wounded, did live. Zodiac suddenly shoots a cabbie in the neck from the back seat, killing him (with bloody results). When David and William arrive on the scene, the cabbie is partially hanging out of the open door, dead and bloody. There's a loud and disturbing scream on the phone as Melvin talks to who he thinks is Zodiac. A woman drives down the road at night with just her infant in the front seat when another car flashes her from behind. She pulls over and the man (whose face we never see) tells her that her right rear wheel is wiggling, and offers to help. She agrees and watches the man (in the side mirror) work on the lug nuts, finish his work, and then leave. She then pulls back onto the road, only to have the car shimmy and that wheel then suddenly come off. The man then returns in his car and offers to give her a ride. As they pass a filling station that she points out, the driver tell her, "Before I kill you, I'm going to throw your baby out the window." The next scene shows the distraught mother by the side of the road, with bloodied hands, all frantic. Others stop to help, and we hear that she jumped out of the moving car, and then see that her baby is okay (she had it hidden). David, William and Jack interview a potential suspect and become increasingly alarmed (but keep it to themselves) when the clues keep adding up to him being their man (such as wearing a Zodiac brand watch, etc.). After his name is out about him trying to solve the case, Robert gets a call that only features heavy breathing on the other end (a previous signature of Zodiac). While interviewing a man who knew another person Robert believes is Zodiac, Robert suddenly thinks this man might instead be the killer. Robert reluctantly follows him down into his dimly lit basement, hears sounds from upstairs, and becomes progressively freaked out by the clues pointing to this man. Robert then tries to rush out, but finds the front door locked. That man then unlocks the door and Robert rushes off into the night. When Robert returns home, he finds all of his kids missing and panics, thinking the killer has them, but he then finds a note from Melanie that says she took the kids to her mom's and for him not to call. He then hears the door open and sees the shadow of a figure walking in, but it's just Melanie. Robert goes to see the man he thinks is the killer and just stares at him in the store where that man works. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Knives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound, or kill others. See "Violence" for details. The poster for the movie "Dirty Harry" shows Clint Eastwood's character holding a handgun. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*ck off and die," "F*cked in the head," "A f*cking boy scout," "That is f*cked up," "You gonna catch this f*cking guy or not?" "Go f*ck yourself" (followed by the reply, "happily"), "Let it f*cking go," "F*cking library," "Full of sh*t," "Even better than getting your rocks off with a girl," "Shut up," "You really creeped us out," "Delicious as hell" (written), "Damn near perfect," "Balls," "Sick bastard," "Taking a leak," "A little touched," "Nuts," "Jesus Harold Christ on rubber crutches" (or something close to that), "It will screw us," "We're already screwed," "Does it bother you when people call you retarded?" "Retard" (noun), "We got screwed," "Freaked out," "Rat bastard," "Tell him to screw" (nonsexual), "Nigger" (seen written in a movie) and "Idiot." It's possible the film could inspire some kids to try to solve unsolved crimes. While intoxicated, Paul gives "the finger" to his boss. While searching a suspect's trailer, David and others find caged and loose squirrels in the place. JUMP SCENES Some erupting firecrackers startle a couple in a parked car at night. Zodiac suddenly shoots a cabbie in the neck from the back seat, killing him (with bloody results). MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 14 "f" words, 8 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("screw" and "getting your rocks off"), 5 hells (1 written), 1 crap, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B., 5 uses of "Jesus," 3 of "Jesus Christ" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "Dear Lord," "God," "Jesus H," "Mother of Christ" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY A couple parks their car at night in a secluded spot (the woman driver picks the spot) but don't get the chance to fool around as Zodiac shows up (the date initially wonders if it's the woman's husband, but she says it isn't). Paul jokes of someone leaving a fondue party before everyone got naked (not seen). Robert reads part of the letter from Zodiac to the paper where the killer states that something is "even better than getting your rocks off with a girl." Paul writes (in his newspaper story) about Zodiac possibly being a latent homosexual. While on his first date with Melanie, Robert is worried about Paul (who's out meeting a mysterious contact) and says he should go home to wait for a return call from Paul's wife. Melanie then asks, "Is this some sleazy plan to get me to go home with you?" She does return there with him, but nothing sexual happens. When David angrily tells Paul, "Go f*ck yourself," Paul replies, "Happily." About a witness and suspect, David asks, "Did Allen screw his wife or anything?" While searching a suspect's trailer, David and others find some porno magazines that we briefly see. One features a side view of a couple where one person's bare butt is seen as they're bent over the other, but no faces are seen and it's hard to tell exactly what's occurring. We briefly see David in his briefs (and t-shirt) when he gets out of bed. SMOKING Paul smokes at least 15 times, David smokes cigars a few times, and all sorts of minor and miscellaneous characters smoke in many scenes. We hear an announcement on a plane that smoking is reserved only for the last six rows. In a records room, a cop asks Robert if he smokes (worried about the records), with Robert replying, "Once, in high school." We see that Paul smokes despite now being on oxygen. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Robert tells his son that the boy is staying with his mother that night, and we later hear that Robert is divorced. Zodiac (in a letter) threatens to kill schoolchildren. That results in Robert being nervous about his young son. Melanie becomes increasingly concerned about Robert's obsession with solving the Zodiac case (and this puts a growing strain on their marriage). Robert's young son asks him why "you and mom don't sleep in the same bed anymore" (not intended sexually). When Robert returns home, he finds all of his kids missing and panics, thinking the killer has them, but he then finds a note from Melanie that says she took the kids to her mom's and for him not to call. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The real life story and/or whether any artistic license has been taken with the facts. Serial killers and what motivates them. Whether the paper should have run the killer's letters (that stated he'd kill again if they didn't). How detectives go about their work. People who become obsessed with solving things. The lack of coordination between jurisdictions that sometimes hampers police work. What it takes to get a search warrant. Alcoholism. Paul writes (in his newspaper story) about Zodiac possibly being a latent homosexual. We briefly see a transvestite being interviewed. There's talk of Allen being a pedophile who was fired for touching kids. We see that Paul smokes despite now being on oxygen. VIOLENCE A couple parks their car at night in a secluded spot, but don't get the chance to fool around as Zodiac shows up in a car that pulls up and parks behind them. The killer then shines a flashlight on them, walks up, and opens fire on them with a handgun, shooting both several times (with very bloody results and seen from several angles). A couple basks (clothed) by a lake during the day, but the woman becomes concerned when she sees a figure approaching them. It turns out to be Zodiac who's masked and holds a handgun on the two, telling the woman to tie up the man. She does (hands behind the back) and Zodiac then ties her up (pushing her from a kneeling position down to the ground to hog-tie her). He then does the same to the man before proceeding to stab him repeatedly in the back (we don't see the impact, but do see the motion and hear the impact, all in a disturbing fashion). He then does the same to the woman, including then stabbing her in the front of the body, which we do see in graphic detail (although there isn't a great deal of blood then). We later see and hear that the man, although badly wounded, did live. Zodiac suddenly shoots a cabbie in the neck from the back seat, killing him (with bloody results). When David and William arrive on the scene, the cabbie is partially hanging out of the open door, dead and bloody. David knocks something out of Paul's hand while mad at him. Reviewed February 27, 2007 / Posted March 2, 2007

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