Should I post reviews of the films I see in theaters? I’ve gone back and forth on this a million times. It would give me plenty to write about; I average over 100 a year since 1999. What about home videos? Will I be candid or will I worry about flaming future collaborators?
Deep breath. Let’s try this (but I reserve the right to pull this installment at any given moment).
First, the films I’ve already seen this year:
#1 – The Great World of Sound (@ Sundance)
#2 – Teeth (@ Sundance)
#3 – Low and Behold (@ Sundance)
#4 – Chasing Ghosts (@ Sundance)
#5 – The Hitcher
#6 – Smokin’ Aces
Of all these, my favorite film of the year (so far) is TEETH.
With that out of the way, let’s dish about ZODIAC. David Fincher shoots such pretty pictures, we’ve all known that since the music videos, but this feels like his first mature work. In this film, or should I say “video,” as it was shot entirely with the Viper FilmStream high definition camera, each of Fincher’s cinematic flourishes feels like a well measured blow from a seasoned pugilist (I was watching UFC, so that should explain the metaphor). Gone are the flashy dollys-from-across-the-room-through-the-coffee-cup ala PANIC ROOM. Oh, don’t get me wrong, there still are impressive dolly shots but now the style feels organically intertwined with the story (the second shot of the film raised the hairs on the back of my neck). The look of the film is so perfectly impeccable, you’re positive you’re in the hands of a master, or a control freak (or both). The performances are subdued but never lifeless. For anyone that enjoys meticulous procedurals (someone likened this film to JFK), then you’ll find the story riveting. It is definitely worth seeing. I only wished it weren’t three hours long.
Oh, my sciatica!
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