MovieChat Forums > Zodiac (2007) Discussion > Criminally Underrated Fincher Film

Criminally Underrated Fincher Film

posted 7 years ago by gbean2397
18 replies | jump to latest

I'm just gonna say it, I LOVE this movie, I believe this is one of David Fincher's very best, and a criminally underrated one, as well. What I love is how different it feels and looks from Se7en, Fincher doesn't repeat himself, he does explore some of the same themes, but each film stands on its own. Zodiac certainly feels like a '70s pulp detective story, this time based on the Zodiac Killer case. Mark Ruffalo reminded me of Columbo (in fact, he should do that Columbo movie, cause he looks like Peter Falk).

But yes, Zodiac is, dare I say it, my personal favorite David Fincher film. Does anybody else have a soft spot for this film?

[–] MinaVladimir (4077) 7 years ago

I definitely liked it, but it's not among my favourite Fincher films. I'd put it below Se7en and Gone Girl (in personal enjoyment), but waay above Benjamin Button.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 4 years ago

"I'd put it below Se7en and Gone Girl (in personal enjoyment), but waay above Benjamin Button."

Definitely, I never really cared for Benjamin Button to be honest. Gone Girl, on another hand, what a powerful ride and such a pleasant surprise it was for me!!

And Se7en... well... I guess most of us agree that it's an outstanding movie lol. I have a friend who hated it and I still don't get it.

My personal ranking of Fincher's movies would be:

1- Fight Club
2- Se7en
3- Gone Girl
4- Zodiac
5- The social network

[–] therefdotcom (964) 7 years ago

i like fincher in general a lot, but i think with this one and lost girl he messed up. what bothers me with this is that it has so little to do with the actual zodiac story. there would have been so many angles one could do on this is what we get?

[–] sleepingtiger (712) 7 years ago

Um,what? ZODIAC was a depiction of the actual case---it wasn't a fictionalized version of it or anything. You must have gotten the Fincher film confused with another Zodiac film or something. And ZODIAC is an excellent,underrated film,regardless. I love how there was clearly some effort made to recreate the era in which the case started, and to show how time passing had an effect on the case, and the toll the case took on the people trying to solve it themselves.

[–] Finker (185) 6 years ago

If anything this movie is more overrated than underrated.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 4 years ago

How??? What a bland statement considering that most people tend to hate/not really enjoy it.

[–] Martoto (4062) 5 years ago

It's easily my favourite Fincher film.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71359) 5 years ago

It's a tie for me with Se7en...both are excellent works of suspense
If you haven't yet seen it Mindhunters is really great work by Fincher too (he directed 6 eps)

Fincher does great psycho killer stuff!

[–] Martoto (4062) 5 years ago

I've watched the first couple of episodes. Great stuff. But I don't have netflix at the moment.

Se7en is cool. But things like Zodiac and Mindhunter just show that movies like that are almost pure fantasy. I'd rate Mann's Manhunter and Silence Of The Lambs higher than Se7en, still.

[–] FilmBuff (6652) 4 years ago

I'm with you on Manhunter. As much as I like Se7en, I think Manhunter is a notch above. Id rank Se7en above Silence of the Lambs, however. Zodiac I like as well as any of them.

[–] ColumboKate (5306) 5 years ago

I love murder films and this is definitely one of the best that most people have never seen for some reason. Rewatchable too which doesn't happen much lately. Really well told story, (obviously) keeps you guessing till the end. I'm inclined to agree with the film's summary.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71359) 5 years ago

I love the scary true stories too👍
The thing that really struck me about Zodiac is that while I'm familiar with the actual events and have read quite a bit about the case this movie still had me on the edge of my seat and unsettled

Zodiac was brilliant work and had a heck of a cast

[–] ColumboKate (5306) 5 years ago

Completely agree. Think I might watch it later ....

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

It's a great movie, I agree!

[–] Jones70 (6195) 5 years ago

It’s pretty highly rated, but yeah I find it to be extremely enjoyable!

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71359) 5 years ago

It's a terrific movie, the performances and frightening atmosphere were perfection

Psycho killers are really in Fincher's wheelhouse

Mindhunter is a great showcase for Fincher's skills for directing creepy stuff

[–] FilmBuff (6652) 4 years ago

I like Zodiac better than Se7en, though not by much. Both are excellent, as are Fight Club and The Game. Even Benjamin Button is highly enjoyable. I seldom consider David Fincher when I think of my favorite directors, but he really does have a solid body of work.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 4 years ago

Not my favorited from Fincher (Fight Club and Seven have the first two spots pretty much sealed) , but it's definitely in my top 5. I totally agree that it is highly underrated. Mystery, suspense, effective storytelling... this movie has it all! So yeah, I don't understand why people tend to criticize this movie and call it weak, I love it from the first watch.

It makes the same list as Perfume: The story of a murderer (another movie about a serial killer... only it's fiction) for being a criminally underrated masterpieces imo.