Zodiac (2007)

Methodical, thorough, and exhausting, Zodiac is a film as extensive and draining as the true crimes its based on. Adapted from the novel by Robert Graysmith, which itself is a recollection of the case files of the Zodiac Killer of southern California, this film provides not only a superb resource for information on the case, but is as near-to-perfect a procedural cop drama as you could hope to ask for. Every “i” Is dotted, every “t” is crossed, and by the end you feel both educated and full. Director David Fincher is in rare form, stepping back from his usually rich visual style to provide the stark realities of investigative work, and his stars, particularly Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith and Robert Downey Jr. as his confidant Robert Avery, provide an exceptional illustration of how obsession with the impossible can lead to ruin. The result is a film whose only flaw is its extensive level of detail, leading to something that feels longer than it actually is. In every way, this is a classic for the cop drama. It's smartly built, poignant, and honest, while maintaining a level of workmanship that remains absolutely fascinating from start to finish.

9 out of 10.