The publicity machine is stirring into action. Yesterday, the UK's Times newspaper used Zodiac's appearance on the horizon as an excuse to discuss the popularity of serial killers as a subject for Hollywood's movie makers - most obviously the 'glorification of Lecter' in the Hannibal movies. Ironically, this glorification of Lecter, his elevation into a sort of 'folk hero', may have had a contribution to the serial killers' demotion or transmigration into the genre of horror. The serial killer movies just became too gory, too horrifying and too shocking for mainstream audiences.
Audiences switched to the 'Police Procedural': we still know the serial killer is evil, but we don't need to see it. Zodiac is a perfect example of this. It's a movie of shadow and light, the world of the hooded, demonic Zodiac - he appears to his victims almost like a dark knight from medieval folklore - in contrast to the anxious, frustrated setting of the police station or car, or the busy offices of the San Francisco Chronicle. It's the minds of the policemen, the journalist and the cartoonist that fascinates Fincher, in his study of the different paths of obsession. How does each of them react when the murderer reaches out to them, sometimes personally, and says 'This is the Zodiac'?
However, instead of listening to my opinion, why not listen to Jake's, because the Times article is accompanied by a video in which Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo discuss what the film means to them and how they dealt with the knowledge that the Zodiac could still be out there. Jake clearly found little comfort in the thought.
Watch the video and read the article
There's also a Zodiac competition - if you feel lucky.
Here's a direct link (I hope) to the video
http://raincloud.warnerbros.com/wbol/uk/movies/zodiac/zodiac_featurette_500.asx
6 comments:
That was great! The link worked perfectly. Also love all the beautiful pictures along with your post.
Thank you very much! I'm relieved the link worked. I hope you'll be back! WDW
"It's the minds of the policemen, the journalist and the cartoonist that fascinates Fincher, in his study of the different paths of obsession".
Thank you for touching the core of what this film is about and revealing it to us through that one brilliant sentence. It puts this whole movie in perspective and it's at once clear to the prospective viewers what they're letting themselves in for.
"Zodiac is a perfect example of this. It's a movie of shadow and light, the world of the hooded, demonic Zodiac - he appears to his victims almost like a dark knight from medieval folklore"
That captures the "feel" of the film with chilling accuracy
Incognita - what a wonderful comment. Thank you for taking the time to read it and for 'getting me'. I'm fortunate enough to have seen this film several times and that's why I'm so desperate for it to open here - I know how good it is and I know it's been worth the wait.
WDW xx
I feel that several serious themed discussions could emerge around these tow key ideas which you have articulated. I like the way you have spoken about the mutation that has occurred in this genre of film wherein the sense of horror is evoked so powerfully without a gory display.
Again the phenomenon of obsession and the different paths it can take is in itself a topic around which an entire forum could grow and be highly illuminating to a range of readers.
Hi Incognita,
This is why I think this film is so significant - lives fall apart and are put back together by trying to work through what's left in the shadows. Until you can stare them in the face.
Thank you, my friend, for linking to WDW on Strike Me Gyllen. I was delighted to do the same here on WDW. Here is the address for those readers who have been interested in this article:
http://gyllenhaal.suddenlaunch3.com/
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