When “Zodiac” came out, starting such awesome actors as Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr. and Jake Gyllenhaal, it went right on my must see list. Even though I knew they never caught the killer in the end, I figured the journey would be fun. Then I saw “The Zodiac” on Comcast, under Free Movies, and thought I scored.
My boyfriend and I watched it. The entire time I kept waiting for one of those delicious actors to show up, and bang, the movie was over. I was so full of anticipation; I don’t think I enjoyed the movie as I could have. (Um….not that any normal person ‘enjoys’ serial killers, except maybe other serial killers, at which point it becomes an instructional movie. Reason number 2775 why serial killers in prison should not be allowed any comforts, including movie watching)
Does anyone know why movies come in pairs? Here is a page that goes into it: http://www.filmjunk.com/2007/03/07/when-movies-come-in-pairs-examples-of-hollywood-deja-vu/.
What I found most interesting about “The Zodiac” was the glimpse into life in the 1960s. I don’t know if that was the intention of the director, and I may fast-goog it when I am done writing this, but it was fascinating seeing the gender separation in the marriage, how the kids were shooed out of the house on a Saturday morning and expected to take care of themselves, how little detective work resembled todays Law and Order or CSI.
I would like to adopt the part where they come home from work and have a strong drink. Now that I think of it, I have managed to adopt a strong gin and tonic as soon as I get home every night. Since it’s after the gym, and before dinner, it has the impact of 17 lite beers, and I can only do one gin and tonic per night. It makes me much more interesting in my opinion (as if every word I type is not purely my opinion).
For a totally trippy venture into life before modern times (but not quite 10,000 BC realism – cough choke) watch Mad Men. It is an amazing display of how much our ‘knowledge’ in modern day changes our lives. There was one scene after a party where one of the guests, totally shit faced, took his drink to go in a glass, got in his car, and drove home. Everyone waved him off, because they didn’t talk about drunk drivers then.
Back to Zodiac, or maybe The Zodiac, not sure which one I watched any longer. If you look for build up, tension, and release…this is not the movie for you. If you can enjoy getting to know someone for the intellectual and conversational joy, and would be perfectly happy with a hug goodbye after an interesting evening, see it.
I don’t know if I will watch the other one. I feel like I already know what I will not learn.
2 monkeys. I cant find any more in me to give.
Anyway, its a story of the rise and fall of a drug lord. One who is brutal, greedy and goes to excess with everything. Ultimately he breaks rule #2 of never get hooked on your own supply. Everything goes to hell and in the end he’s taken out as expected. You can see it building to it and yet you still feel interested.
The plot is basically some guys are drilling (if you can call it that) for oil back in the maybe early 1920’s??? Not sure of the period. Regardless it was obviously dangerous and tough work. So I don’t want to give spoilers for the 1 person besides me and monkeymoviechick that read this. But, the move is SO DAMN slow. I mean, the acting is great. The plot is just too damn slow.
Ok, so my latest movie is American Gangster with Denzel Washington. The plot is of course Frank (Denzel) becomes this big time gangster selling drugs in Harlem in the late 60’s and 70’s. What makes him more successful than any other guy? He buys DIRECT from Thailand and other area countries during the peak of the Vietnam war. He use US military personnel to transport it back to the US. Yep, you read that right.
Ok, so I finally got some time this weekend to check out Juno. In case you don’t know the plot, here’s the scoop. Neurotic girl gets pregnant with some geeky guy. Girl decides to keep the baby but put it up for adoption. Girl meets seemingly normal yet wacko couple. Story is found.