Episode 5: Zodiac (Part 1)
Explicit content warning
03/16/21 • 73 min
In Episode 5, Bolton and Grace begin recapping the 2007 movie, Zodiac, and discuss the facts of the true crime story that the movie is based on. We had too much to say about this movie & case to fit it all in one episode- so be on the lookout for Part 2!
The movie was directed by David Fincher and is based on Robert Graysmith’s book, Zodiac. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as political cartoonist/sleuth/author Robert Graysmith, Robert Downey Jr. as San Francisco Chronicle reporter Paul Avery, and Mark Ruffalo as San Francisco Police Inspector Dave Toschi. The film focuses on the rise of the Zodiac killer in the San Francisco bay area during the late 1960s and early 1970s and Robert Graysmith’s fascination with solving the mystery of the Zodiac’s identity. Both Fincher and Graysmith had access to actual Zodiac case files in their work and generously provide viewers with accurate reproductions of Zodiac letters and writings throughout the film. Zodiac provides an entertaining and frustrating look into the mystery of the Zodiac killer. Nonetheless, it is important to note that because the movie is based on Robert Graysmith’s book, it focuses on the suspects Graysmith was most interested in and is by no means a complete look at all of the Zodiac suspects identified by law enforcement.
Sources:
Zodiac (2007)Graysmith, Robert. Zodiac. St. Martin’s Press, 1986.
Graysmith, Robert. Zodiac Unmasked. Berkley Books, 2002.
“Zodiac (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021.
“Zodiac Killer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2021.
“Zodiac.” IMDb.com, 2 Mar. 2007.
McCormick, Colin. “Zodiac: 8 Things Fincher's Movie Gets Right About The Unsolved Case (& 7 It Gets Wrong).” ScreenRant, 8 Feb. 2021.
Netzel, Daniel, director. Zodiac | When Truth Is Stranger than Fiction, YouTube, 28 Mar. 2018.
Sharf, Zack. “'Zodiac': David Fincher's Historical Accuracy Is More Specific Than You Can Imagine - Watch.” IndieWire, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2018.
“Ted Cruz–Zodiac Killer Meme.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021.
Stevens, Dana (March 2, 2007). "Zodiac: The surprisingly cerebral new thriller from David Fincher". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019.
Lim, Dennis (July 22, 2007). "David Fincher's masterful 'Zodiac'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019.
Monster: The Zodiac Killer, podcast by iHeartRadio and Tenderfoot TV, hosted by Matt Fredric.
Butterfield, Mike. ZodiacKillerFacts.com. (was also involved in the podcast Monster: The Zodiac Killer)
In Episode 5, Bolton and Grace begin recapping the 2007 movie, Zodiac, and discuss the facts of the true crime story that the movie is based on. We had too much to say about this movie & case to fit it all in one episode- so be on the lookout for Part 2!
The movie was directed by David Fincher and is based on Robert Graysmith’s book, Zodiac. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as political cartoonist/sleuth/author Robert Graysmith, Robert Downey Jr. as San Francisco Chronicle reporter Paul Avery, and Mark Ruffalo as San Francisco Police Inspector Dave Toschi. The film focuses on the rise of the Zodiac killer in the San Francisco bay area during the late 1960s and early 1970s and Robert Graysmith’s fascination with solving the mystery of the Zodiac’s identity. Both Fincher and Graysmith had access to actual Zodiac case files in their work and generously provide viewers with accurate reproductions of Zodiac letters and writings throughout the film. Zodiac provides an entertaining and frustrating look into the mystery of the Zodiac killer. Nonetheless, it is important to note that because the movie is based on Robert Graysmith’s book, it focuses on the suspects Graysmith was most interested in and is by no means a complete look at all of the Zodiac suspects identified by law enforcement.
Sources:
Zodiac (2007)Graysmith, Robert. Zodiac. St. Martin’s Press, 1986.
Graysmith, Robert. Zodiac Unmasked. Berkley Books, 2002.
“Zodiac (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021.
“Zodiac Killer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2021.
“Zodiac.” IMDb.com, 2 Mar. 2007.
McCormick, Colin. “Zodiac: 8 Things Fincher's Movie Gets Right About The Unsolved Case (& 7 It Gets Wrong).” ScreenRant, 8 Feb. 2021.
Netzel, Daniel, director. Zodiac | When Truth Is Stranger than Fiction, YouTube, 28 Mar. 2018.
Sharf, Zack. “'Zodiac': David Fincher's Historical Accuracy Is More Specific Than You Can Imagine - Watch.” IndieWire, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2018.
“Ted Cruz–Zodiac Killer Meme.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021.
Stevens, Dana (March 2, 2007). "Zodiac: The surprisingly cerebral new thriller from David Fincher". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019.
Lim, Dennis (July 22, 2007). "David Fincher's masterful 'Zodiac'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019.
Monster: The Zodiac Killer, podcast by iHeartRadio and Tenderfoot TV, hosted by Matt Fredric.
Butterfield, Mike. ZodiacKillerFacts.com. (was also involved in the podcast Monster: The Zodiac Killer)
Previous Episode
Episode 4: Foxcatcher
In Episode 4, Bolton and Grace recap the 2014 movie, Foxcatcher, and discuss the facts of the true crime story that the movie is based on.
The movie was directed and produced by Bennett Miller. The film stars Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo as wrestling phenoms and brothers - Mark and Dave Schultz. Steve Carell plays the role of wealthy wrestling enthusiast/ convicted murderer, John E. du Pont. The film mostly focuses on the relationship between Mark and Dupont before ultimately revealing the murder of Dave Schultz. The movie made some rather large changes to the timeline of real-life events, but nonetheless Foxcatcher takes viewers on an entertaining and uncomfortable ride.
Sources:
Foxcatcher (2014)
“Foxcatcher.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Feb. 2021. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxcatcher.
The Prince of Pennsylvania - ESPN Films 30 for 30 (2015)
Team Foxcatcher (2016)
Sainsbury, Reed. “Mark Schultz: World Champion Wrestler.” Bigger Faster Stronger, Spring 1999.
Lang, Kevin. “Foxcatcher True Story vs Movie - Real John Du Pont, Mark Schultz.” History vs. Hollywood, 8 Jan. 2015.
Godfrey, Alex. “Mark Schultz on Foxcatcher: Why I Threatened to Kill Its Director.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21 May 2015.
Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother’s Murder, John du Pont’s Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold, written by Mark Shultz with David Thomas, published on November 18, 2014
Wilkins, Budd (May 19, 2014). "Cannes Film Festival 2014: Foxcatcher Review" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxcatcher#cite_note-61
Messano, Tommy (August 15, 2008). "What a medal can mean to mixed martial artists". ESPN Sports.
Ben Child (January 2, 2015). "Mark Schultz attacks 'gay relationship' in wrestling biopic Foxcatcher". The Guardian.
"'Foxcatcher' Movie Slammed By Wrestler Mark Schultz". Business Insider. January 2, 2015.
Stern, Marlow. "'Foxcatcher' Subject Mark Schultz Recants Criticisms: 'I Was Temporarily Insane'". The Daily Beast.
Next Episode
Episode 6: Zodiac (Part 2)
In Episode 6, Bolton and Grace finish recapping the 2007 movie, Zodiac, and discuss the facts of the true crime story that the movie is based on.
The movie was directed by David Fincher and is based on Robert Graysmith’s book, Zodiac. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as political cartoonist/sleuth/author Robert Graysmith, Robert Downey Jr. as San Francisco Chronicle reporter Paul Avery, and Mark Ruffalo as San Francisco Police Inspector Dave Toschi. The film focuses on the rise of the Zodiac killer in the San Francisco bay area during the late 1960s and early 1970s and Robert Graysmith’s fascination with solving the mystery of the Zodiac’s identity. Both Fincher and Graysmith had access to actual Zodiac case files in their work and generously provide viewers with accurate reproductions of Zodiac letters and writings throughout the film. Zodiac provides an entertaining and frustrating look into the mystery of the Zodiac killer. Nonetheless, it is important to note that because the movie is based on Robert Graysmith’s book, it focuses on the suspects Graysmith was most interested in and is by no means a complete look at all of the Zodiac suspects identified by law enforcement.
Sources:
Zodiac (2007)Graysmith, Robert. Zodiac. St. Martin’s Press, 1986.
Graysmith, Robert. Zodiac Unmasked. Berkley Books, 2002.
“Zodiac (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021.
“Zodiac Killer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2021.
“Zodiac.” IMDb.com, 2 Mar. 2007.
McCormick, Colin. “Zodiac: 8 Things Fincher's Movie Gets Right About The Unsolved Case (& 7 It Gets Wrong).” ScreenRant, 8 Feb. 2021.
Netzel, Daniel, director. Zodiac | When Truth Is Stranger than Fiction, YouTube, 28 Mar. 2018.
Sharf, Zack. “'Zodiac': David Fincher's Historical Accuracy Is More Specific Than You Can Imagine - Watch.” IndieWire, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2018.
“Ted Cruz–Zodiac Killer Meme.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021.
Stevens, Dana (March 2, 2007). "Zodiac: The surprisingly cerebral new thriller from David Fincher". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019.
Lim, Dennis (July 22, 2007). "David Fincher's masterful 'Zodiac'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019.
Monster: The Zodiac Killer, podcast by iHeartRadio and Tenderfoot TV, hosted by Matt Fredric.
Butterfield, Mike. ZodiacKillerFacts.com. (was also involved in the podcast Monster: The Zodiac Killer)
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