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MOVIE GUIDE: Z
Zelig (1983, Woody Allen)
The first few times I saw this I felt it was a great Woody Allen idea which would make a brilliant short, rife with great comedy and dazzling special effects. By the eightieth minute, I was ready to pass out, even though there are some bright spots in the latter half. But the film grows on you, its emotional subtext more pressing each time around. A funny and fascinating movie overall. (A-)
REVIEW / REVIEW (unfinished) / DVD review / LISTED: rated / RELATED: Purple Rose of Cairo review / Broadway Danny Rose review
Zero Effect (1998, Jake Kasdan)
Laid-back dick flick is worth seeing, with remarkable restraint for a comedy of its time. The sometimes shrill performances are offset by the charm of the script. (B)
Zodiac (2007, David Fincher)
Having already proven himself the best American director of his generation, Fincher now shows himself to be the most versatile; this true-crime epic is far from pulp. At nearly three hours, it covers the frustrating Zodiac killer investigation with all the false starts and dead ends, as enacted by Mark Ruffalo and Jake Gyllehaal (in a significant turn as Robert Graysmith, the cartoonist who became the author of the two best-known books about the killer). Fincher's measured approach to the material is just right. The film settles for neither conventional scares or a clinical ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN deconstruction. It's an extremely human film, a haunting one, and a breathlessly exciting one. It's a must. (A)
REVIEW / anticipated films / fall movie preview / DVD release and director's cut announcement / LISTED: rated / RELATED: Robert Graysmith book / MENTIONED: typeface discussion / marketing / Grindhouse flops
Zulu (1964, Cy Endfield)
Technically spectacular, this is one long battle scene, and at over two hours, it gets old quickly. Includes Michael Caine. (C)
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