SE7EN

I have some difficulty understanding why human beings seem to have this innate need to be scared. Horror movies for instance. I have great respect for a well executed horror film, and when I come across one I don’t hesitate to put it on the site (Triangle for instance). But the genre is tough to pull off – it tends to descend into complete mayhem story-wise and / or rely on liters of fake blood and loud sound effects to scare us (read make us jump). People are quite scary enough in real life as far as I’m concerned. I mean, take Zodiac for example. (Alternatively, take the story of the real thing, here). Serial killers. Now that’s scary. Not least because they’re actual real people, not characters dreamt up by a screenplay writer. All though, I must say there are some “pretend” serial killers and evil characters that are just as scary. I mean, without resorting to “magical powers” and the like. I have in mind, a film by the director of Zodiac, Mr. David Fincher. Mr. Fincher is also the praiseworthy director of cult movie “Fight Club” and in my view, has a flair for the scary, gory (without the whole “God, that’s a lot of ketchup” effect). His works are most definitely parental and sensitive stomach-al advisory. The film I want to talk about in this particular write-up is Se7en (or Seven for anyone who is confused). It has attained cult status in its own right but it’s been around for a while now and is not as famous as it’s brother Fight Club so I just wanted to make sure you remember / learn about it =)

The beginning of the film will be familiar to anyone who has seen a “cop-flick” or two. Detective Lt. William Sommerset (master-actor Morgan Freeman) is ready to retire. He has an earned reputation for being both eccentric and one of the best officers on the force. His last duty, before being sent off to enjoy his retirement, is to have rookie cop David. But Sommerset’s last case turns out to be anything but simple. A simple if rather bizarre murder turns out to be the first in a series: There is a psychotic serial killer out there… He’s using the seven deadly sins as an M.O. As time goes on, the deadly sins get more and more serious and the murders more and more… Imaginative… Mills and Sommerset have to act fast, because if they run out of sins, they run out of time. And then, they may never catch him…

Now, here, ladies and gentlemen, is one scary film that doesn’t need ghosts and ghouls. Brr… Apart from that, the film deserves a mention on its technical merits too. It was, for instance, nominated for an Oscar® for Best Editing. The whole atmosphere of the film is very dark which is noticeable in the choice of location, dialogue and characters. We also see Gwyneth Paltrow as Mills’s young wife, rounding off a very talented leading cast. Morgan Freeman is, in a nutshell, Morgan Freeman. And just watching Mr. Pitt leaves us with no doubt as to why David Fincher chose him for his extraordinary cult movie 4 years later. I mean, it’s easy to forget but Brad Pitt is a lot more than just a pretty face. He can ACT. Anyone who doubts that can just pick up cult movie “12 Monkeys”. I admit there may have been a slight “dip” in the middle but I feel he’s “back” now. That was my distinct impression on leaving “Inglorious Bastards” anyway. But I digress. Yes, well, the film is basically a VERY well executed murder mystery. It is the VERY well executed bit that carries the caution factor. The adrenalin never stops; you are literally chilled to the bone and I actually got up and screamed at the screen in the final minute or so – anyone who has watched the film will know why. You’ll enjoy it. You may have nightmares afterwards, but you’ll enjoy it.

TRUE STORY OF THE WEEK : "ZODIAC"

Ok, we seem to have got off to a nice little start with Jamie Oliver. Cooking, nice and homely, warm kitchens… Fancy a change of tone? How about a serial killer? A real one of course…

Those of you who have been following me for longer, (if you’re out there, I’m kinda hurt no one ever writes comments on this dang page but oh well…) anyway, those of you who have been reading this blog for longer must have spotted my penchant for true stories. Those of you who are into the genre (or know about it) may have suspected I am also into true crime. Well, I have news for you: I am; BIG TIME. It’s sort of ghoulish but well… I just can’t help it. And the Zodiac murders are now officially stuff of legend – not least because the identity of the killer is still unknown… Celebrated Hollywood director David Fincher was a child in the San Francisco area just around the time the killer was active – so was able to experience the terror that gripped the city first hand. Having then gone on to direct such dark yet wonderful classics as Seven, The Game and Fight Club, I personally think there was no one better qualified to take on telling the story of the Zodiac. And with big time names like Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo on the “roll call” who could resist this film… I mean, be honest…

Ok now for those of you who either were not alive at the time or do not share my interest in true crime, here is a “what the film is all about”: Between December 1968 and October 1969, the San Francisco bay area was terrorized by a hooded killer. Apparently picking his victims at random, pretty much the way a hunter would, he claimed the lives of five people (experts can agree on a total of seven victims, two of these survived. There are also numerous suspected victims). He also wrote letters to the press to be printed – namely the San Francisco Chronicle sometimes in code (very good code at that) sometimes not, making various threats the most famous being ambushing a school bus, causing much alarm among parents. The fact that the Zodiac (for thus he signed himself) claimed to have murdered 37 people and the fact that he was never actually identified only made him more feared. Authorities continued receiving communication from the Zodiac until the late seventies. Although a prime suspect exists officially no one can prove or say who the Zodiac killer actually was. The film centers round two characters Robert Graysmith who worked in the Chronicle at the time and David Tosci – one of the detectives assigned to the case…

So, what do I make of it? Well, rest assured, the film lives up to its big names. Both Jake Gyllenhaal – as Robert Graysmith who became completely obsessed with the case, and then the leading expert on the Zodiac murders and Mark Ruffalo as David Tosci who was dragged above and beyond the line of duty thanks to Graysmith are in a word superb. And David Fincher is as usual, a master of creating atmospheres. The killings are present, naturally, but not overpowering – this is not a gore flick. It is the suspense, the growing yet fruitless hunt, the taunting letters and the fear gripping the hearts of the public that dominate the film. We watch with baited breath as Graysmith makes breakthrough after breakthrough, struggle with him as he tries desperately to make Tosci and the rest of the police take him seriously and yet, of course common sense dictates that he will fail – to this day the identity of the Zodiac killer is not known for sure…

I can understand if you feel the idea of watching a movie on real live murders is a little too much for you. But frankly, look at it this way, we watch a lot of war films do we not? And are a lot of said war films based on true stories – true wars? What about the news? Death and carnage surround us and there we don’t even have the comfort of being faced with Oscar nominee actors, there the events are REALLY real. Taken in that context, to my way of thinking, Zodiac is no gorier than any other cop-flick you have ever watched. It just has an added “brrr” factor when you stop and think about it… And believe me you will think about it. Mr Fincher, my congratulations sir, you have done it again =)