20 Movies That Are Flawed Masterpieces
6. Zodiac (2007)
David Fincher's Zodiac has a reputation of being a difficult movie. Whether that's because it failed to make an impact of the box office, or because its central characters spend almost three hours chasing a criminal that they never catch, let alone discover the true identity of, is perhaps the reason why.
Based on the real life hunt for San Francisco's "Zodiac" killer, it is a vidid, bold and endlessly frustrating slice of cinema. Zodiac is essentially Fincher's overlooked magnus opus - a defining work that is yet to receive all the praise that it deserves. The great strength of Zodiac is also its biggest weakness: in his attempt to render a movie that shows the inherent frustration of trying to solve a case like Zodiac, Fincher creates a movie that is all-together frustrating.
Creative intentions aside, this means - all said and done - you're still sat watching a frustrating film. Look past that, though, and give yourself over to Zodiac, and it reveals itself to be a masterpiece filled with fantastic performances, wonderful atmosphere, and true grit.