3. 1960s/1970s San Francisco - Zodiac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqnY9pslN9Q David Fincher is one of the few mainstream directors who is able to convincingly integrate visual effects into a purely realistic setting (as youll see with another entry in a moment). In his masterful crime thriller Zodiac, Fincher re-creates the bustling landscape of late-60s and early-70s San Francisco with a visual vibrancy that would suggest impeccable production design and set dressing who would have guessed that it was on the whole immaculate CGI? Watching the above clip cements how meticulously composed the films effects are, whether its perfecting a shot that doesnt quite look right, or constructing a period city-scape from scratch; its absolutely stunning that Fincher dared go this route rather than location scout and just go for an approximate-looking region. That is the power of Finchers eye-for-detail; he trusted in the potency of effects, and this is a rare example of Hollywood filmmaking that totally gets the balance right.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
See more from
Shaun