The Rewatchables: ‘Zodiac’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

Published 2026-01-26; 2:54:19 by the feed.

Awards and segments (125)

Double feature

  1. pick Boogie Nights: Pairs it with Zodiac and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as filmmakers making memoirs about something from their childhood.
    “a good triple feature would be zodiac, boogie nights, and once upon a time in Hollywood, because it's these 3 filmmakers doing basically memoirs.”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:29:25
  2. pick Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Same triple feature: three filmmakers telling a story from their youth without making themselves the central character.
    “a good triple feature would be zodiac, boogie nights, and once upon a time in Hollywood, because it's these 3 filmmakers doing basically memoirs.”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:29:25
  3. pick Almost Famous: Added as a fourth film to the same run of filmmaker memoirs.
    “I think they're almost famous in too.”
    unknown · 1:29:52
  4. pick Dirty Harry: Watch it first as the exciting, solved version of the story, then Zodiac as the real, unsolvable one.
    “Dirty Howie is the exciting version of this story that is solved.”
    unknown · 2:42:33
  5. pick All the President's Men: Offered as the best double feature for the film.
    “All the presidents, man.”
    unknown · 2:42:22

Most rewatchable scene

  1. pick The Lover's Lane murder at the top of the movie
    “The lover's lane murder is fucking creepy.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:13:42
  2. floated The opening Vallejo stretch: fireworks, the static suburb shot, the first six minutes
    “It's a really, really good 1st 6 minutes.”
    unknown · 1:14:05
  3. floated Graysmith reading the decoded letter with Paul Avery watching
    “I want to, uh, just mentioned Gray Smith reading the decoded letter with Roger watching along.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:14:20
  4. floated The Lake Berryessa bluff murder
    “In the running for most unsettling murder scene ever.”
    unknown · 1:15:32
  5. floated The Melvin Belli live TV show with the fake Zodiac caller
    “Logan Roy does a live TV show with fake Zodiac.”
    unknown · 1:16:49
  6. pick The Ione Sky car ride: the loose-wheel stop and the call to the TV show
    “The Ione Sky car ride scene.”
    unknown · 1:18:01
  7. pick Avery and Graysmith's Shorty scene, ending at the gun range
    “I just wrote down for the next scene, Downey, and Jake, just cooking.”
    unknown · 1:18:42
  8. floated Avery and Graysmith at the bar, the Aqua Velva scene
    “the Aqua Velve scene, where they're getting to know each other, which is one of my favorite scenes in the movie.”
    unknown · 1:19:41
  9. pick The interrogation of Arthur Lee Allen at work
    “And it's probably my most rewatchable scene because it's so much fun to watch.”
    unknown · 0:28:13
  10. pick The interrogation of Arthur Lee Allen at work
    “Oh yeah, that's I think this is my most rewatchable scene.”
    unknown · 1:20:22
  11. floated The search of Arthur Lee Allen's trailer, the squirrels
    “Uh, searching Lee's place.”
    unknown · 1:20:27
  12. floated The basement scene
    “The basement scene.”
    unknown · 1:21:28
  13. floated Graysmith's stare-down with Lee at the hardware store
    “Jake goes to see Lee at the hardware store, which I think also gets the Fortune 3 clap award for most giftable moment.”
    unknown · 1:24:29
  14. pick Toschi and Armstrong working the taxi cab crime scene
    “It's Tosky and Armstrong doing the crime scene for the taxi cab.”
    unknown · 1:25:27
  15. pick The first meeting between Graysmith and Toschi, ending with the Narlow tip
    “One is the 1st time that Graysmith meets with Toski.”
    unknown · 1:26:11
  16. pick The final door-to-door breakfast between Toschi and Graysmith
    “my single favorite scene in the movie other than the interrogation, which is door to door, that final breakfast meeting between Dave and Graysmith”
    unknown · 1:26:20
  17. pick The interrogation of Arthur Lee Allen: the watch, the shoe, the faces
    “It felt the most like usual suspects where you're sitting there picking up on things, watching people piece things together.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:27:25

Craig Century Club · Craig, who wants every movie near 100 minutes, rules on the film's runtime.

  1. pick Zodiac's 157-minute runtime: Accepts it has to be long, but would cut a stretch in the middle where Ruffalo hits dead ends.
    “I think you could have probably cut 15 minutes.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:07:21

Watch Party · The best setting for a watch or rewatch.

  1. pick Watching alone: Wife away for the weekend; no pants.
    “This is a true solo one for me.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:10:06
  2. pick Watching with family: Calls it a generational connector after watching with his wife's parents.
    “I think this is a decent family one.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 2:46:49

Roger Ebert Review · The hosts read Roger Ebert's review of the film.

  1. pick Zodiac: Four stars.
    “He said Zodiac is the all the president's men of Syrico movies.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:10:35

Most 2007 / Most 1970s Thing · The most 2007 (or most 1970s) thing about the movie.

  1. pick Jake Gyllenhaal's wide-eyed weirdo era (2007): The era that ends right after this movie.
    “It's the wide-eyed, innocent weirdo era, which is like how he got launched with Donny Darker.”
    unknown · 0:37:32
  2. pick Folgers coffee (1970s)
    “And I think it's Folger's coffee.”
    unknown · 1:27:44
  3. pick Coordinating investigations between cities (1970s)
    “I would also say for 70s thing about the movie, just coordinating investigations between cities.”
    unknown · 1:28:38
  4. pick Gen X looking back at childhood just before Obama (2007)
    “I do think it's a really interesting example of Gen X art and like Gen X kind of looking back at their childhood”
    unknown · 1:28:50

Best production story · Most unbelievable anecdote from the actual film shoot.

  1. winner Fincher's takes: 56 takes of Ruffalo and Gyllenhaal on day one, and the 56th is in the movie: Bill reads the actors' complaints about the takes first.
    “You know, the 1st day of production in San Francisco, we shot 56 takes of Mark and Jake.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:31:04

Dennis Peck Relationship Test · The couple Dennis Peck (Internal Affairs) would have broken up fastest.

  1. pick Graysmith and Melanie (Chloe Sevigny's character): Someone adds that Dennis Peck could have broken them up quickly; later the hosts blame her for signing up.
    “Uh, Graysmith and Chloe 70's character.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:35:40

What Aged Best · What about the movie has aged best.

  1. pick The true-crime obsession the movie anticipated
    “Not just true crime but the obsession with it.”
    unknown · 1:37:09
  2. pick San Francisco as a movie location
    “it's the best movie location of any city”
    unknown · 1:39:07
  3. pick Downey's mutterings to Gyllenhaal and their banter at Morty's
    “Downey's mutterings to Gyllenhaal, especially his art criticism, but like sweet mother of Christ.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:40:52
  4. pick The tonal shift to the four-years-later half, with Graysmith alone
    “it feels way more like a solo album, like he's got nobody helping him”
    Chris Ryan · 1:41:21
  5. pick The unsolvability of mundane tragedy
    “the unsolvability of mundane tragedy”
    Chris Ryan · 1:41:41
  6. pick Graysmith as the original online poster as Robert Graysmith
    “Graysmith is kind of the original poster in a lot of ways”
    Chris Ryan · 1:42:35
  7. pick Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery: Reads as the start of Downey's comeback, with Iron Man next.
    “I have, uh, down his comeback as a wood stage, the best and what it means in the context of his career, this movie, and then Iron Man.”
    unknown · 1:43:04

Amanda Dobbins Award for best piece of real estate · Best piece of real estate in the movie.

  1. winner Paul Avery's houseboat
    “I had, uh, Paul Evry's water place.”
    unknown · 1:43:58
  2. nominee The recreated San Francisco Chronicle newsroom
    “I had the Chronicles office and how they recreated it.”
    unknown · 1:44:40

Best smoking · Excellence in on-screen smoking.

  1. winner Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery: Hands-free smoking, apparently filterless.
    “So, Downey cruising to the Sean Penn, I brought my own pack award for excellence in on-screen smoking.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:45:31

Great Shot, Gordo Award · Most cinematic shot, named after Gordon Willis.

  1. pick The digitally recreated shots: the opening fireworks and the overhead shot of the taxicab
    “There's a couple of like the just the digitally recreated moments, the fireworks, the overhead shot of the taxicab, et cetera.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:47:05
  2. pick Graysmith and Melanie in the phone booth outside the restaurant
    “it's the Gyllenhaal 70 in the phone booth outside of the restaurant.”
    unknown · 1:47:14
  3. pick The Zodiac coming over the hill at Lake Berryessa, then Hartnell's face and the stabbing: Three connected shots; notes the blood in the stabbing is all digital.
    “One is the shot of, um, the zodiac killer coming over the hill in Lake Barriessa.”
    unknown · 1:47:53
  4. pick The aerial Golden Gate Bridge shot
    “Amazing Golden Gate Bridge shot.”
    unknown · 1:49:00

Kid Cudi Pursuit of Happiness Award · Best needle drop.

  1. pick Hurdy Gurdy Man
    “I thought hurdy-gurdy when it kicks in when he starts shooting them.”
    unknown · 1:49:41
  2. pick Bernadette
    “I have, I really like Bernadette in the bar.”
    unknown · 1:49:47

David Fincher Award for wow, this director may have been a lunatic · The most unhinged thing the director did on the shoot.

  1. winner David Fincher: Gave Gyllenhaal hairy knuckles in close-ups because his hands were too hairless and pretty; first time the award is given.
    “He digitally added hair to his knuckles.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:50:36

Sean Fantasy Award for stealth homage · A stealth homage that gives movie nerds a criteria orgasm.

  1. winner Memories of Murder: The witness line echoes Bong Joon Ho's film; the hosts note Fincher and Bong admire each other.
    “They say he looked normal.”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:51:09
  2. nominee Rosemary's Baby: The pan from Graysmith's breather call to his knees, like Ruth Gordon on the phone.
    “it's a little Rosemary's baby”
    unknown · 1:52:10

Craig's Flex · Craig's free pick of an award.

  1. pick The John Holmes porn parody of the movie: Runs 63 minutes, so it passes the Century Club.
    “It's called the Zodiac Killer starring John Holmes.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:52:39

Vincent Chase Award · Are we sure this character was good at his job?

  1. winner Zodiac as Zodiac: Let both top-of-movie victims live, wore a zodiac watch, gave his birthday on the phone, and wore the wrong-hand and name-tag tells.
    “Lower kill rate than Drake May's completion percentage.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:53:39

Butch's Girlfriend Award · The weak link of the film.

  1. pick Avery's trip to Riverside on an anonymous tip
    “Uh, I don't personally understand the Avery trip to Riverside”
    unknown · 1:54:27
  2. pick The movie never mentions the murder before the opening one
    “But I still think they should have figured out how to mention it in some way.”
    unknown · 1:55:08
  3. pick Donald Cheney, source of the case against Arthur Lee Allen as Donald Cheney: Another host adds that Cheney is widely doubted in the wider Zodiac world.
    “but specifically the Donald Cheney character”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:55:28

What Aged Worst · What about the movie has aged worst.

  1. pick Cutting the two-minute montage of hit songs for the four-years-later title card
    “him cutting the 2 minute blackout montage of hit songs”
    unknown · 1:57:44
  2. pick Avery and Graysmith decoding at the bar: wants five more minutes of them
    “I wrote down, I'm 5 minutes light on these 2 together.”
    unknown · 1:58:26
  3. pick Anthony Edwards in a wig
    “Anthony Edwards with a wig on always throws me off.”
    unknown · 1:59:12
  4. pick The four-year gap
    “Uh, no, I had the four-year gap.”
    unknown · 1:59:30
  5. pick The culture's endless search for the Zodiac
    “Just my certainty that it was Arthur Lee Allen for the like 10 years after I saw the movie”
    unknown · 1:59:46

Rose from Titanic Award · The character who sneakily sucks.

  1. winner Melanie as Melanie: Argues she knew what she was signing up for on the first date; another host says she is reasonable.
    “Close 70s character, this.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:00:21

Rick Dalton Award · The greatest acting the host has ever seen.

  1. winner Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery: The 'somebody should write a book' scene.
    “Uh, it's uh, Downey on the houseboat.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 2:02:27

Hottest Take · A host's hottest take.

  1. pick A Zodiac today would be ruined by guessing who he voted for
    “I think the thrill, the dark thrill of the zodiac were to happen today would be ruined by everybody trying to figure out who he voted for.”
    unknown · 2:02:56
  2. pick Zodiac: Names Heat second; says it is the best portrait of solving a crime.
    “This is the greatest American crime film ever made, and it's the only crime film that really portrays what it's like to try to solve a crime.”
    Sean Fennessey · 2:03:30
  3. pick Zodiac the killer as Zodiac: The greatest serial killer of all time because he was never caught and left a universe of theories.
    “I think Zodiac was the goat.”
    unknown · 2:04:39

Casting What Ifs · Almost-castings and recasts.

  1. pick Gary Oldman as Melvin Belli: Judged physically wrong; Brian Cox got it.
    “Casting what if Gary Oldman was supposed to play Melvin Belai.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:08:44
  2. pick Orlando Bloom as Robert Graysmith
    “Gyllenha was the 1st choice for Graysmith from Fincher, but if he had said no, they had Orlando Bloom lined up.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:09:00
  3. pick Jennifer Aniston as Melanie: Tipped Fincher to Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo, then turned down the girlfriend part for a rom-com.
    “His best pal, Jennifer Aniston, who said, I really liked working with Jake Gyllenhaal”
    Bill Simmons · 2:09:15
  4. pick Brad Pitt as Paul Avery: The hosts think Downey's fast-talking energy fits better.
    “Fincher wanted Brad Pitt as Avery before settling a down.”
    unknown · 2:09:38
  5. pick Tom Hanks as Robert Graysmith
    “Hanks is Graysmith.”
    unknown · 2:27:43
  6. pick Tom Cruise as Robert Graysmith: Settles on Cruise as Graysmith and Hanks as Toschi.
    “I'm picking cruise.”
    unknown · 2:28:00

Scorsese or Spielberg · Which other director would you give the movie to.

  1. pick Steven Spielberg
    “Uh, so my answer is Spielberg.”
    unknown · 2:30:19
  2. pick Martin Scorsese
    “I have Scorsese, just because I'd want to see the movie.”
    unknown · 2:30:22

Best That Guy Award · Best that-guy actor; John Carroll Lynch declared ineligible.

  1. nominee John Getz as editor-in-chief: Another host says Getz has been in too many things.
    “I grabbed 2 guys from the editorial meeting, which is John Getz and John Terry, the editor-in-chief and the publisher.”
    unknown · 2:10:54
  2. nominee John Terry as publisher
    “John Terry is really good.”
    unknown · 2:11:05
  3. nominee Charles Fleischer as the man in the basement
    “He's pretty much that guy.”
    unknown · 2:11:09
  4. nominee the priest from The Sopranos (name not given) as one of the cops
    “One of the cops was the priest from the Sopranos who was trying to get it on with Carmelo, but not really.”
    unknown · 2:11:12
  5. nominee Skippy from Kicking and Screaming (name not given) as one of the cops
    “Skippy from kicking and screaming.”
    unknown · 2:11:40

Dion Waiters Award · Biggest heat check in the movie.

  1. winner Clea DuVall
    “Clay Duval to me is the pinnacle of this category because she has one scene.”
    unknown · 2:12:43
  2. nominee Brian Cox as Melvin Belli
    “I had Cox, he's in 2 full scenes.”
    unknown · 2:12:53
  3. nominee Melvin Belli's housekeeper (actor not named)
    “Low-key nomination, Melvin Belley's housekeeper, when she drops the cookies off.”
    unknown · 2:13:09
  4. nominee Charles Fleischer as the man in the basement
    “Charles Fleischer, one scene.”
    unknown · 2:12:40

Tom Sizemore Action Is the Juice Award · Best toe-to-toe moment for a non-star.

  1. winner John Carroll Lynch as Arthur Lee Allen
    “which is clearly John Carroll Lynch up against Mark Ruffalo and winning that scene.”
    Sean Fennessey · 2:15:49

Dan Campbell Scale · Holy shit, are they really going for it right now.

  1. winner The basement scene
    “And then the Dan Campbell scale for holy shit, are they really going for right now is the basement scene.”
    Sean Fennessey · 2:16:05

Apex Mountain · Where a person's career or a body of work peaks.

  1. pick The Social Network: Argues Fincher needed The Social Network to prove he was also a commercial director.
    “I think it's social network for Fincher.”
    unknown · 2:19:34
  2. pick Zodiac: Makes the case for Zodiac as a creative apex for Fincher.
    “I think this is him just like combining some of the deep artistry of his early work”
    unknown · 2:20:19
  3. nominee Fight Club
    “I think Fight Club is his 1st apex mountain”
    unknown · 2:20:34
  4. nominee Gone Girl
    “there's never been higher moment for him than Gone Girl”
    unknown · 2:20:52
  5. pick Zodiac: Ruffalo as a detective: picks Zodiac over Collateral or Task.
    “I think it's this.”
    unknown · 2:21:53
  6. pick Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith
    “So maybe it's this because this allows him to kind of springboard it.”
    unknown · 2:22:58
  7. winner Dirty Harry: San Francisco movies.
    “No, it's probably the one from the 70s, yeah.”
    unknown · 2:23:17
  8. winner The Last Days of Disco: Chloe Sevigny.
    “Last Days of Disco?”
    unknown · 2:23:26
  9. nominee Mark Zuckerberg as Mark Zuckerberg: Fincher villains.
    “Mark Zuckerberg and Social Network.”
    unknown · 2:23:38
  10. nominee Arthur Lee Allen as Arthur Lee Allen: Fincher villains.
    “Or Arthur Lee Allen in this movie.”
    unknown · 2:23:41
  11. winner John Doe as John Doe: Fincher villains; Seven.
    “I'd probably go John Doe.”
    unknown · 2:23:47
  12. winner Goodfellas: Donovan's music in movies.
    “Because it's Donovan when Tommy beats up Billy Batts, right?”
    unknown · 2:25:48
  13. winner Zodiac: A bonus question: the best Fincher movie.
    “I think this is the best Fincher movie.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:26:38

Best Tang · Best person to take home.

  1. winner Paul Avery as Paul Avery: Best bar night.
    “Paul Avery clearly best tank.”
    unknown · 2:30:40

Worst Tang · Worst person to take home.

  1. winner Zodiac as Arthur Lee Allen: Pitches coming back to his trailer to watch the Warriors game.
    “I'm going to go worstang.”
    unknown · 2:30:46

Picking Nits · Nitpicks of a film they love.

  1. pick Why is the cartoonist in the editorial meetings: Fincher says Avery would not be in them either; it was needed to connect everyone.
    “Why is the cartoonist in high-level editorial meetings when they're reading the zodiac letter, which is probably the most important thing in the city?”
    unknown · 2:31:51
  2. pick Ione Sky's character falling for the loose-wheel trick
    “Ione Sky's character falling for the your wheel looks loose trick.”
    unknown · 2:32:06
  3. pick Toschi telling Graysmith to call Ken Narlow while saying he can't help
    “Toski being like, I can't help you, but if I were to help you”
    unknown · 2:32:27
  4. pick Toschi keeps working the case for seven years after the handwriting verdict
    “I have a sort of sort of related picking knit just about the insanity of being a police detective”
    unknown · 2:32:55
  5. pick Sevigny's character substitutes a cream sauce for penne alla vodka: Borrowed from Reddit and the commentary: the dish did not exist until the 1980s; Fincher admits they got it wrong.
    “Chloe, on the 1st date, orders penne alla vodka, but asked to substitute a cream sauce.”
    unknown · 2:33:56
  6. pick Graysmith says no one reads Herb Caen; Zodiac did: Zodiac mentions Herb Caen in a letter, so the line is an oversight.
    “I have a small picking net on behalf of my mother-in-law who was there watching the movie with us last night.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 2:34:51

Sequel, Prequel, Prestige TV · The sequel, prequel or prestige TV show they would make.

  1. pick Mindhunter: Already made as prestige TV; the segment then turns into impressions of Zodiac letters.
    “They did mine Hunter, yeah.”
    unknown · 2:35:24

Unanswered Questions · Questions the movie leaves open.

  1. pick Why don't cops see that serial killers start with someone they know
    “In these movies or TV shows, why don't cops realize that the serial killers always start with somebody they know.”
    unknown · 2:36:28
  2. pick Was there ever an easier job than 1970s handwriting expert
    “ever than 1970s handwriting expert?”
    unknown · 2:38:35
  3. pick What subject outside your work would you throw your life away exploring, as Graysmith did: Chris answers with Edie Falco and Copland.
    “I wanted to ask you both initially, if there was ever anything that was not related to the work that you do”
    unknown · 2:36:59

Memorabilia · A prop they would or would not want.

  1. pick The 'I am not Paul Avery' button
    “The I am not Paul Avery button?”
    unknown · 2:40:56
  2. pick The wooden dildo (would not want it)
    “I'm going with the not want the wooden dildo.”
    unknown · 2:41:09
  3. pick The original letters or Graysmith's scrapbook of the murders
    “his whole scrapbook of all the newspaper cast and the murders, that would be cool.”
    unknown · 2:41:38

Coach Finstock, Mr. Miyagi Award · Best or worst life lesson.

  1. winner Movies aren't finished, they're abandoned
    “It's really a throwaway line in this movie, but it's not finished until you type it up.”
    unknown · 2:41:48
  2. pick Never give up on a murder investigation, it might lead to a Fincher movie
    “I had don't ever give up figuring out a murder investigation even if it costs you your family and your sanity because it might lead to a David Fincher movie.”
    unknown · 2:41:58

Who Won the Movie · Who came out ahead.

  1. winner David Fincher
    “Pretty easily, Fincher.”
    unknown · 2:44:30
  2. nominee Zodiac the killer as Zodiac: Raised as a question: did the Zodiac win because he got away?
    “Well, because his myth is, is, is burnished by this film.”
    unknown · 2:44:37

Oscars · Who should have been nominated.

  1. pick Zodiac: Would crack Best Picture today, bumping Juno.
    “Juno would go out.”
    unknown · 0:46:29
  2. pick Mark Ruffalo as Dave Toschi
    “Ruffalo probably takes the Holbrook spot, I'm guessing.”
    unknown · 0:48:36
  3. pick Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery: Another host says both should be in.
    “It's downy for me”
    unknown · 0:48:45
  4. pick Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith: In the Best Actor lineup in place of Johnny Depp.
    “Jake could have taken that spot.”
    unknown · 0:47:38
  5. pick Zodiac: Adapted screenplay snub.
    “In the screenplays, I just don't understand that one at all.”
    unknown · 0:49:23

Food and Drink · Best or worst food or drink.

  1. pick Graysmith's blue cocktail: Vodka, gin, lemon-lime and blue curacao; the hosts call it a blue Long Island iced tea.
    “And then Robert Graysmith's cocktail.”
    unknown · 2:18:23

Den of Thieves Benihana Award (scene-stealing location) · Scene-stealing location.

  1. pick Morty's, the bar
    “I'd probably go Morty's, the bar.”
    unknown · 1:16:41
  2. pick The diner at the end
    “But, I like the diner at the end.”
    unknown · 1:16:43

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