‘Zodiac’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
January 26, 2026 · Zodiac (2007) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 2:54:19 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Best Double Feature
Chris RyanZodiac and Mindhunter (TV show) - notes the umbilical cord connection and how the Lee interrogation scene is a blueprint for Mindhunter's approach to profiling serial killers▶ 25:01
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsScene with three actors sizing up Ruffalo's character, where Ruffalo tries to stay deadpan▶ 27:30
Chris RyanDiscusses the same scene, focusing on Ruffalo's line about bloody knives in his trunk▶ 27:43
Great Shot Gordo Award
Chris RyanDiscussed technical aspects of Sean's pick and mentioned Golden Gate Bridge aerial shot looking down▶ 1:48:15
Sean FennesseyThree connected shots from Lake Berryessa sequence: Zodiac killer coming over the hill, cut to Hartnell's face while being stabbed, and cut to woman's torso being stabbed with digital blood▶ 1:47:19
Slow Ride Award
Bill SimmonsInner City Blues when it kicks in during the shooting scene, and Bernadette in the bar▶ 1:49:01
Chris RyanBernadette in the bar - the Four Tops song that starts midway through with just the vocal popping in▶ 1:49:16
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Chris RyanAgrees about the pattern of unreliable sources in the Zodiac case, including experts who turn out to be con artists and the unproven Toschi letter allegations▶ 1:56:07
Sean FennesseyThe credibility of Donald Cheney's testimony against Arthur Leigh Allen - whether Cheney was making up the specific details about Allen's statements regarding kids and school buses that made him seem like the Zodiac killer▶ 1:55:02
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsDiscussion about DNA technology and cameras making something too hard to do now, but unclear what specific element from the movie he's referring to▶ 2:06:09
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsGary Oldman — Discussed Gary Oldman was supposed to play Melvin but couldn't physically, Jake Gyllenhaal was first choice with Orlando Bloom as backup, and Brad Pitt was wanted for Avery but wouldn't have worked as well as Downey▶ 2:08:06
Chris RyanRobert Downey Jr. — Brad Pitt has more of a stoner energy whereas Downey has more of an uppers energy, supporting why Downey was better casting▶ 2:10:03
Sean FennesseyRobert Downey Jr. — Added context about Jennifer Aniston recommending Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo, and argued Downey brings necessary fast-talking energy that Brad Pitt lacks for the journalist role▶ 2:08:38
Apex Mountain
Sean FennesseyThe Social Network — Social Network - Zodiac didn't do well at box office and wasn't considered a masterpiece at the time, Fincher needed Social Network for commercial validation▶ 2:19:30
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsWhy is the cartoonist in high-level editorial meetings when they're reading the zodiac letter? Also, Chloe ordering penne alla vodka but asking to substitute cream sauce when penne alla vodka already is a cream sauce▶ 2:31:20
Chris RyanToskey saying 'I can't help you, but if I were to help you I'd tell you to call Ken Darlow' - they don't have to make this into the Riddler▶ 2:31:54
Sean FennesseyGyllenhaal's character falling for the 'your wheel looks loose' trick with a kid in the car. Also the insanity of Toskey continuing to work the case for seven years despite accepting the handwriting evidence. Plus penne alla vodka didn't exist until the 1980s▶ 2:31:33
Memorabilia Award
Bill SimmonsOriginal Zodiac letters or recreations, and the killer's scrapbook of newspaper clippings; specifically does NOT want the wooden dildo▶ 2:40:55
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsDon't ever give up figuring out a murder investigation even if it costs you your family and sanity because it might lead to a David Fincher movie - just keep going with obsession▶ 2:41:26
Movies Referenced (90)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronicle (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 22:09 |
| Dirty Harry (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 5:40 |
| Gone Girl (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 33:02 |
| There Will Be Blood (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:56 |
| Fight Club (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 24:33 |
| The Killer (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:10 |
| Juno (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:01 |
| Spotlight (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 16:32 |
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 19:12 |
| Iron Man (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 13:42 |
| Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 34:15 |
| Michael Clayton (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 4:01 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Fincher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac | ▶ 5:58 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 28:54 |
| Anthony D. Syracuse | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:44 | |
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 26:13 |
| Julian Schnabel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | ▶ 46:14 |
| Debbie Baber | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:01:16 | |
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 2:43:12 |
| John Huston | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Chinatown | ▶ 32:12 |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood | ▶ 46:21 |
Actors Referenced (52)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Ruffalo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Spotlight, The Kids Are All Right, The Avengers | ▶ 27:34 |
| Paul Avery | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 38:21 | |
| Jake Gyllenhaal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Nightcrawler, Brokeback Mountain, Donnie Darko | ▶ 33:33 |
| Tim Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Toy Story, Galaxy Quest | ▶ 14:01 |
| Chronicle Ganawah | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:09 | |
| Anthony Edwards | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Top Gun, Zodiac | ▶ 34:27 |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 54:50 |
| Brian Cox | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Troy | ▶ 34:34 |
| John Carroll Lynch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Founder, Fargo | ▶ 25:30 |
| John Terry | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Full Metal Jacket, The Living Daylights, Of Mice and Men | ▶ 2:10:22 |
| Charles Fleischer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Zodiac, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, A Nightmare on Elm Street | ▶ 34:39 |
| Chloë Sevigny | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Boys Don't Cry | ▶ 36:07 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 34:43 | |
| Robert Graysmith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Zodiac | ▶ 56:58 |
| James Vanderbilt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Zodiac | ▶ 17:18 |
| Tony Gilroy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Michael Clayton, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | ▶ 12:40 |
| David Shire | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Zodiac | ▶ 1:25:30 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delphine Domer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Transporter 3 | ▶ 2:07:05 |
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 1:47:14 |