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

January 26, 2026 · Zodiac (2007) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 2:54:19 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 27:30Scene with three actors sizing up Ruffalo's character, where Ruffalo tries to stay deadpan
Bill Simmons▶ 1:13:05The opening Lover's Lane murder scored to 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' -- 'fucking creepy... just an amazing' (flashlight-on-the-gun); also cites Graysmith reading the decoded letter with Paul Avery watching, and the Lake Berryessa 'bluff' murder as in the running for most unsettling murder scene ever.
Chris Ryan▶ 27:43Discusses the same scene, focusing on Ruffalo's line about bloody knives in his trunk
Chris Ryan▶ 1:13:24The Vallejo opening -- the static tracking shot of the suburbs with the July 4th fireworks ('a really, really good first six minutes').
Sean Fennessey▶ 27:49Contributes to discussion of the same scene, mentioning the watch detail
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:13:36Discussed rather than picked: the opening puts you right in the place and time (Fincher rebuilding his childhood), and the Berryessa attack is accurate to how it happened -- the killer in the black hooded jumpsuit as 'the living embodiment of murder' in an idyllic setting.

Watch Party

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:42Solo viewing when wife is away for the weekend
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:32Solo viewing - 'T-shirt, no pants'
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:40Solo viewing - 'straight the tube'

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:08Morty's (the bar)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:10The diner at the end
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:16:13Diner at the end

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:53Begins to state a hottest take but segment cuts off mid-sentence

Great Shot Gordo Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:48:15Discussed technical aspects of Sean's pick and mentioned Golden Gate Bridge aerial shot looking down
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:47:19Three 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

Slow Ride Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:49:01Inner City Blues when it kicks in during the shooting scene, and Bernadette in the bar
Chris Ryan▶ 1:49:16Bernadette in the bar - the Four Tops song that starts midway through with just the vocal popping in

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Chris Ryan▶ 1:56:07Agrees 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:55:02The 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

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 2:06:09Discussion about DNA technology and cameras making something too hard to do now, but unclear what specific element from the movie he's referring to

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 2:08:06Gary 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
Chris Ryan▶ 2:10:03Robert Downey Jr. — Brad Pitt has more of a stoner energy whereas Downey has more of an uppers energy, supporting why Downey was better casting
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:08:38Robert 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

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 2:11:55Charles Fleischer (the basement guy, one scene) and Clea DuVall -- after noting John Carroll Lynch is eligible with two and a half scenes.
Chris Ryan▶ 2:12:15Brian Cox as Melvin Belli -- two full scenes with maximum seasoning (getting out of the cab with helicopters swirling), while conceding Clea DuVall is pretty high up.
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:12:09Clea DuVall as 'the pinnacle of this category' -- one scene and the camera doesn't move off her; plus a low-key nomination for Melvin Belli's housekeeper dropping off the cookies ('I spoke to him').

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 2:19:05The Social Network — Social Network, not Zodiac
Chris Ryan▶ 2:19:41Zodiac — Zodiac - creatively this is Fincher's peak
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:19:30The 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

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 2:31:20Why 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
Chris Ryan▶ 2:31:54Toskey 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:31:33Gyllenhaal'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

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 2:34:50All black cast are untouchable became prestige TV

Memorabilia Award

Bill Simmons▶ 2:40:55Original Zodiac letters or recreations, and the killer's scrapbook of newspaper clippings; specifically does NOT want the wooden dildo
Chris Ryan▶ 2:40:22The 'I am NOT Paul Avery' button

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 2:41:26Don'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
Chris Ryan▶ 2:41:17It's not finished until you type it up

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 2:41:52Dirty Harry (with All the President's Men also floated) -- he'd watch Dirty Harry first, then Zodiac.
Chris Ryan▶ 2:42:26Engaged with the Dirty Harry pairing without naming his own pick -- noted how much local media of the era made Toschi a public character who informed Bullitt and Dirty Harry's style.
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:42:04Dirty Harry -- 'the exciting version of this story that is solved; Zodiac is the real version of the story that is unsolvable,' noting Scorpio was ripped from the Zodiac case.

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 2:43:59David Fincher — Fincher
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:43:51David Fincher — Fincher

Movies Referenced (91)

Chronicle (2012)

11 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 22:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dirty Harry (1971)

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 5:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone Girl (2014)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 33:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

There Will Be Blood (2007)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 3:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fight Club (1999)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 24:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Collateral (2004)

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 33:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Juno (2007)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 4:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Prisoners (2013)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 37:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Spotlight (2015)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 16:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All the President's Men (1976)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 19:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Iron Man (2008)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 13:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 34:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

David Fincher

8 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 5:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 28:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony D. Syracuse

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, KPop Demon Hunters▶ 23:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Affleck

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 26:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julian Schnabel

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly▶ 46:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Debbie Baber

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Rugrats Movie▶ 1:01:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 2:43:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Huston

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Chinatown, The Asphalt Jungle▶ 32:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Thomas Anderson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood▶ 46:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (52)

Mark Ruffalo

18 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Spotlight, The Kids Are All Right, The Avengers▶ 27:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Avery

17 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Superman▶ 38:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jake Gyllenhaal

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Nightcrawler, Brokeback Mountain, Donnie Darko▶ 33:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tim Allen

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Toy Story, Galaxy Quest▶ 14:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chronicle Ganawah

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 22:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony Edwards

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Top Gun, Zodiac▶ 34:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Game

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter▶ 54:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian Cox

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Troy, X2: X-Men United▶ 34:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Carroll Lynch

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Founder, Fargo, Paul▶ 25:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Terry

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Full Metal Jacket, The Living Daylights, Of Mice and Men▶ 2:10:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charles Fleischer

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Zodiac, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, A Nightmare on Elm Street▶ 34:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chloë Sevigny

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Boys Don't Cry▶ 36:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Roger Ebert

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 34:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Graysmith

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Zodiac▶ 56:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Vanderbilt

6 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Zodiac▶ 17:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tony Gilroy

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Michael Clayton, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story▶ 12:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Shire

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Zodiac, Short Circuit, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three▶ 1:25:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Delphine Domer

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The City of Lost Children▶ 2:07:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gordon Willis

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Godfather Part II, Manhattan▶ 1:47:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗