Pell James

The true story behind the murders that many crime scholars believe to be the most perplexing series of unsolved crimes in modern history comes to the screen in chilling detail as Fight Club and Seven director David Fincher steps behind the camera to tell the mysterious tale of the infamous Zodiac killer. A relentless serial killer is stalking the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, leaving citizens locked into a constant state of panic, and baffled authorities scrambling for clues. Though the killer sadistically mocks the detectives by leaving a series of perplexing ciphers and menacing letters at the crime scenes, the investigation quickly flatlines when none of the evidence yields any solid leads. As two detectives remain steadfast in their devotion to bringing the elusive killer to justice, they soon find that the madman has control not only over their careers, but their very lives as well. Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Money, deception, and obsession form the basis of this simmering psychological thriller concerning a man who enters into a dangerous extramarital affair, only to find that nobody is who they appear to be. Returning home with his girlfriend in order to attend his father's funeral, Dave Ford is comforted to be back in the company of his former best friends Emily and Brian Nicholson. Back in the day, Dave, Emily, and Brian were inseparable; these days his former friends have married and gotten off to a great start in life. When Emily and Brian offer to help Dave restore his childhood home, the old friends instantly pick up where they left off years ago. Everything is perfect until Emily and Brian's relationship turns suddenly violent and Emily knocks on Dave's door seeking shelter from her abusive husband. Before long, Emily and Dave have entered into a passionate affair, with frequent warnings from another old friend that Emily is not who she appears to be continually falling of deaf ears. But the truth has an uncanny way of coming out at the most inopportune times, and now as jealousy flares and relationships unravel Dave becomes hopelessly locked into a deadly game of treachery and deceit. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Two talented young people head to California looking for fame, but find love along the way in this romantic drama. Luke (Steven Strait) is a struggling rock musician who has decided to leave New York City for the seemingly greener pastures of Los Angeles. A few days before he leaves, he spots a beautiful girl on the subway who gives him a big smile, giving him brief second thoughts. However, Luke heads out to L.A. anyway, and after months of scuffling lands a gig -- and sees the beautiful girl, Brier (Pell James), in the audience. Brier is an aspiring actress who, like Luke, came to L.A. to boost her career; she's taking acting classes at a well-respected workshop, and has landed a less-than-glamorous but lucrative deodorant commercial. Luke and Brier strike up a friendship, though it's obvious he's interested in something deeper; as Luke tries to score a record deal, Brier and her best friend Clea (Ashlee Simpson) try to spruce up his image and create some buzz about his music. But as Luke falls hard for Brier, she develops greater qualms about getting involved with a musician who will spend half his life on the road, and their shared desire for that big break may be the thing that keeps them apart. Undiscovered also stars Carrie Fisher, Kip Pardue, and Fisher Stevens. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A young man exacts a thorough revenge against the father who abandoned him in this independent drama. Elvis (Gael García Bernal) is a young man in his early twenties who, after finishing a hitch in the Navy, learns that his biological father was Pastor David Sandow (William Hurt), a man of the cloth who has never taken responsibility for siring a child out of wedlock. Elvis travels to Corpus Christi, TX, to confront Sandow about his past; the pastor asks Elvis to let him break the news to his wife and children himself, and assures the young man he wants to stay in contact with him. Elvis, however, prefers to handle matters in his own way. First Elvis sets his sights on Malerie (Pell James), the pastor's teenage daughter, and after winning her trust, takes the girl's virginity. Malerie soon discovers she's pregnant, and after her older brother Paul (Paul Dano) sees Elvis slipping out of the house following a liason with the girl, he confronts the seducer and is stabbed and killed.
Elvis manages to cover his tracks cleanly enough that no one is certain Paul is dead. Next, Elvis goes to great lengths to ingratiate himself with Sandow, and despite the objections of his wife (Laura Harring), the pastor eventually invites the man who killed his son and violated his daughter to live under the same roof with his family. The King was the first dramatic feature from director James Marsh, who previously distinguished himself in documentaries. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The murder of a psychologist reveals evidence that the killer had access to secret information possessed by the victim. Investigating, the detectives end up at the door of a computer company which sells information about its clients. The D.A.'s office must prove that such transactions are dangerous violations of privacy -- and that the computer firm is just as liable for the psychologist's death as the actual perpetrator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide