just saw this yesterday. not a lot of fanfare behind it, and i think that's the studio's doing because it was originally slated to come out around the time of academy award consideration. but the studios felt it was "too long" and wanted fincher to cut it to about 2hr 15min but he didn't want to. I think the 160 running time was too long simply because the film lacked one thing that would have made it a classic: theme. The exhausting police investigation, the chilling murder sequences, and the relationship between the characters of graysmith and avery (both chronicle workers) were very represented in the film. However, it didn't seem to really be "about" anything. There wasn't any connection of not being able to find out who the killer is and also reveal something about the characters themselves. By the end of the film, you really are ready to leave. It didn't feel as overlong as "Munich" but it did have a few segments I could have done without.

I'd give it *** for effort, acting, and "feel". But its lack of a definite theme just kind of left something to be desired.