Movies - Zero Effect

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	Movies - Zero Effect

Zero Effect is a 1998 film directed by Jake Kasdan (son of famed Hollywood writer/director Lawrence Kasdan) and starring Bill Pullman as "the world's most private detective," Daryl Zero, and Ben Stiller as his assistant, Steve Arlo.

Zero, a brilliant but reclusive private detective for hire, traditionally worked from afar with Arlo as his representative in the field. Socially awkward and inept (but extraordinarily confident in his deductive abilities), Zero keeps himself locked in his apartment, where he composes awful songs on his guitar and subsists on a diet of tuna, Tab, and amphetamines. Zero and Arlo are retained by Gregory Stark to investigate who is blackmailing him. During the investigation, Zero takes to the field and encounters Gloria Sullivan, an equally mysterious young woman with a possible connection to the case. Throughout the film, Arlo is torn between his loyalty to Zero and his affection for his girlfriend, Jess.

The film features Ryan O'Neal as Stark and Kim Dickens as Sullivan. Written by Jake Kasdan, the film is based loosely on A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The film was scored by The Greyboy Allstars.

Only a few months after this film's release in early 1998, another film about a quirky individual playing the role of detective hit theatres: The Big Lebowski (which has become a far greater cult favorite).

The Wisdom of Daryl Zero

Throughout the film, Zero (who is writing a memoirs of sorts) offers the viewer a number of pieces of advice and pearls of wisdom on the detective trade. A few such thoughts are:

"I can't possibly overstate the importance of good research. Everyone goes through life dropping crumbs. If you can recognize the crumbs, you can trace a path all the way back from your death certificate to the dinner and a movie that resulted in you in the first place. But research is an art, not a science, because anyone who knows what they're doing can find the crumbs, the wheres, whats, and whos. The art is in the whys: the ability to read between the crumbs, not to mix metaphors. For every event, there is a cause and effect. For every crime, a motive. And for every motive, a passion. The art of research is the ability to look at the details, and see the passion. "

"Now, a few words on looking for things. When you go looking for something specific, your chances of finding it are very bad. Because of all the things in the world, you're only looking for one of them. When you go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding it are very good. Because of all the things in the world, you're sure to find some of them."

"I always say that the essence of my work relies fundamentally on two basic principles: objectivity and observation, or "the two obs" as I call them. My work relies on my ability to remain absolutely, purely objective, detached. I have mastered the fine art of detachment. And while it comes at some cost, this supreme objectivity is what makes me, I dare say, the greatest observer the world has ever known."

"A few words here about following people. People know they're being followed when they turn around and see someone following them. They can't tell they're being followed if you get there first."

Soundtrack

Released in January of 1998, the official soundtrack for the film included:

# "Mystery Dance" - Elvis Costello # "Once Dance" - Dan Bern # "Starbucked" - Bond # "Into My Arms" - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds # "Some Jingle Jangle Morning" - Mary Lou Lord # "Emma J" - Brendan Benson # "The Method Pt. 2" - The Greyboy Allstars # "Drifting Along" - Jamiroquai # "Till You Die" - Candy Butchers # "Lounge" - Esthero # "Blackmail Drop" - The Greyboy Allstars # "Three Days" - Thermadore # "Rest My Head Against the Wall" - Heatmiser # "The Zero Effect" - The Greyboy Allstars

Unreleased (and not appearing in the film) was "Zero Effect," a song that Dan Bern wrote after reading the script and contemplating the plot from Kim Dickens' character's perspective. Bern has played the song in concert and referenced its connection to the film.

The Television Pilot

In 2002, Kasdan attempted to resurrect the character of Daryl Zero for television. He produced a pilot featuring Alan Cumming as Daryl Zero. NBC did not pick up the pilot, which also featured Krista Allen and Natasha Gregson Wagner.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Zero Effect ]

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