Zero Effect

Zero Effect
theatrical poster
Directed by	Jake Kasdan
Produced by	Lisa Henson Jake Kasdan Janet Yang
Written by	Jake Kasdan
Narrated by	Bill Pullman
Starring	Bill Pullman Ben Stiller Ryan O'Neal Kim Dickens Angela Featherstone
Music by	The Greyboy Allstars
Cinematography	Bill Pope
Editing by	Tara Timpone
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	January 30, 1998
Running time	116 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$5,000,000
Box office	$2,087,471 (USA)

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

The film was shot in Portland, Oregon. It was scored by The Greyboy Allstars. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.^[1]

Plot

Daryl Zero, a brilliant but reclusive private detective for hire, traditionally works from afar with assistant Steve 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, pretzels, Campbell's soup, and amphetamines.

Zero and Arlo are retained by Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) to investigate who is blackmailing him. During the investigation Zero takes to the field and encounters Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens). Gloria is an equally mysterious young woman. Throughout the film Arlo is torn between his loyalty to Zero and his affection for his girlfriend Jess.

Cast

• Bill Pullman as Daryl Zero
• Ben Stiller as Steve Arlo
• Ryan O'Neal as Gregory Stark
• Kim Dickens as Gloria Sullivan
• Angela Featherstone as Jess

Soundtrack

Released in January 1998, the official soundtrack for the film includes:

1. "Mystery Dance" - Elvis Costello
2. "One Dance" - Dan Bern
3. "Starbucked" - Bond
4. "Into My Arms" - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
5. "Some Jingle Jangle Morning" - Mary Lou Lord
6. "Emma J" - Brendan Benson
7. "The Method Pt. 2" - The Greyboy Allstars
8. "Drifting Along" - Jamiroquai
9. "Till You Die" - Candy Butchers
10. "Lounge" - Esthero
11. "Blackmail Drop" - The Greyboy Allstars
12. "Three Days" - Thermadore
13. "Rest My Head Against the Wall" - Heatmiser
14. "The Zero Effect" - The Greyboy Allstars

Television pilot

In 2001 Kasdan attempted to resurrect the character Daryl Zero for the NBC television network.^[2] He shared the screenwriting duties with Walon Green and directed the pilot. He was also one of the producers. The series was intended to be a prequel, tracing the early adventures of Zero as he and Arlo became a team.^[2] The pilot stars Alan Cumming as Daryl Zero and features Krista Allen and Natasha Gregson Wagner. NBC did not pick up the pilot.

References

1. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Zero Effect". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/10309/year/1998.html. Retrieved 2009-10-04. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Adalian, Josef; Michael Schneider (September 27, 2001). "Peacock will take Effect". Variety. http://variety.com/article/VR1117853318.html. Retrieved 2009-07-25. 

External links

• Zero Effect at the Internet Movie Database
• Zero Effect at AllRovi
• Zero Effect at Rotten Tomatoes
• Zero Effect at Box Office Mojo
• Zero Effect: Tenth Anniversary of Daryl Zero (1998 - 2008)