Zero Effect

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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 USA
Language English
Budget $5,000,000
Gross revenue $1,980,338 (USA)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

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

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

The film was scored by The Greyboy Allstars.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Zero, a brilliant but reclusive private detective for hire, traditionally works 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, pretzels, Campbell's soup, 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.

Filmed in Portland, Oregon.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Soundtrack

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

  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

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.

[edit] Television pilot

In 2001, Kasdan attempted to resurrect the character of Daryl Zero for the NBC television network.[1] He would share the screenwriting duties with Walon Green and direct the pilot. The series was intended to be a prequel, tracing the early adventures of Zero and he and Arlo became a team.[1] Kasdan produced a pilot featuring Alan Cumming as Darryl Zero. NBC did not pick up the pilot, which also featured Krista Allen and Natasha Gregson Wagner.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Adalian, Josef; Michael Schneider. "Peacock will take Effect", Variety, September 27, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-03-24. 
  2. ^ Susman, Gary. "Nick and Nick", Entertainment Weekly, November 12, 2002. Retrieved on 2008-03-24. 

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Films directed by Jake Kasdan

Zero Effect (1998) • Orange County (2002) • The TV Set (2007) • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
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