"Zero effect": when the past is overtaken
The film "Zero effect" - Jake's debut projectKazdan, a hereditary cinematographer. Now he basically shoots serials. His father, the producer, scriptwriter, director Lawrence Kasdan (he wrote the script for the famous "The Bodyguard" and several parts of the "Star Wars") is better known. On the main roles the young director invited Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller. The first, i.e. Bill Pullman, plays the mysterious detective Daryl Zero (Zero), and the second - his assistant.
Cases of the past years
The action takes place in Portland. Daryl hires a rich elderly man named Gregory Stark. He is being blackmailed, and they demand a large sum. The malefactor is clever and sophisticated. However, when the detective begins to understand who and for what Stark is pursuing, he already doubts: whether to confirm his reputation as a master of search, or to stand on the side of the criminal. The fact is that once in the past Stark was literally obsessed with the girl Jess, who accused him of violence. The furious cavalier hired a killer and destroyed the former lover. She, however, managed to give birth to a daughter. It is Gloria, the daughter of Gregory, who is the fruit of that tragic love and blackmail. The case stalled, not without reason, the tape is called "Zero effect" (of course, there is a roll call with the name of the main character).
The premiere was in Cannes
The role of a man with a dark past, Stark, performedRyan O'Neill, an American actor with a wealth of filmography and an Oscar nomination for a supporting role in the legendary film Love Story. It is curious that his daughter Tatum managed to outdo her father: she was awarded the "Oscar" for her work in the criminal comedy "The Paper Moon". The daughter was only 10, and the main role was played by Ryan himself. "Zero effect" is a rare case when Ben Stiller was assigned a role that does not require constant comic on the screen. One has only to remember the endless "Fockers", all "Nights in the Museum", "Duplex" and other comedies in which he participated. True, he was able to show what he is capable of as a director and a great artist in the "Soldiers of failure." It was an acute satire on Hollywood, very highly appreciated by the critics and beloved by the public.
The premiere of the "Zero effect" was held in Cannesfestival in 1998, but did not produce much effect (sorry for the tautology). Although the idea was good, but it was apparently not realized.