Zero Effect (1998) User Reviews

Very cool...

[the amorphousmachine · 7/10 · 20 September 2000]

Bill Pullman is a very underrated actor, and this film he totally steals the show as the reclusive, quirky but 'greatest detective in the world', Daryl Zero. He certainly suited the part in Zero Effect!

Ben Stiller, Ryan O'Neal and Kim Dickens all provide great support in this different but interesting comedy. It had a very good story, some interesting social commentary and observation. Not quite a thriller but for its acute observation, realistic characters and storyline, Ill give this a ***1/2 out of *****!!!

A great movie, but credit is due to Doyle.

[fossergrim-1 · 7/10 · 13 April 2005]

OK, I thought this was an excellent movie. Having said that, where is the credit to Arthur Conan Doyle? When movies are based on the works of Shakespeare, such as modern day versions of Hamlet and Macbeth they always credit Shakespeares works.

Compare Zero Effect to A Scandal in Bohemia.

Compare the character Zero to Holmes: 1. both use drugs 2. both play a musical instrument 3. both apply astounding powers of observation to solve cases 4. both use disguises 5. both are loners who rely on their intermediaries (Watson/Arlo)

In Zero Effect, Arlo deals with conflicts between his romantic life and Zero's need of him to function. In A Scandal In Bohemia, Watson has recently married and Holmes and Waston must deal with the issue.

The first line of A Scandal In Bohemia reads: "To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman."

Guess what, in the end Sherlock doesn't get the girl and he admires her as his most capable adversary. I guess Doyle must have a copy of Zero Effect stashed away somewhere.

Again, I will say I thought is was a fantastic movie. I'm not always a big fan of Pullman, but he was excellent in the role. If you are considering not watching this movie because you don't like Ben Stiller, well don't let that stop you. He takes his normal persona down a couple notches. Don't expect to see any traces of Zoolander or Meet the Parents.

Recommended

[shanayneigh · 8/10 · 1 June 2021]

I used to work in a video store in the olden days, and this movie was a little known gem that I used to recommend to customers. I just rewatched it for the first time in a long, long time, and it still holds up.

One of the best "detective comedies" ever.

[TxMike · 22 March 2000]

As soon as the "Zero Effect" finished, my wife and I turned to each other and said, "that's one of the best movies we've seen." Bill Pullman shows why he is one of the best, if often overlooked, actors. He plays the very private detective Daryl Zero who is uncannily insightful on the job, but otherwise is a mess. We laughed so hard at times that we had tears in our eyes. And it isn't just funny - there is a very well-woven story involving murder and blackmail.

For its cleerness, acting, story, and directing, I give it a solid "9" of "10", and one of my all-time favorites.

A good idea...

[SimianLogic · 7/10 · 26 January 2005]

This movie seemed to fall flat in many places. It opened slow and never really picked up a lot of steam. That being said, the story is engaging and very well-written. The dialogue, though...I thought the dialogue was a little poor. Jake Kasdan might be better served finding a screen writing partner to jazz up the dialogue. Maybe I'm a little spoiled by Monk (which I realize came later), but I didn't find the main character all that endearing. Mostly his traits were just annoying and not fully conceived--for instance the weird scene with him playing the guitar...which never comes up again. Why add in that particular moment unless it's going to play a part later on? The camera-work was excellent, with lots of long steady-cam shots. One place where I thought the film shone was in its use of music. I usually don't even notice the soundtrack, but on this one it really stood out as being well-selected. Ben Stiller usually bugs the crap out of me, but his performance was restrained and I actually liked him a lot more than Bill Pullman's detective character.

7/10

Offbeat, intelligent character study

[1001 · 7/10 · 15 October 1998]

When we first meet Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman), the brilliant Nero Wolfe-esque private detective at the heart of Zero Effect, he is jumping on the top of his bed singing a horrible rendition of yet another of his horrible homespun country songs. "it's good, really good," his faithful assistant and footman Steve Arlo(Ben Stiller) says. Despite Daryl Zero's genius, he can't see through this lie. Arlo is bringing before his reclusive, paranoid employer another difficult case, this one involving a millionaire businessman, a lost set of keys, blackmail, and a treasure trove of family secrets.

For some reason, Zero decides to solve the case personally, and more importantly, outside his well-guarded home. In the process of discovering clues and evidence, he meets a girl. A very special girl, in fact, who is as good at intuiting him as vice versa. To give away too much would spoil the movie; suffice to say she is central to both plot and character development.

The film is written and directed by Jake Kasdan, and it's an auspicious debut. It's very well-written, with a complicated but never overwhelming mystery as its narrative drive. The characters are three dimensional and unpredictable. By the end of the movie, you really care about these characters. Watch also for a very good comic performance by Ben Stiller. It won't get all the attention, but it's sly and understated.

Hellooow, I don't know...!

[ThomDerd · 9/10 · 22 June 2021]

There is one thing that makes this film special and that is the persona of Daryl Zero. He is played in a spectacular way by Bill Pullman, who makes the script take life, making simple lines sound really funny and interesting!

Guy Ritchie probably copied a great many things from this film and from the way Pullman plays Daryl Zero in his Sherlock films with RDJ.

So yes, this is a film Sherlock-style with a detective and a sidekick investigating a case.

The dialogues are strong, the acting is strong by all the leads, the music score is very nice, and its definitely one of the 90s films that you will enjoy watching nowadays.

I have to say that I was surprised by Pullman; i had no idea he can act like that (judging him only from independence day and other mainstream films).

In this film he had an opportunity to make this character one of the coolest cinematic detectives I have seen.

Kudos to Jake Kasdan for directing and writing; this is solid film-making.

You can tell the enthusiasm in making this film by the camerawork, props, editing and ofcourse the delivery of the lines and the acting; all the actors are giving their best (and Ben Stiller is toned down to a normal person here...).

Highly recommended if you are looking to see something cool and funny. 9/10.

Two performances not to be missed.

[hawkeye56 · 7/10 · 10 August 1998]

Ben Stiller and Bill Pullman give great performances in this offbeat comedy about a reclusive yet brilliant detective and his front man who tackle only the most difficult cases. Pullman plays a detective that never meets his client face to face. He is a master of disguise and a very paranoid human being. Stiller is excellent as the front man who interviews the client and does the legwork for Detective Zero. He is torn between his loyalty to Zero and his love for his girlfriend. Pay attention or you will miss a clue to the mystery.

I loved ZERO EFFECT and would heartily recommend t...

[Vince-6 · 9/10 · 9 August 1998]

I loved ZERO EFFECT and would heartily recommend the film to anyone who enjoys a great story told with great style and wit. Jake Kasdan is in his early 20's and has written and directed a wonderful film that belies his age and relative inexperience. I take my hat off to him. On this evidence he is a major talent and I can't wait to see what he does next.

When I heard about the plot of ZERO EFFECT, the story of an eccentric and reclusive, private detective and that this part would be played by Bill Pullman, I was sold on the film immediately. Bill Pullman is a wonderful actor who I admire greatly and is always a joy to watch on screen. The part of Daryl Zero is a very tricky one and very few actors could pull it off, but Bill was simply brilliant. The scene where we hear Daryl playing his guitar and singing a song but don't actually see him for about three minutes was perhaps the most wonderful introduction of a character I've seen in any film.

Ben Stiller provides sterling support as Daryl's right hand man and Ryan O'Neal (nice to see him again) and Kim Dickens are also terrific.

There are so many great lines in the film, particularly those where Daryl is explaining his methods of deduction and surveillance. His explanation of the best way to follow someone is priceless, as is his explanation on how to find things !

This film is a pure joy and very refreshing. Go see it !

The most clever detective story to come by in ages.

[choppy-4 · 7/10 · 26 July 1999]

This film is one of the nicest surprises I've ever encountered. What I thought would be a mildly enjoyable indie flick, turned out to be the most insightful film of the year. It has been some time since I've seen a film that captures every aspect of it's characters so well. There are some scenes in this movie where I feel have stumbled into the most intimate parts of some of the most interesting people I could ever hope to meet. This film allows me to go to places in these brilliant peoples life and observe what they are like. Bravo.

Phony, Fake, Cliche, Immature

[Pangborne · 1/10 · 4 March 2004]

Don't believe the people who say this is a great film. It was made by the 23 year old son of a famous movie director, and it has all the weaknesses that implies. There is not an ounce of reality or originality, which leaves a bunch of genre cliches floating around like a slow-motion Cuisinart. The acting is what happens when talented actors are left to their own devices without a strong guiding hand - show-offy, undisciplined, incoherent, charming, sexy (how actors want to be seen), scenery-chewing, and "quirky." The writing is the same - surface polish that comes off in your hand if you watch till the end. The plot seems intriguing at the beginning, but peters off into a disappointing end - sort of on a level with a seventies TV detective show. The cool ideas never go anywhere, and the "quirky" characters never pay off. The appeal for most people, I think, seems to be the cleverness of the great detective's mystery-solving, but it is the same cheap, unbelievable tricks pulled by Sherlock Holmes and his immitators for the past hundred years: "I deduce that you are the daughter of a gardener from Shropshire from the dirt on your boots." Nonsense, but it seems tricky and smart, and people get a real rush from identifying with a genius character. Plus, we never even get to see the detective do one piece of real detective deuction; the most crucial plot points (finding the keys, arriving at the bathroom), are either lucky or unexplained. The movie starts out with Ben Stiller as the lead guy, but then he just sort of disappears as Bill Pullman takes over. The leading lady is hopelessly inadequate. Only Ryan O'Neal comes across well. Even the music choices are bad (although a running gag about Bill Pullman's character writing bad songs might have something to do with that. The only reason I take the time to slam a movie by a twenty-three-year-old first-time writer/director is because I hate to see so many people praise such a disappointing effort. I have no doubt they all sincerely enjoyed it, but make no mistake: it is a bad movie all the same. People are just taken in by the writer/director's insistant hammering away at his (baseless) claim that this is a clever film.

Terrific movie

[Tito-8 · 9/10 · 21 April 2000]

This was a really pleasant surprise. I didn't know what to expect before watching this film, but what I got was a great movie that featured some really good performances. Stiller and O'Neal are solid, but the always-likeable Bill Pullman is the real standout here. There are lots of great moments in this film, many of them comedic, and except for an occasionally slow pace during the second half, I was greatly entertained throughout. Definitely worth checking out this movie.

Good

[sarastro7 · 7/10 · 23 November 2004]

I got this movie very cheaply, and expected to just watch it once and then chuck it out. (I generally avoid Ben Stiller.) But it was a very pleasant surprise. Bill Pullman is great. The girl, Kim Dickens, is great. The story starts off as obvious comedy, but in the course of the movie things get more and more serious, and other than the funny premise about the reclusive detective with the ridiculously encyclopedic knowledge, it really isn't a comedy. The story is engrossing, and you grow to care for the characters. Even Stiller's situation, and decisions, are understandable and believable.

Pullman and Dickens' characters - Daryl "Nick" Zero and Gloria - had a great relationship developing. I really like the fact that, even though Gloria knew that "Nick" wasn't who he claimed to be, she still knew that he was being honest in his feelings for her. She never doubted that. That's a kind of understanding that you rarely see in movie situations like that. They always tend to make a big deal out of the "you were just faking your affection for me!" kind of thing, and then spending a tediously long time sorting out the misunderstanding. Very refreshing to have it handled more maturely and insightfully here.

I would have liked Pullman and Dickens' characters to have ended up together; there didn't really seem to be any pressing reason for their remaining apart. But the writer-director apparently didn't want the typical romantic cliché ending, and I can understand that (even though I disagree with the decision in this case).

While not a superb masterpiece, this was a good and interesting movie, which will be worth watching again sometime. Definitely a keeper.

7 out of 10.

Had No Effect on Me

[Jimmy Jimmereeno · 3/10 · 24 November 1999]

I rented this and hoped it might be a cool indie movie that I missed and no one ever heard of. There's a reason no one's ever heard of it, it kinda sucks. No it definitely sucks. A lot of the other comments and reviews here might lead you to believe you're going to see an intelligent, plot-twisting detective story. Well, the plot just tries to be intelligent by being so complicated the viewer needs to keep notes to follow the "twists". Stupid romantic subplot and a scooby-doo ending.

The true mark of successful celluloid work

[blueboot · 29 December 2004]

is whether it can withstand a subsequent viewing. Zero Efect does. The only tragedy concerning this uniquely styled mystery will be if its Director (Jake Kasden) and scriptwriters never produce a sequel.

In TV reviews this film is accurately billed as a - wickedly quirky detective comedy thriller. It is safe to say the old cliché they-don't-make-them-like-that-anymore applies, and in truth, they probably never made them like this beforehand either! The one resemblance to other filmmakers work is that there is a Coen-esquire; vibe to it. A true compliment indeed.

Usually, American movies often high on gloss, glitter and noise lack the essential ingredient that compels viewers to become completely engrossed: that of depth. Or more precisely, the hook is depth and complexity. Here, offbeat quirkiness provides the humour. A non-format story pans out to provide novelty. A moderately paced detective story throws up one surprising twist after another, backed musically where appropriate to support the flawlessly acted evolution of an ever-deepening plot. All of which combine to unravel a charming, cogent mystery.

The problem this finely balanced inventive film creates is that by comparison it brings home the paucity of run-of-the-mill who-dun-its. Given the summary above Zero Effect, and films of this ilk, may prove more suited to European than American audiences. Films that make the viewer do some work ultimately tend to be the most absorbing and successful (e.g. recall - The Usual Suspects).

The five central characters each achieve the professional actors quest of being thoroughly and seamlessly believable, subtly injecting humour, pathos, unpredictability and sensitivity. You can easily empathise with them as their characterisations play out. Kasden's film excels as what must be the definitive comical mystery in all respects, perhaps setting the benchmark for future detective films to surpass.

~

I met Bill Pullman while he was filming this

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 17 December 2011]

Filmed in Portland, Jake Kasdan's "Zero Effect" casts Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller as detectives investigating who is blackmailing Ryan O'Neal's character...but things aren't quite what they seem. It's a quirky movie, with some really interesting scenes of taking the bus back and forth. Not a great movie, but I liked it. I actually got Pullman's autograph during the filming. One of the sets was located not far from my school, so some of the other students and I got Pullman's autograph. He was a really nice guy.

Like I said, it's not a masterpiece or anything, but I thought that it's worth seeing.

Interesting comedy/drama

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 7 October 2009]

"Zero Effect" (1998) is a comedy/drama starring Bill Pullman, Ben Stiller, Ryan O'Neal, and Kim Dickens. Bill Pullman is Daryl Zero, a combination of Howard Hughes and Sherlock Holmes - an eccentric recluse with amazing deductive powers. Ben Stiller is Steve Arlo, his representative with the clients. The job is taking a toll on Steve's relationship with his girlfriend Jess. A high-powered man (O'Neal) is being blackmailed and, through Steve, hires Daryl Zero to find out who is blackmailing him and also to recover some keys that he lost. He believes the keys have given the blackmailer information he shouldn't have. Darryl works on the case hands-on, though distancing himself from the client, and becomes entangled with a paramedic (Dickens) whom he believes has something to do with the case.

The acting is very good, particularly from Pullman and Stiller, and the script by writer/director Jake Kasdan is good, with some quirky twists. Unfortunately he also has his main character, the brilliant Daryl Zero, make a couple of stupid slips to facilitate the plot. No fair! All in all, "Zero Effect" is an odd film - it's not really a comedy, actually coming off more like a drama, and it's very low-key in its delivery, which is surprising with someone like Stiller in the cast. And it's quite absorbing, not at all a "zero effect."

The world's best detective is hired to find the blackmailer of a wealthy businessman.

[brooksphillip1 · 9/10 · 14 April 2006]

Excellent story and dialog. Certainly underrated. The film has great performances by Bill Pullman and Kim Dickens, as well as Ben Stiller. This one seems to have gone unnoticed by most people, but it was clever and entertaining. The plot moves and has plenty of twists, but the plot twists are not what makes the film great. The characters and their development are what make this movie unique. Daryl Zero is one of the most memorable private detectives I have ever seen and his relationship with Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) is well developed. Daryl's sidekick, Ben Stiller, is interesting too as his loyalties are tested throughout the film. At first it is difficult to determine how astute Daryl is--is he really the "most observant" person in the world? Or is he a bumbling fake? As the story develops, you see how adept Daryl Zero is. Even the soundtrack is good with a great song by Nick Cave.

Great Update and Remake

[gallae · 7/10 · 10 May 2007]

This is a great update and remake of the Sherlock Holmes adventure "A Scandal in Bohemia". If Sherlock were around in contemporary times, this is what he would be like. I understand that the film was re-made for TV, with Alan Cumming and Julian Hirsch. It's hard to imagine that they'd recreate the chemistry between Bill Pulman and Ben Stiller. It may be however that the idea was taken up and run with two other shows - Monk and House.

In any case it's a pity that now sequels were made. Perhaps, like so many other things, the stars went their different ways and the rights lapsed. A pity.

Lasting Impression

[Thaleia · 10/10 · 8 September 1999]

I picked this movie up in the video store strictly based on the actors. It turned out to be an unique, witty film that I have since recommended to everyone I know. The plot centers around a private detective, Bill Pullman, who is so private that he has a lawyer, Ben Stiller, deal with all of his clients. Sharp and original, I can't believe this movie didn't get more buzz when it was in theaters. A definite video rental.

A little slow paced if you ask me

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 6/10 · 13 July 2006]

While I admit gladly that this was a really entertaining story and Bill and Ben work so well together, for some reason this just wasn't to me an good movie to watch. I also definitely fell asleep on it twice, which is a bad sign in my case. Bill plays a detective who is trying to figure out a blackmailer and where a tycoon's keys are. But unfortunately for him his partner played by Ben Stiller, he wants to quit and settle down with his girlfriend. Also, Bill happens to fall in love with the blackmailer from what I understand and it gets in the way, big time.

Not my type of movie, it was kind of boring to me. I know that IMDb users will not find this comment useful, that's OK. I don't want to spend a paragraph on why I didn't enjoy the movie, you're just going to have to take my word on it.

6/10

Ben Stiller Disappoints/ Story Lacks Power

[snow-19 · 5/10 · 23 July 1999]

This movie convinced me that Ben Stiller (a.k.a the white Samuel L. Jackson nowadays - in reference to his numerous movie roles) needs to go to acting school. It's not the fact that Ben Stiller is necessarily a bad actor, it's just that I don't think he's taken the time to really learn how to perform on the big screen in starring roles. Stiller's comic genius goes undisputed, and his potential as a director is intriguing. However, as was painfully apparent in the Zero Effect, Stiller's acting skills need to be refined. The script was witty, and Bill Pullman was a definite bright spot, but quite frankly the ending sucked. There is no way to softly describe an ending as boring and cheesy as that of the Zero Effect. The melodrama that is forcibly injected into the movie (a.k.a Pullman's love interest) is undesired and disruptive. Although this film is worth your 3 dollars (Pullman is worth $2.75 of it himself), it lacks the power and spirit that is essential to a quality film.

"Zero Effect" Is True Buried Treasure

[andy-66447 · 9/10 · 24 August 2015]

Continuing my look back on three Buried Treasures from the late 1990s, let's review 1998. That was the year of Steven Spielberg's WWII drama, "Saving Private Ryan. Why it lost the Best Picture Oscar to the lightweight British comedy "Shakespeare In Love" remains one of the greatest mysteries in Oscar history. While "Saving Private Ryan" was the motion picture that year, 1998 was also the year of Roberto Benigni's "Life Is Beautiful," John Travolta's star turn (a spot-on Bill Clinton impersonation) in Mike Nichol's "Primary Colors," and director Terrence Malick's triumphant return with "The Thin Blue Line." But there was also a little-seen gem called "Zero Effect." Directed by Jake Kasdan (son of director Lawrence), "Zero Effect" tells the story of Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman), supposedly the world's "most private detective." In fact, Zero is so private he won't even meet with his clients. Instead, he sends his assistant Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller) to meet with them, so that he can, in turn, investigate his clients without their knowing who he is. Seems so logical, I wonder why private eyes don't do this in real life. Zero also has a passion for jumping on his bed playing hard rock air guitar.

Now I know what you're thinking. Jumping on bed, assistant played by Ben Stiller, strange method of investigation. This has gotta be an offbeat comedy, right? Well, not really. I found the personality quirks (such as jumping on his bed) to be annoying, Stiller plays his role straight, and the very undercover method of investigation works like a charm (at least on screen, if not in real life). No, "Zero Effect" actually happens to be one of the most interesting mysteries I've ever seen on screen.

The plot concerns millionaire businessman Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) who hires Zero to find out who is blackmailing him for his money. The blackmailer turns out to be Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens), a young EMT who, logically, should have no personal or social connection to Stark. But Zero refuses to turn her in until he understands why on earth she's blackmailing a local businessman. In the process of the investigation (and remember, nobody knows who Daryl Zero is), he begins to fall for her romantically. As the plot continues to unfold, we learn of a shocking backstory involving the millionaire and the EMT. Meanwhile, the romantic entanglement (secondary though it may be to the story) is genuine and heartfelt. Could Gloria be the one to finally "tame" the great Daryl Zero? Yes, "Zero Effect" is a bit offbeat, but again the screenplay is alluring, the script is tight (like something David Mamet might have written, albeit without his trademark stilted dialogue), and the acting is first rate – particularly Kim Dickens as Gloria, the EMT. This was her first major starring role, and she continues to be the best character actress nobody has ever heard of. Need proof? Watch her as the police detective in last year's "Gone Girl," or as Mrs. Boswell in 2009's "The Blind Side." Dickens continues to fly under the proverbial radar while nailing all her roles, no matter how small.

Was "Zero Effect" a masterpiece? No, but it certainly deserved better than it got. While critics generally loved it, "Zero Effect" garnered slim box office. Go back and look for this one. You'll be glad you did. "Zero Effect" is my Buried Treasure for this month.

Botched job

[rayxt · 6/10 · 27 October 2002]

How many more movies do we have to endure where the 'hero' is introduced as a stereotyped disorganised twit (nerd) who also happens to have near genius ability? Viewers either picked up on this movie as tops in comedy, or just plain boring and silly. My feeling is it presents elements of the latter two, but despite the mis-directed development of the subject and plot by the writer, the director has to carry the can for what ends up as a botched job. Basically this story and film could have been much better. This story hinges on a few but nonetheless interesting premises, all of which are thrown away by the writer and director. Silliness, neuroses and psychoses are too often misused, or confused with comedy - especially by American writers and directors. To such an extent that many European critics consider anyone living West of Ireland incapable of understanding (or creating) irony or the truly eccentric character. (Gore Vidal, it should be noted has lived most of his life in Rome.) If 'Zero Effect' has been re-written by an Italian and made with Giancarlo Giannini picking up where he left off in 'Sono stato io' ('He was Himself') this film would be so hysterical you'd die.

Too Little, Too Late

[ccthemovieman-1 · 5/10 · 26 September 2006]

This starts off pretty good, gets a little better and then fades in the second half and keeps fading.

The twists and revelations in the final minute come too late to save the film. Once the suspense the romance ends, it just doesn't work the rest of the way.

All of the characters, except by the one played by Ben Stiller, are either crooked or have no life or no conscience so it was tough for me to like a film that has so many unappealing leads.

Bill Pullman's narration was pretty good but there was little else for me to recommend this film.