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Movie Review - Suspect Zero (2004)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
E. Elias Merhige |
| Starring: |
Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, and Carrie-Anne Moss |
| Rated: |
R (for violent content, language and some nudity) |
| Length: |
100 minutes |
| Genre: |
Thriller |
| Tagline: |
Who's next? |
| Studio: |
Paramount |
| Website: |
Suspect Zero |
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PLOT
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There's a serial killer on the loose, but who exactly is he targeting? Are his targets innocent victims, or
do they all have an unseemly connection? He cuts off eyelids, and his calling card is a circle with
a line through it, but what does it all mean? FBI agent Thomas Mackelway (Eckhart) is put on the case, but he
soon learns that the killer wants to get a message to him. A puzzle of who, what, when, where, and why ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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When I first saw the trailer for Suspect Zero I thought, "That looks like it could be awesome." Well, it's
definitely entertaining, but unfortunately it doesn't exactly evoke my awe. What's disappointing is that there's
a lot of potential here that is just never fulfilled. The movie kept me interested and intrigued, but I kept
waiting for the knockout punch that sadly never came.
It's hard to talk about the movie without giving *something* away, but I promise to give away even less than
the trailer does. What you need to know is that Aaron "Butt Chin" Eckhart is relocated (thanks to a little
vigilante police work) to New Mexico and put on the case of a suspected serial killer. His ex-girlfriend,
Carrie-Anne Moss, is sent to help him with the investigation. Ben Kingsley is a weird, bald-headed dude who
is able to use "remote viewing" to find serial killers. For those of you in Palm Beach, that means he has
psychic powers and can visualize killings and where they take place. He then transfers his mental images to
paper. The problem is that he can't turn off his psychic powers, and it's starting to eat away at him. I
think we've all been there.
What's Kingsley up to? We find out part of that answer very early, but there's something else going on that
we're not sure about. Kingsley has a theory regarding "Suspect Zero." It's his belief that there has to be a
serial killer out there who might not ever be caught because he leaves no pattern, no clues. For some reason,
Eckhart acts like this is tantamount to cloning Jesus. He seems to think it is just absolutely impossible.
Come on, is it really that hard to fathom? There are plenty of unsolved murders. Could some of them
possibly be unsolved because they're committed by serial killers who leave no clues or pattern? That's not
really that radical of a theory, is it? Eckhart acts like it's more likely that Corey Feldman will have
a big screen hit again.
So the story convinces us to wonder whether or not there is a Suspect Zero. Could it be Kingsley? Or will his
remote viewing lead them to Suspect Zero? And just how many movie critics will use bad puns like, "Suspect zero?
More like Suspect ZERO STARS"?
Beware; this is the type of movie that requires your full attention. If you start to let your mind wander
and think about how funny my reviews are and how you feel the need to send me money for all my hard work, then
you're likely to get lost in the story. If you're just looking for some mindless entertainment, then it's best
that you not lay your money down for this one.
As far as the acting goes, well, it's adequate. Carrie-Anne Moss really isn't given much to do here except
cash an easy paycheck. Her relationship with Eckhart isn't fleshed out enough for us to care one way or
another. And while I might not be rushing to the video store to start renting Aaron Eckhart movies, he does
a pretty good job. Ben Kingsley is the strongest performer; he does a great job of convincing the
viewer that he's at his wit's end.
You're also likely to be disappointed if you're expecting a non-stop thrill ride. Like I said, it's a solid
thriller, but the movie's pace is pretty deliberate. For some of you that will equate to "slow." The
atmosphere is dark, and a huge feeling of tension and unease fills the air. Trust me,
you're not gonna find yourself smiling or whistling much at the proceedings. But the climax is probably
the biggest disappointment.
To its credit, it doesn't resort to a litany of obvious red herrings, but I was really hoping for a powerful
twist or revelation. Something unexpected as in The Usual Suspects. Or give me something really
shocking like Seven. Throw me for a loop and make me go, "Ohhhhhhhhhh!" Didn't happen.
What did happen is I was given enough thrills and guesswork to keep my interest for 100 minutes. Personally,
I think the movie should've focused more on Suspect Zero. Instead, we're pretty much given a definition and
then the focus switches to the remote viewing. I much prefer it when you've got a serial killer matching
wits with those chasing him.
Being good is fine and dandy I suppose, but man, it was so close to being *really* good. It just didn't
have that "specialty pitch."
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Zak Penn wrote the original draft in 1997.
- Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck all reportedly expressed interest in appearing in
the movies when it was being discussed in the late 90s. Johnny Betts has yet to find anybody who has
shed tears over Affleck's absence.
- The following conversation was overheard after the movie (as reported by Mr. Shade):
Woman: Ben Kingsley, Ben Kingsley, Ben Kingsley!
Man: Wasn't he the guy in Star Trek Nemesis and X-Men?
Some Other Guy: Patrick Swayze?
Man: No, that's Patrick Stewart.
- Aaron Eckhart was in The Pledge with Benicio Del Toro who was in an episode of Private
Eye with Josh Brolin who was in The Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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This is a movie that mama might enjoy once it is edited for TV. There are quite a few uses of the "f"
word (maybe around 10), and there is a rape scene that briefly shows a woman topless. The scene isn't
overly graphic though. The rest of the movie, however, is very graphic. You'll definitely want to find
the kids a babysitter if you plan on seeing this movie. They really don't need to see people with their
eyelids cut off and insignias cut in their backs.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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This is one trailer that just gives away too much information about the movie. It sets things up well,
but it reveals some aspects that are better if seen for the first time during the context of the movie.
If you want to be completely surprised, then I suggest avoiding as much of the trailer as possible.
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THE GIST
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If you're in the mood for a thriller, then Suspect Zero will keep your interest just as long as you
realize this isn't gonna turn the thriller genre upside down. If you're on the fence with this one, then
catch a matinee or just wait until it's at a second-run theater. Keep in mind: the shorter your attention
span, the less likely you are to enjoy it.
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