“Suspect Zero” (Paramount Pictures)
“Suspect Zero” is a film with aspirations to be another “Seven.” It incorporates the moodiness of that film and the horrific subject matter, but fails to deliver the emotional impact it needs. Ben Kingsley, Aaron Eckhart and Carrie-Anne Moss provide star power but little else.
Kingsley plays a man named O’Ryan who seems to have some psychic abilities. He uses them to track down serial killers who he then murders. This makes him a serial killer of serial killers. The FBI doesn’t know the victims are serial killers. They just know they are victims of a crime.
Agents Tom Mackelway (Eckhart) and Fran Kulok (Moss) work on the case. Mackelway has been forced off his last case in disgrace because he abused a suspect’s rights. He has since been suffering from migraines but is still given this new case. He and Fran have been involved romantically in the past but still are able to work together.
O’Ryan keeps sending anonymous notes to Mackelway by Faxes. The FBI Agent doesn’t know why he has been singled out but follows the leads anyway. They lead him to the dead bodies and O’Ryan’s work.
The plot is overdone and too contrived. It strives for the murky but only gets muddier and muddier. The actors are unimpressive with Kingsley being so into his role and so heavy handed with his talent that he almost foams at the mouth. It is not his finest moment.
Eckhart is totally bland as Mackelway. Brad Pitt had a similar role in “Seven” and made it work for him. The only similarity between Eckhart and Pitt is they are both blonds. They don’t share acting talent.
After starring in all three of the “Matrix” movies you would think Moss would have left the role of “the girl friend” far behind. But that is what she is here and she has nothing else to do. What a waste!
The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and brief nudity.
“Suspect Zero” is disappointing in every aspect. The story is weak, the actors unimpressive, and all other elements run of the mill. From the trailer it looked like a winner but up close it is anything but.
I scored “Suspect Zero” a suspicious 4 out of 10.
