With all the negative word of yapper out on "Suspect Zero", I went in this ride with Suspect Zero expectations (that’s me being "clever", by the way). Thankfully, I caught myself getting stuck on this flick’s morbid web at frame one and digging lots of it throughout.

"Suspect Zero" was a visually driven film. I’ve had a lot of friends tell me that the movie was incoherent and I still don’t know what these dudes were smoking (I want some of it though…hook me up!). The intricacies of the storyline were communicated via images…does that make it unintelligible? Nope, it just means that you have to stop staring at your neighbor’s crotch and pay attention to what’s happening on screen. Personally, this baby’s “X-Files” on acid feel rubbed me the right way! How did I appreciate thee? Let me count the delights! First and foremost, Merhige’s sumptuous visual style hooked into my flesh deep and reeled me in like the trout that I am. The striking New Mexico location and the beautiful cinematography also contributed in making this flick a bright, yet morbidly gorgeous, looking movie! I wouldn’t even have needed a story with this one-- I could’ve just watched the striking images and shot compositions for an hour and a half and called it a life. Yes, it looked that good!

The second sucker-punch thrown in my face was the film’s compelling ideas. The investigation angle was gripping in its slew of maps, clues and numbers, O'Ryan’s nature was fascinating, while the slick premise of having a killer hunting down killers brought up many thought-provoking themes. Furthermore, the fine casting on hand upped my involvement in the picture with Eckhart and Kingsley, in particular, owning the scenery like the champs that they are. Although his screen time was minimal, Kingsley had a couple of standout scenes that had me grinning from ear to ear. Good show! Lastly, I connected hardcore to the “fantasy” factor of the flick. You see, the film deals with child kidnappings and other atrocities that happen on a regular basis in our pathetic society. Those subjects anger me more than smutty Larry Clark crap-fests! You bet, I was rooting for the good guys to catch that piece of scum child-napper like a Lakers girl on 12 healthy lines of cocaine. KILL THAT F*CKER!!!!

Unfortunately, "Suspect Zero" was definitely more interested in buttering our shafts with hypnotizing style than delving as deep as it could within its weighty substance. Aaron Eckhart’s emotional journey was slapdashed our way-- so much more could’ve been done with him! Ben Kingsley's (O'Ryan) character was too underdeveloped as well. That was the film's biggest shame since O'Ryan mesmerized me. More on him psychologically and of him doing his dirty deeds would’ve made the whole so much stronger. Then there was the Carrie-Ann Moss subplot which wound up being fairly useless. It felt like there was a big part missing from that narrative line, a part that would’ve justified her presence and her drastic shift in behavior towards the lead. Lastly, I could’ve gone without the “I don’t buy it” FBI boss who’s always busting the hero’s balls. I've seen this character way too many times in films of this ilk…I’ve had enough of him…LOSE THE GUY!

The flick was shot on location in Albuquerque for $27 Million.

Tom Cruise executive produced (uncredited) the film, which would explain the presence of his leech cousin William Mapother (Born on the Fourth of July, Magnolia, MI 2, Vanilla Sky, Minority Report).

At the 2001 San Diego Comic Con, JoBlo and I had our picture taken with E. Elias Merhige by one of his cronies. The thing is, we were so excited about it, that we forgot to ask for our camera back. We went to the "Lost and Found" department, but it wasn’t there. All that to say, Elias...tell your buddy that I STILL want my fuckin' camera back! Thanks!