Okay, at the end of the film when Zero finds the tape of Stark and the hitman planning the murder, why doesn't he turn it into the police? If he had done so Gloria wouldn't have to leave the country and she and Daryl could live happily ever after. Is is because Stark is the client, and he doesn't want to betray him?
"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."--George W. Bush
It might go back to Daryl's askew sense of professionalism. Also, I think there is a sense there of a sort of justice in Stark being not only extorted, but having to continue living out his miserable existence under the shadow of the knowledge that people out there know his secret.
In real life, there is the possibility that problems could arise if Zero turned Stark in, and his attorneys found out that Daryl knew of Stark's admission of guilt to Steve, who is a lawyer. Though Steve is Daryl's lawyer, Stark is Daryl's client, and protected by a sort of confidentiality. Daryl is protected by his right to confidentiality with Steve, and a slick lawyer could argue that this extended to Stark, being Daryl's client. Stark could simply claim he was confiding in Steve as a lawyer, and that he assumed that when he hired Daryl, he retained Steve.
But mostly, I think it ties into the trend in '90s filmmaking, where there was a gritty, criminal edge to most independent or semi-independent film, where even the good guys (good guys?! It's just a bunch of -- guys!!!) get their hands dirty, if only though non-action.
Ah, that makes sense. I hadn't thought about the legal entanglements. As far as 90s indie films go, I thought Zero Effect was produced by a major film company. It had that look. Though the story, as I have mentioned on other posts, seems strikingly different from most Hollywood dective movies.
"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."--George W. Bush
He wouldn't need a slick lawyer. Zero clearly had a professional duty to Stark, and Steve was clearly working for Stark as well.
Turning in the tape also could've revealed the blackmail, and gotten the girl in trouble.
I did think that line about "guys" was funny -- first Steve is complaining about working for sleaze like Steve, then he claims there is no evil, and no bad guys. Unintentionally(?) ironic.
Just because Stark would have been arrested doesn't mean he wouldn't be able to hire someone to kill Gloria. In fact, it would be a great way for him to get some revenge.
"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."