Search and Destroy (1995)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

David Salle

Writers (WGA):

Howard Korder (play)
Michael Almereyda (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 May 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A screwball tragedy

Plot:

A satire about desperate hustling, pop philosophy and big money.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play | Independent Film

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dennis Hopper	...	Dr. Luther Waxling
Jason Ferraro	...	Young Daniel Strong
Robert Knepper	...	Daniel Strong
Griffin Dunne	...	Martin Mirkheim
Martin Scorsese	...	The Accountant
Rosanna Arquette	...	Lauren Mirkheim
David Thornton	...	Rob
Linda Wahl	...	Party guest
Christopher Walken	...	Kim Ulander
Illeana Douglas	...	Marie Davenport
Ethan Hawke	...	Roger
Laurie Godet	...	Model
Randy Pearlstein	...	Desk clerk
Vincent Angell	...	Security guard
Nicole Burdette	...	Dorothy

Also Known As:

The Four Rules (Australia) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some violence, nudity and drug content.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | UK:18 | USA:R | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Autumn Pictures

Quotes:

Dr. Waxling: Just because it happened to you does not make it interesting.

Soundtrack:

Shoe Shine Boy

A great movie that somehow slipped under everyones radar.

Greetings to the rare few who have sought out this title on IMDb, and the rarer few who have chosen to read my little rant. Hope it sits well with you....

I have to say that this movie is one of the rare pieces of film that shows what can be accomplished with no money at all, or little money.

Scene to scene, moment to moment, it is the essence of what a "low budget movie" can accomplish, it does not wallow in what it cant do, and focuses on what it needs to do, to tell a story. There are moments in it, where you totally don't realize how little it took to create the scene, and its because your lost in the story, and thats what gives the film so much strength.

True enough, if you have the cast this film has, you can do little wrong. But its great to see that each member does their part, and keeps up with the story, and makes it all seamless.

The travel scene to NYC with Douglas and Dunn is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with creative thinking and attention to character. without a airport being shut down to accommodate a production schedule that is based more on ego than need.

There are moments of sheer perfection in this film that i, as a avid lover of film and movies have rarely seen. for over ten years now i have proudly listed this film in my top favorites, as its eccentricities grow more and more lovely upon each watching.

The arc is there, and so is the commitment to the ideas that it presents almost immediately as its thesis. Waxling is the truth sayer in this piece of fiction, and he lets you know right away what to expect.

i remember being up late, watching HBO, High, Bored, and finding this film. It was a huge factor in my interest in film school. The tone is unmatched in my opinion. As it is a complete work, not quirky for the sake of it, as so many other movies rely on... but quirky due to the fact that life is quirky, off, odd.

You can be what you want, you can do what you want, this movie sums that up in a rare way that i have not often seen, and i appreciate upon each watching...

Dr Waxlings comments are gold. All and all i am proud to be in the small group of people that promote this film to no advantage of self, as it addresses many of the same issues that other films like Fight Club go in to in a more serious, bigger budget way.

Check it out. Break out your VHS player, and be ready to want to rewind and see it again.

Really a gem in the wild.

Boo Ya!