Search and Destroy (1995 film)

Search and Destroy
Theatrical Release Poster
Directed byDavid Salle
Written byPlay:
Howard Korder
Screenplay:
Michael Almereyda
Produced byRuth Charny
Elie Cohn
Dan Lupovitz
Starring
CinematographyBobby Bukowski
Michael Spiller
Edited byLawrence Blume
Michelle Gorchow
Music byElmer Bernstein
Distributed byOctober Films
Release date
  • April 28, 1995 (1995-04-28) (U.S.)
[1]
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4,000,000 (est.)
Box office$389,503

Search and Destroy is a 1995 drama film based on a stage play[2] by Howard Korder and directed by David Salle. The film stars Griffin Dunne, repeating his role from the stage production, Rosanna Arquette, Illeana Douglas, Ethan Hawke, Dennis Hopper, John Turturro and Christopher Walken, and features Martin Scorsese as "The Accountant." Salle was nominated for the Grand Special Prize at the Deauville American Film Festival.

Plot[edit]

Middle-aged Martin Mirkhein (Griffin Dunne) is a complete failure. He's run a successful business into debt, his marriage is falling apart, and now he owes the IRS $147,956 in back taxes. Martin may not have much going for him but he has read "Daniel Strong," a best-selling, self-help novel by the popular TV guru Dr. Waxling (Dennis Hopper). Now he wants to turn the novel into a major motion picture. To do that, Martin needs the rights and the revenue. Given his grating personality and terrible track record, it won't be easy to get hold of either. He sets out to meet with Dr. Waxling but ends up sleeping with Waxling's screenwriter-assistant Marie (Illeana Douglas) instead. Determined to make a movie, Martin and Marie move to New York. There, they get involved with wealthy Kim Ulander (Christopher Walken), an enigmatic businessman with quirky tendencies and a repressed desire to live dangerously. If they aren't careful, this daring duo may not come out of this deal alive.

Cast[edit]

Reviews[edit]

Search and Destroy maintains a 33% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes.[3]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Search and Destroy (film)". BoxOfficeMojo.com.
  2. ^ "Search and Destroy (play)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  3. ^ "Search and Destroy (film)". RottenTomatoes.com.

External links[edit]