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List Price: $24.98 | | Label: Live / Artisan
Salesrank: 114704
Released: April 25, 2000 |
| Our Price: $4.16 |
| Used Price: $1.49 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Martin Mirkheim is bound for greatness - even if nobody else thinks so - in this fast and funny look at fame, fortune and the pursuit of the American Dream from executive producer Martin Scorsese. Griffin Dunne is Martin, a small-time guy with big-time schemes. Inspired by a late-night cable TV philosopher (Dennis Hopper), Martin becomes so convinced that his destiny involves producing an overblown screen epic, he's oblivious to the fact that his life is falling apart around him. Still, hounded by the IRS, hassled by his wife (Rosanna Arquette) and harassed by hangers-on (Ethan Hawke), Martin pursues his dream, heading for Manhattan and hooking-up with a wacky screenwriting receptionist (Illeana Douglas), a karaoke-crazed New York businessman (Christopher Walken) and a mod-squad, speed-rapping street king (John Turturro). Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Illeana Douglas, Ethan Hawke, Dennis Hopper, John Turturro and Christopher Walken.
Search and Destroy Reviews:
If you Weren't a Total Retard, you'd realise this is a bootleg DVD 
2007-04-27 - The only known copy of this DVD is bootleg. Hence, no special features, no 5.1 surround sound, no widescreen, no anything. I know, I know, TVA films is a Quebecor Media property, but, trust me, I don't think they are legit. Since the film was not released by this company, I doubt this was a studio exec plot to get mad dollars on the Special Edition. I hate to tell you this: THIS IS THE BEST DVD VERSION YOU WILL GET FOR A LONG TIME. It's the same with David Lynch's Lost Highway. It's better than nothing, since I found it for 3 dollars at Harris Tetter after hunting for it for 7 years after seeing it on Bravo on IFC Fridays. This movie is absolutely great, with a great story, a great cast, and that is all that matters when you can't get the real copy of a movie.
great film, -- inexcusably horrible DVD 
2006-05-29 - This film deserves four, maybe even five stars. I love films about "making it" in the entertainment industry, and this is a hilarious comedy about trying to raise money for an indie film. A steller cast, from Dennis Hopper, to Christopher Walker, to Illeana Douglass, to John Turturro, to star Giffin Dunne. And fine cameos by Martin Scorsese, Rosanna Arquette, and Ethan Hawke.
SEARCH AND DESTORY is to film financing what LIVING IN OBLIVION is to film production. I love this indie film and have seen it many times. But why did they release this CRAPPY DVD VERSION?
* It's FULL SCREEN. Indie film fans are especially particular about seeing the whole film, which means wide screen.
* There are NO SPECIAL FEATURES. Not even a trailer. With all these stars, surely there could have been an interview or something. Not only that, there's ...
* NO MENU. Nothing. No chapter sections. Nothing. You pop in the DVD, then go straight to the full screen film, then that's it.
Why release a great film like this in such a crappy DVD package? Perhaps because the studio wants to DOUBLE DIP. You know what I mean. They release a crappy DVD first, then when everyone who "must have" this film has bought one, they release a Special Two Disc Edition. An indie film like this, with so many indie stars, is a natural for this treatment.
So this is yet another example of how studios RIP OFF DVD customers. Other examples include...
* Crappy fall-apart DVDs that scratch easily, thus limiting the number of used DVDs on the market (studios earn nothing on used DVDs).
* DVDs which FORCE YOU you to sit through long FBI Warnings and endless trailers, thus STEALING YOUR TIME.
This SEARCH AND DESTORY DVD isn't guilty of those two offenses; instead it's guilty of dumping a BARE-BONES, FULL SCREEN version, so as to DOUBLE DIP with a decent, wide screen, two-disc version later on.
Great film. Horrid DVD.
Overbite Central! 
2003-02-20 - Arquette, Douglas and Turturro cast together make this movie Overbite Central! Dunne reprises his King of Comedy role, Walken his Deer Stalker, you know, that STARE just before he shoots himself that has made his career. Scorcese plays a good brief part, really the best acting of the film, which is otherwise second rate fare. (4/7)
Looking for an off-beat comedy with a great cast?
2002-06-04 - (For the record, this is a review of the region 4 DVD)
I picked this up in a bargain bin around 6 months ago, not quite knowing what to expect. Easily the best value for money DVD I have ever bought. Why? Becuase I've watched this film countless times and never seem to get tired of it. Without going into too much detail re: the plot of the film, it is essentially the story of a failed businessman (Martin Mirkheim, played by Griffin Dunne) who, inspired by the writings of a late-night tv self-help guru, Dr. Waxling (played by Dennis Hopper), decides to try his hand at making movies. This film boasts a very strong cast. Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken and John Turturro are particularly good. Griffin Dunne is generally quite good in this film, but does tend to overact in a number of scenes. There is a lot of very dry humor and sarcasm throughout this movie, which is the main reason I like it so much. Admittedly, the plot is a little disjointed at times, but it all seems to hang together very well in my eyes. Search and Destroy will definitely not be to everyone's liking. However, if you like subtlety in your humour, this is definitely the film for you.
Highlights the importance of good script and direction 
2001-06-08 - This should have been a film I loved. Dennis Hopper, Griffin Dunne, and Christopher Walken are all cast in roles perfect for them, set premise is a nice one--failed dreamer gets caught up in self-help nonsense and gets into deeper and deeper trouble, eventually ending up in serious danger--but the film starts out wobbly focus- and drive-wise and falls apart completely when it should be building steam.
Its roots as a stage play are very evident in almost every scene, but I hope the play was a little more coherent. Otherwise, I can't comprehend why anyone would option, let alone produce it, as a movie.
The sad part is... every actor in the film gives a GREAT performance. As far as that goes, the film is fabulous, so kudos to the director. Unfortnately, the framework within they are giving their performances just isn't enough to support them. Shame on the writer.
