I found the dialogue, acting, direction and screenplay creative and even ingenious. This is the best movie I've seen in a long time. The first half of the movie was the most creative and fresh, since Dennis Hopper's character was the main support role. The second half of the movie, when Christopher Walken's character is in full force, defines and even limits the movie into a more formulaic display.
Griffin Dunne does a great job in characterizing someone who has been fully deluded by a materialistic, simplistic self-help guru (Hopper). The opening scene in the I.R.S. office is precious, and had me laughing, as did Hopper's admonitions. Walken's character brought a heavy dose of sobriety to Dunne's efforts and schemes, and it is to Walken's credit how seamlessly he fused Dunne's fantasy world with the brutal reality of his role as drug kingpin.
Illeanna Douglas was excellent, as always, evoking many tones and moods with her facial expressiveness. The script was well-thought-out, maximizing the impact and credibility of all the characters.
The philosophical message of this movie is inherent, and although the ending is morose and disappointing, I suppose it needed to end in a similar fashion to get the point across.
During the second half of the movie, some momentum was lost as we see that Dunne's character experiences no change and we continue to see him as a very cardboard character. Douglas' character needed to inspire and evoke in him a desire to produce results on his own, and not rely so much on others.
The main scene the movie missed was a high-energy verbal spar between Hopper and Walken's characters: fantasy vs reality. This movie is well worth watching, especially if and when you think your life or work is tedious and you think that "reaching for the stars" can be quick and/or easy. You will end up appreciating your stable, honest mindset and lifestyle.
Review of Search and Destroy
