The Manchurian Candidate
2004 Directed by Jonathan Demme
Synopsis
This summer everything is under control.
When his army unit was ambushed during the first Gulf War, Sergeant Raymond Shaw saved his fellow soldiers just as his commanding officer, then-Captain Ben Marco, was knocked unconscious. Brokering the incident for political capital, Shaw eventually becomes a vice-presidential nominee, while Marco is haunted by dreams of what happened -- or didn't happen -- in Kuwait. As Marco (now a Major) investigates, the story begins to unravel, to the point where he questions if it happened at all. Is it possible the entire unit was kidnapped and brainwashed to believe Shaw is a war hero as part of a plot to seize the White House? Some very powerful people at Manchurian Global corporation appear desperate to stop him from finding out.
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Even though it doesn't hold a candle to the original, this is still a very solid film.
What works is a very good cast and Demme's very reliable direction. Strangely enough, Washington is the weakest link in this film as his usual mannerisms seem to be in overdrive here.
The conspiracy is played out nicely, if a bit predictably, so there's enough to enjoy here.
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(Film 2 of Toby's Attempt At The December Project)
Okay, so I haven't actually seen the original so I don't have anything to compare this to, but this is actually a fairly decent, engaging conspiracy movie. Meryl Streep is brilliant as Liev Schreiber's manipulative mother and Schreiber himself is also on form as the emotionless Gulf War veteran pushed into a political career. The film's tone matches that of the script - by that I mean 'brilliantly creepy' and the soundtrack does well to keep that tone. Plus, it's always nice to see Jon Voight turn up.
Shame about the godawful Fortunate Son cover though.
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Great conspiracy theory.
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a little heavy-handed, but it holds up pretty well.
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not bad but adds too many unnecessary things
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Slick and effective remake of still-effective original.
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Have not seen the original but Demme's version is terrible. Even Meryll Streep is embarassing in this misfire of a movie.
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I haven't watched the original but this just seems to be a mess, most of the actors going through the motions in what seems to be a fairly obvious script, i certainly guessed the ending within 20 minutes of the start.
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Disappointed.
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The kind of political thriller that Hollywood is scared to make under the Obama presidency, The Manchurian Candidate remake is a great little plot boiler that paints an unflattering picture of political ambition and the corporate influence in the government. Denzel shines as the man uncovering this ugly conspiracy (and he should since thrillers are his territory), Liev Schreiber is the perfect blank slate politician to end up as the patsy while Meryl Streep comes across as over the top and cartoonish at times. It feels less like a performance and more like a goof on Hilary Clinton. Don't let her performance spoil the many twists and turns though in this frightening examination of corruption and the tyranny of absolute power.
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"Veryo American, too silly but not in a funny way and too confusing (my not paying attention might be to blame there). I would like to see the 1962 version of the film - I understand that that was a much better film? "
(Yes Anne, you enjoyed the original film much more, even though this one had made you think it was just a bad story). -
A political thriller that's meant to be timely but doesn't feel timely in the least; Demme nails the tone almost exactly in every scene, but fails to add the whole thing up to any real snuff, casually dismissing substance for - I guess - the concept that simply by our not finding any of this disturbing (I'd challenge you to, by the way) is, in itself, disturbing. Communicated through Liev Schreiber, Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright and Meryl Streep, at least The Manchurian Candidate isn't horribly miscast (see The Truth About Charlie for details). I'm not exactly sure how this film could serve any useful purpose (the sad, inescapable fact about remakes, I'm afraid), other that to indoctrinate new viewers. It's…
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(Film 2 of Toby's Attempt At The December Project)
Okay, so I haven't actually seen the original so I don't have anything to compare this to, but this is actually a fairly decent, engaging conspiracy movie. Meryl Streep is brilliant as Liev Schreiber's manipulative mother and Schreiber himself is also on form as the emotionless Gulf War veteran pushed into a political career. The film's tone matches that of the script - by that I mean 'brilliantly creepy' and the soundtrack does well to keep that tone. Plus, it's always nice to see Jon Voight turn up.
Shame about the godawful Fortunate Son cover though.