The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
3/4
Starring: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schrieber, Kimberly Elise, Jon Voight
Rated R for Violence and Some Language
"The Manchurian Candidate" is a remake of the 1962 Cold War thriller starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury. In that film, Communist China had the Vice President's stepson as a mole in the White House. Here, it's megacorporation that has the vice president himself under their control.
Ben Marco (Washington, playing Sinatra's role) is a commander in the U.S. Army. During Desert Storm, he and his squad were ambushed by Iraqis and nearly killed. One of his soldiers, Raymond Shaw (Schrieber, playing Harvey's role) took control and saved all but two of the men. Marco immediately recommended Shaw for the Medal of Honor. At least that's how the story goes. But Marco is having strange nightmares, and one one of his squadmates comes to him with bizarre rantings, Marco begins to suspect that not all is what it seems. Making things more dangerous is that Shaw, who came from a political dynasty, is now a Senate wonderboy, and his mother Eleanor (Streep in Lansbury's role), is grooming him for the White House.
The idea behind the film, that a major corporation would be in control of the most powerful man in the world, is terrifying. There is an air of menace and paranoia that seeps into the film. Newscasts and political speeches take on a sinister turn. Unfortunately, director Jonathan Demme isn't able to sustain it, mainly because the script is not ready and the editing is at times confusing.
While it's true that most psychological thrillers don't hold up to scrutiny, the best ones are suspenseful enough to make you forget that until you're already home (Hitchcock called these "refrigerator movies," because you realize the holes in them once you go to the fridge for a late night snack). "The Manchurian Candidate" has holes alright, but many are readily apparent while the film is unspooling. Characters act in inconsistent ways, and there are times when credibility goes out the window.
The performances are all fine (with a cast like this, it's to be expected). Denzel Washington has yet to give a bad performance, and while Ben Marco isn't the best character he's ever played (there are times when he's a little too unhinged for the plot to be believable), he does a fine job of getting us behind a man who may be on the right track, but is not a normal individual. Meryl Streep chews the scenery, but she's still frightening as the viciously competitive (and possessive...her relationship with her son is more than a little creepy, and there are some incestuous overtones). The third main member of the cast is Liev Schrieber. At the time of the film's release, he was a relative unknown (his most famous character was Cotton Weary in the "Scream" trilogy). This was his break into leading man status, and he gives the best performance in the film. Schrieber has the most difficult role; he must be almost too perfect, but still give the character an air of being unhinged. He nails it. Kimberly Elise and Jon Voight are solid in supporting roles. Also on screen are pre-famous actors Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie and Vera Farmiga. Special note goes to Simon McBurney, who plays a mad scientist. He is absolutely chilling.
Director Jonathan Demme creates an atmosphere of malice and fear in this film, but he isn't able to sustain it. There are times when this movie is downright creepy, such as when Ben realizes how desperate the situation has become. No one is above suspicion, and the question of who he can trust is not answered until late in the film. Like in his most famous film, "The Silence of the Lambs," he concentrates on his actors facial features, but the effect isn't the same. There is also a lack of establishing shots, which makes it difficult to tell where everything is at times. Finally, the film does not get off to a good start. Marco's realization that he was brainwashed is contrived and glossed over (Shaw suffers from this as well). It's not the actors' fault, it's the writing by Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris. The script in general is a little sloppy; it could have used another rewrite to smooth things over and close some of the plotholes.
Despite all of this, I do recommend the film. The plot is gripping and there is real suspense to be found here. For those who want a truly chilling political thriller, this is a solid choice.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schrieber, Kimberly Elise, Jon Voight
Rated R for Violence and Some Language
"The Manchurian Candidate" is a remake of the 1962 Cold War thriller starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury. In that film, Communist China had the Vice President's stepson as a mole in the White House. Here, it's megacorporation that has the vice president himself under their control.
Ben Marco (Washington, playing Sinatra's role) is a commander in the U.S. Army. During Desert Storm, he and his squad were ambushed by Iraqis and nearly killed. One of his soldiers, Raymond Shaw (Schrieber, playing Harvey's role) took control and saved all but two of the men. Marco immediately recommended Shaw for the Medal of Honor. At least that's how the story goes. But Marco is having strange nightmares, and one one of his squadmates comes to him with bizarre rantings, Marco begins to suspect that not all is what it seems. Making things more dangerous is that Shaw, who came from a political dynasty, is now a Senate wonderboy, and his mother Eleanor (Streep in Lansbury's role), is grooming him for the White House.
The idea behind the film, that a major corporation would be in control of the most powerful man in the world, is terrifying. There is an air of menace and paranoia that seeps into the film. Newscasts and political speeches take on a sinister turn. Unfortunately, director Jonathan Demme isn't able to sustain it, mainly because the script is not ready and the editing is at times confusing.
While it's true that most psychological thrillers don't hold up to scrutiny, the best ones are suspenseful enough to make you forget that until you're already home (Hitchcock called these "refrigerator movies," because you realize the holes in them once you go to the fridge for a late night snack). "The Manchurian Candidate" has holes alright, but many are readily apparent while the film is unspooling. Characters act in inconsistent ways, and there are times when credibility goes out the window.
The performances are all fine (with a cast like this, it's to be expected). Denzel Washington has yet to give a bad performance, and while Ben Marco isn't the best character he's ever played (there are times when he's a little too unhinged for the plot to be believable), he does a fine job of getting us behind a man who may be on the right track, but is not a normal individual. Meryl Streep chews the scenery, but she's still frightening as the viciously competitive (and possessive...her relationship with her son is more than a little creepy, and there are some incestuous overtones). The third main member of the cast is Liev Schrieber. At the time of the film's release, he was a relative unknown (his most famous character was Cotton Weary in the "Scream" trilogy). This was his break into leading man status, and he gives the best performance in the film. Schrieber has the most difficult role; he must be almost too perfect, but still give the character an air of being unhinged. He nails it. Kimberly Elise and Jon Voight are solid in supporting roles. Also on screen are pre-famous actors Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie and Vera Farmiga. Special note goes to Simon McBurney, who plays a mad scientist. He is absolutely chilling.
Director Jonathan Demme creates an atmosphere of malice and fear in this film, but he isn't able to sustain it. There are times when this movie is downright creepy, such as when Ben realizes how desperate the situation has become. No one is above suspicion, and the question of who he can trust is not answered until late in the film. Like in his most famous film, "The Silence of the Lambs," he concentrates on his actors facial features, but the effect isn't the same. There is also a lack of establishing shots, which makes it difficult to tell where everything is at times. Finally, the film does not get off to a good start. Marco's realization that he was brainwashed is contrived and glossed over (Shaw suffers from this as well). It's not the actors' fault, it's the writing by Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris. The script in general is a little sloppy; it could have used another rewrite to smooth things over and close some of the plotholes.
Despite all of this, I do recommend the film. The plot is gripping and there is real suspense to be found here. For those who want a truly chilling political thriller, this is a solid choice.
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