X
- 2004
- R
- 2 h 9 m
- 2004
- R
- 2 h 9 m
Summary As the entire nation watches the presidential campaign hurtle towards Election Day, one soldier races to uncover the conspiracy behind it -- a conspiracy that seeks to destroy democracy itself. (Paramount Pictures)
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
Written By: Richard Condon, George Axelrod, Daniel Pyne, Dean Georgaris
- 2004
- R
- 2 h 9 m
- 2004
- R
- 2 h 9 m
The Manchurian Candidate
76
7.7
Where to Watch
Summary As the entire nation watches the presidential campaign hurtle towards Election Day, one soldier races to uncover the conspiracy behind it -- a conspiracy that seeks to destroy democracy itself. (Paramount Pictures)
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
Written By: Richard Condon, George Axelrod, Daniel Pyne, Dean Georgaris
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 41 Critic Reviews
76
88% Positive
36 Reviews
36 Reviews
12% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 41 Critic Reviews
76
88% Positive
36 Reviews
36 Reviews
12% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Demme here shows off both the mastery of suspense that made "The Silence of the Lambs" a classic, and the humane understanding and appreciation of character that not just deepens but energizes this film.
Shockingly, he's (Jonathan Demme) pulled it off, replicating the original's tricky feat of investing a paranoid plot with timeliness, psychological complexity, sociopolitical acumen, and almost frightening conviction.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 94 User Ratings
7.7
68% Positive
64 Ratings
64 Ratings
30% Mixed
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
2% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 94 User Ratings
7.7
68% Positive
64 Ratings
64 Ratings
30% Mixed
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
2% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
A an exemplary work of cinematic artistry that not only pays homage to its legendary predecessor but in many ways, also manages to surpasses it. Jonathan Demme's directorial prowess, combined with an exceptional cast and a thought-provoking screenplay, creates a truly unforgettable viewing experience. This political thriller transcends its era, resonating with contemporary audiences and solidifying its place as the greatest movie of all time.
At the heart of this cinematic triumph are the extraordinary performances that breathe life into the complex characters. Denzel Washington delivers an exceptional portrayal of Major Bennett Marco, a war veteran plagued by haunting memories and an unshakeable sense of a hidden conspiracy. Washington's commanding presence and nuanced performance capture the essence of Marco's emotional journey, immersing viewers in his paranoia and internal turmoil. Meryl Streep's Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw is an indomitable force, exuding power, cunning, and a chilling sense of control. Streep's portrayal is nothing short of mesmerizing, leaving an indelible mark on the film's narrative.
Demme's visual storytelling is a sight to behold. The cinematography skillfully amplifies the tension and unease permeating the story, while the meticulous direction weaves together suspenseful sequences, political intrigue, and mind-bending twists. The film's atmospheric shots, masterfully crafted by cinematographer Tak Fujimoto, immerse the audience in a world where nothing is as it seems. Every frame is carefully composed to heighten the sense of impending danger and heighten the psychological impact of the narrative.
The updated screenplay by Daniel Pyne expertly adapts Richard Condon's original novel, bringing its themes of manipulation, control, and the erosion of individual identity into the modern era. Pyne's script skillfully navigates the treacherous waters of politics, technology, and corporate interests, highlighting the insidious consequences that arise when those in power exploit the vulnerabilities of the human mind. The film's exploration of mind control and psychological warfare feels hauntingly relevant in an age where the dissemination of information can be weaponized.
The film serves as a profound commentary on the precarious balance between personal freedom and the relentless pursuit of power. Its themes resonate deeply, challenging our perception of reality and forcing us to question the authenticity of our own experiences. The film's ability to provoke introspection and elicit a sense of unease long after the credits roll is a testament to its brilliance.
This film is a masterful and groundbreaking cinematic achievement. It somehow manages to surpasses its iconic predecessor, blending exceptional performances, striking visuals, and a captivating narrative that transcends time. Its lasting impact on the genre and its unwavering relevance make it an undeniable contender for the greatest film of all time.
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Demme, who works a clever permutation on the original ending, is more than capable of doing the thriller thing--even with material that will strike a good percentage of his audience as familiar. As an intelligent genre flick, the movie plays to his strengths. His direction of actors has never been better.
The first "Candidate" was inspired pop art, a two-dimensional coloring book about 1962 America's subterranean political fears. Demme's film is more nuanced, less crazy-brilliant and, yes, probably less necessary, but it's still a confirmation of all the anxieties out there on the table and festering in our heads.
Demme's movie is just as sophisticated and knowing as Frankenheimer's, but it isn't as hip or daring. It doesn't haunt your mind or stir your sense of dread the way the '62 movie did--and it lacks almost totally the earlier film's piercing, oddball satire and humor.
Uniformly excellent performances keep this destabilizing tale ticking, yet one can't help wishing Hollywood had combined this cast and these timely themes with a little bit of imagination to come up with something fresh.
If you don't care about the first version, or what director Jonathan Demme's name once meant, the cast does an OK job with Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris's routine thriller script.
This film is a remake of a much older film, in which the action takes place during the Korean War and beyond, always in the context of the Cold War and the US paranoia surrounding the communist threat within its own borders. Here, the script was subject to an important update, which brought the story into a more recent chronology and context, linking to the First Gulf War and the American military presence in the Persian region.
Aside from this update, the core of the plot remains: a group of American soldiers is captured by Islamic fighters, only to return some time later, with only a few casualties to mourn and led by a sergeant who, out of bravery, is turned into a war hero. Coincidence or not, this sergeant is the son of a very influential politician, and with many ambitions for his offspring. That way, it won't be long before she starts baiting her domestic hero into using her new trump card in the political arena, aimed at her election as Vice President. It turns out that there are some soldiers in that unit who begin to have nightmares where they see their comrades being brainwashed and that same war hero killing uniformed comrades under hypnosis. One of those ex-military men, Ben Marco, is determined to discover the truth and will challenge everyone and everything to find out what really happened.
The movie is quite good, and it's really worth it... but that doesn't mean it's flawless or flawless. In fact, the script update has robbed it of some credibility: I don't think Islamic fighters would cooperate so easily with a powerful multinational corporation full of money and ambition, as the film suggests. However, if we decide to give the script a chance and ignore these issues, the film gives us an interesting job of entertainment, in which the 'suspense' is guaranteed and effective.
Denzel Washington assures an unequivocal and solid protagonism. A safe bet, he's an effective actor in this type of film, which just makes mistakes because he seems to be doing more than we've seen him do before, in films like "Crimson Tide", for example. Liev Schreiber is another actor who does a good job here, in a character as complex as it is controversial: on the one hand, he's heavily manipulated, but on the other, he seems eager to break the chain that associates him with a controlling and ambitious mother, delightfully performed by the impeccable Meryl Streep. The film also features the honorable participations of Jeffrey Wright and Bruno Ganz, in minor characters that will have their relevance to the story.
Technically, the film doesn't have major flaws: with a very regular and pleasant rhythm, it unfolds gradually and leaving the audience stuck to what they're watching. Cinematography is an essential part of the film's visual beauty and works flawlessly in the low light, cloudy environments and formal and impersonal settings of the offices of high politics. Of course, the costumes help as well, with good military uniforms and a flawless look from Streep (I can see why they said she was inspired by Hillary Clinton). The visuals and special effects do their job, but not too spectacularly.
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This is a somewhat sinister film, with a relatively decent performance by Denzel Washington, although it didn't feel engrossing enough to fully grab my attention and I feel it missed something of substance but its hard to say quite what. The story is a sobering one - I can imagine people who may have been, shall we say tampered with, being regarded as paranoid but this isn't quite 'Men in Black' level, special effects wise or otherwise. The themes are obviously quite serious and not at all comedic really, especially in this day and age of unstable politics, I suppose. Indeed it has an element of the classic novel 1984 about it, I suppose. I felt there was perhaps an element of over acting at times, while at other times almost the opposite applied, in that there wasn't perhaps as much emotion expressed as I expected and not just down to the brainwashing aspect of the plot. However, I certainly wouldn't say the film is unwatchable - it features a decent cast with Meryl Streep, Jon Voight and Denzel Washington but I certainly wouldn't say its a particularly good film. It had/has potential and its ok but not great, so overall I wouldn't especially recommend it, no, although its certainly a thought provoking film.
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The Manchurian Candidate is a weak 'remake' of the classic early 60's Cold War paranoia masterpiece.
It in itself isn't a bad film, but it removes so many of the layers of the original it feels more like a TV movie, than a relatively big budget Hollywood produced film.
Like the original the narrative is borne out of a conspiracy to place a sleeper agent in the White House, except this time it's not the Communist Chinese government at work, but a large multi-national company seeking to have someone in power who can increase their influence and profit potential.
So, the stakes are massively reduced for a start, and that hurts the movie greatly. We sit and watch events unfold, but the reality is that even if the 'bad guys' succeed, it's not going to be pushing the Government towards a pro-Communist stance etc.!
The acting in the film is good enough, the main leads are doing their best with a weak script. The action scenes are more interesting, as this movie goes more into detail about the 'brainwashing' than the original, and is quite harrowing. The score is by the numbers stuff, which is about all you can say about the direction too.... It's adequately done, but you can't sit there watching and wonder how much better it could have been, because there's nothing in the film that stands out.
Bad points just revolve around the lazy narrative. Updating such a classic to a 'modern' setting wasn't going to be easy, and this film proves that to be the case. However, it's not a lamentable attempt, it's just lazy.
It's a film to watch, if you've never seen it. Not a film to actively avoid. However, if you've never seen the original..... Then watch that, instead of this!
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Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 3 Nominations
Black Reel Awards
• 2 Nominations
