I don't know if this is a universal trait or one that specifically applies to the U.S., but many Americans love and/or are obsessed with the notion of conspiracies. From Lincoln to Kennedy's assassination and many other unrelated aspects of the government, it seems that many people believe some sort of spying, cover-up or other conspiratorial activity has occurred, is currently underway or will happen sometime in the future.
Then there are those -- mainly hardcore films buffs and critics -- who think that Hollywood has its own conspiracies. They include the studios getting together to release as many bad films as possible, as well as attempts to ruin the reputations of classic films by making unnecessary remakes, be they of the same or suspiciously altered title.
How appropriate then that Hollywood has just released a remake of perhaps the greatest conspiracy movie ever made, "The Manchurian Candidate." Barely seen back in 1962 when it was made (allegedly pulled from release and stored away for decades following Kennedy's eerily similar assassination the following year), the film finally made its way onto home video where it quickly gained a cult status.
As well it should have. Based on George Axelrod's novel and directed by John Frankenheimer, the film -- starring Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Janet Leigh and Laurence Harvey -- was and still is a heady trip, part thriller, part satire and a spooky reminder of the Red Scare menace and mentality of the time(regarding communism for those too young to remember).
Regardless of how you feel about such remakes (I personally think they're a bad idea, but will put that aside to judge this film on its own merits), you have to agree that director Jonathan Demme and screenwriters Daniel Pyne ("The Sum of All Fears," "Any Given Sunday") and Dean Georgaris ("Paycheck," "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life") were obviously wise in updating the story's setting.
Moving the plot from 1950s Korea and 1960s America to early '90s Kuwait during the first Gulf War and a contemporary U.S., the filmmakers have also changed many other aspects of the original story, while keeping the gist and general theme.
When I first heard about the change in location, I wondered how the "Manchurian" part could be retained, but the filmmakers have similarly updated the villainy. Rather than Chinese communists doing some cranial cleansing the old-fashioned (and spookier) way, the villains here are corporate America (represented by a company called Manchurian Global) and the brainwashing is done in a high-tech fashion.
The goals are still the same however -- basically reshaping American politics in an underhanded and, natch, conspiratorial fashion -- resulting in a "race against the clock to uncover the truth" political thriller. While I don't think the resultant remake is anywhere as good as the original, when viewed solely on its own with no references to the source material, it still works rather well.
That, of course, stems from the screenwriters' updating of the terrific premise, Demme's masterful direction and some solid to superb performances from the leads. I've always liked and more importantly, usually believed in the characters that Denzel Washington ("Man on Fire," "Out of Time") plays and that's true with his character here.
There's just something about the earnestness they he gets his character to exude that make you buy into what he's saying and doing. That's important in a story like this where you're supposed to root for him to succeed despite all of the internal and many external complications and obstacles that don't want the truth to get out. As per usual, Washington is terrific in the role.
As is Liev Schreiber ("The Sum of All Fears," "Kate & Leopold") playing the potential patsy. Seemingly channeling a bit of old Lee Harvey himself, the actor similarly makes us believe that he's just a pawn in a much bigger picture who's aware that's something wrong, but has no control over trying to fix it.
The scene stealer, as was the case the first time around with Angela Lansbury, is Meryl Streep ("Adaptation," "Music of the Heart") playing the ruthlessly ambitious political mother. Eerily looking a bit like her predecessor at times, Streep delivers another solid performance and dominates every scene she's in, thankfully without chewing on the Senatorial furniture (which easily could have been the direction to take with the character). While I had some problems believing the character could have as much sway within her officially unnamed party (although indications are it's the Democrats), she's nevertheless good in the part.
Supporting performances from the likes of Jon Voight ("Holes," "Ali") and Kimberly Elise ("John Q," "Beloved") are also good, even if the inter-related subplot between her and Washington's character feels a bit shortchanged.
Viewed in an alternate universe where the original film doesn't exist, this effort is a decent and effective political thriller with taut direction, solid writing and good performances. For those of us who've seen the original, however, it doesn't quite measure up to par, and some of the contemporary updates actually seem to have weakened the material a bit. I was also disappointed that computer solitaire -- those in the know will understand my reference -- is never used as homage to the original.
Whereas the first film was shocking in terms of its political and social message (in a more naive time), its remake, while more than competently made, lacks that same sort of "Oh-my-gosh" punch and power. Nevertheless, the 2004 version of "The Manchurian Candidate" is good enough to rate as a 7 out of 10.
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