Little Tony DeFranco
08-04-2004, 05:55 AM
Review: The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Timely movie, just in time for the election season and is chock full of political inside humor to make it one of the most interesting films this year. Jonathan Demme's newest film is a remake of the 1962 film "The Manchurian Candidate", based on a book by Richard Condon is a paranoid classic story of assassination. Demme has packed the new film with tension and great actors and fine locations in Washington and New York City (Penn Station), but this is not as good as the 62 film by John Frankenheimer.
The cast is more than good. Denzel Washington takes over the Frank Sinatra role of Col. Ben Marco, a Desert Storm leader that is sure he was involved in some sort of brainwash project. He had recommended the Medal of Honor to Sgt Ray Prentiss Shaw (Liev Schreiber is cast in the Lawrence Harvey role and looks just like him). A hero of the Kuwait firefight (or was he?) and the son of Senator Ellie Shaw (Meryl Streep). It's 2004 and Ray Shaw is now in congress and ready to take the vice presidential position. Marco has been having dreams about the Kuwait mission, he sees Shaw killing a soldier and may have killed someone himself. When he meets Shaw at a Washington insider party, Marco confronts him and they connect. The paranoid tale farther into mind control and a corporation called "Manchurian Global" (The Carlyle Group?), around the bend is an assassination to get Shaw in the top spot. Michael Moore is probably dancing the jig!
Meryl Streep is set to get an Oscar in this funny and chilling role of Shaw's power-mad mother (Hillary?) and Schreiber is sympathetic and winning as Shaw. Denzel is better in a role much like his "Courage under Fire" role. Funny cameos by Al Franken (in joke by Demme) and a fine job by Jon Voight as a good minded senate leader. The new version is no where in the league of it's original because it is not as fresh (there have been countless political thrillers since 1962). I will recommend this film for it's subversive intent and detail to the election process and Demme's best movie since "Philadelphia". Look for Demme regulars like Charles Napier, Harry Northup, Tracey Walter, and film legend Roger Corman (Demme's film daddy). I want you all to see the 62 original first because of the timely fashion of both movies (Kennedy was killed after this film was made). BTJ says " where the fuck is the Queen of Diamonds?"
http://www.browntownjohnny.com/modules.php?name=MReviews&op=show&rid=181
Heartbeat is a Love Beat
Timely movie, just in time for the election season and is chock full of political inside humor to make it one of the most interesting films this year. Jonathan Demme's newest film is a remake of the 1962 film "The Manchurian Candidate", based on a book by Richard Condon is a paranoid classic story of assassination. Demme has packed the new film with tension and great actors and fine locations in Washington and New York City (Penn Station), but this is not as good as the 62 film by John Frankenheimer.
The cast is more than good. Denzel Washington takes over the Frank Sinatra role of Col. Ben Marco, a Desert Storm leader that is sure he was involved in some sort of brainwash project. He had recommended the Medal of Honor to Sgt Ray Prentiss Shaw (Liev Schreiber is cast in the Lawrence Harvey role and looks just like him). A hero of the Kuwait firefight (or was he?) and the son of Senator Ellie Shaw (Meryl Streep). It's 2004 and Ray Shaw is now in congress and ready to take the vice presidential position. Marco has been having dreams about the Kuwait mission, he sees Shaw killing a soldier and may have killed someone himself. When he meets Shaw at a Washington insider party, Marco confronts him and they connect. The paranoid tale farther into mind control and a corporation called "Manchurian Global" (The Carlyle Group?), around the bend is an assassination to get Shaw in the top spot. Michael Moore is probably dancing the jig!
Meryl Streep is set to get an Oscar in this funny and chilling role of Shaw's power-mad mother (Hillary?) and Schreiber is sympathetic and winning as Shaw. Denzel is better in a role much like his "Courage under Fire" role. Funny cameos by Al Franken (in joke by Demme) and a fine job by Jon Voight as a good minded senate leader. The new version is no where in the league of it's original because it is not as fresh (there have been countless political thrillers since 1962). I will recommend this film for it's subversive intent and detail to the election process and Demme's best movie since "Philadelphia". Look for Demme regulars like Charles Napier, Harry Northup, Tracey Walter, and film legend Roger Corman (Demme's film daddy). I want you all to see the 62 original first because of the timely fashion of both movies (Kennedy was killed after this film was made). BTJ says " where the fuck is the Queen of Diamonds?"
http://www.browntownjohnny.com/modules.php?name=MReviews&op=show&rid=181
Heartbeat is a Love Beat