The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers (WGA):

Richard Condon (novel)
George Axelrod (1962 screenplay)

Release Date:

30 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller | War

Tagline:

This summer everything is under control.

Plot:

In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes.

Plot Keywords:

Sniper | Remake | Admiral | Psychological | Psychological Thriller

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 nominations

Cast

Jeffrey Wright	...	Al Melvin
Pablo Schreiber	...	Eddie Ingram
Anthony Mackie	...	Robert Baker
Dorian Missick	...	Owens
Jose Pablo Cantillo	...	Villalobos
Teddy Dunn	...	Wilson
Joaquin Perez-Campbell	...	Atkins
Tim Artz	...	Jameson
Denzel Washington	...	Ben Marco
Robyn Hitchcock	...	Laurent Tokar
Liev Schreiber	...	Raymond Shaw
Antoine Taylor	...	Boy Scout #1
Joseph Alessi	...	Boy Scout #2
Raymond Anthony Thomas	...	Scout Dad (as Ray Anthony Thomas)
Bill Irwin	...	Scoutmaster

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime:

USA:129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40839) | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When Raymond Shaw is talking with Ben in his election HQ office, he says, "...when we were in Kuwait..." but slurs the word to sound very much like "Korea". The original movie had the soldiers serving in (and abducted from) Korea.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the last scene of the movie you hear radio chatter over the aerial beach shot. The audio says "NS 10 milepost 79.81, No defects." While this may sound like military radio traffic, what this actually is is an automated announcement system for a railroad safety system. A track side detector for Norfolk Southern Railroad (i.e. "NS") located at milepost 79.81 has just had a train pass by and no axle bearings were overheating (i.e. No defects). This is the message that the train engineer hears over his VHF locomotive radio after the train passes the detector. This was not appropriate radio traffic for this scene.

Quotes:

Ben Marco: Somebody got into our heads with with with with big steel-toe boots, cable cutters and a chainsaw and they went to town. Neurons got got got exposed and circuits got rewired. Our brain cells got obliterated, Raymond.

Movie Connections:

References "Larry King Live" (1985)

Soundtrack:

General Davis

Who can you trust ?

Here's an remake that is not needed, but turns out to be pretty good. In updating the story for modern times, Director Jonathan Demme makes up for his last attempt at a remake (The Truth About Charlie). The Gulf War Part I has been substituted for the Korean War. Also, instead of the Commies, it's an evil corporation called Manchurian Global. Having been awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during war, Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber) is a now a Congressman running for Vice President. His mother, Eleanor (Streep), is an overbearing monster. Ben Marco (Washingston), who served with Shaw, runs into another person he served with; Al Melvin (Jeffrey Wright), who at first appears to be mentally unstable. He has a thick booklet of drawings and writings of what he seen in his dreams. Marco begins investigating and gathers vague evidence that he and his men were brainwashed. This film does a strong job of creating a sense of paranoia. Playing the role originated by Sinatra, Washington delivers a strong, nuanced performance. Streep plays her character so sinister, it's pretty difficult to find any qualities with her. Schreiber is also impressive; he plays Shaw as someone who knows something is wrong with him, but can do little to help himself. There's a sequence where the powers that be make changes to a security tape and this pretty much says: "Who can you trust?"

Rating: *** (out of ****)