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'Twas a bold step to try to remake this 1962 classic but I think director Johnathan Demme succeeds, largely because of a good screenplay and top acting talent. A crucial plot point is revealed early on, probabaly because any film fan knows what the story is about, but other secrets are held toward the end. That end, by the way, is very cleverly done and suspensefully executed. I enjoyed this movie and agree with Ebert's three stars (out of four).
Follow Ups:
Considering the acting talent and the story this one was a bit of a dud.**/****
yea, I'd agree with ***. Streep was magnificent and Denzel was very good also. Onto the plot hole -To recap the ending (Don't read if you don't want a huge spoiler!!!!):
Major Marco is severely wounded after killing Eleanor and Raymond at the celebration party by the FBI.
The same day (or next) news reports say the FBI killed the assassin, a German Terrorist, Klaus Brockman(SP??). Obviously, at this time, FBI knew Marco killed the two as they shot him in the sniper's n est, but knew for a fact he "did the right thing" so they were willing to name a false killer. Why else cover up Marco's involvement
Remember, FBI had no idea of the Who, What, When, and Where, of the expected assassination attempt on Pres. Elect Authur. To the extent they were tracking Marco, they lost track of him after his meeting with Raymond.
Things unshown, that must have happened after the shooting -
Marco receives treatment at the scene from Emergency Personnel, civilians (remember, FBI couldn't have "cleaners" onsite cause they didn't know Raymond was a killer or when, where, etc.)
Numerous onlookers would have to see a black male being taken out on a stretcher. Then, emergency vehicle personnel treat and move him to a hospital, where other doctors, nurses, reporters, etc. see him. Remember the press at Parkland after JFK was shot? We are to believe that all of these non involved "civilians" just decide to hush up when FBI announces the killer was a German?
FBI must have immediately captured and executed this German terrorist, and brought his body to a morgue, on a freekin moments notice. They also must have manufactured evidence (important because of the huge investigation that MUST follow the assassinations of a US Senator and VP elect) at a moments notice as well.
FBI must have beleived the nonverifiable and uncredible ramblings of a suspected paranoid with Gulf War Syndrome involving cutting edge mind control technology that involved freekin BRAIN IMPLANTS. And all this based on Marco's conversation with ONE FBI underling.
I could go on, but you get the picture. I just don't buy this plot device to get Marco, who WE know was right, off the hook.OK, I don't want to diss on an above average summer flick too hard, but I want someone to tell me what I'm missing here or if I'm being too nitpicky. I've really respected Joanthan Demme as a filmmaker, all the way back to Something Wild.
> Major Marco is severely wounded after killing Eleanor and Raymond at the celebration party by the FBI.>The black female (FBI or Secret Service) agent shoots him in the shoulder.
> The same day (or next) news reports say the FBI killed the assassin, a German Terrorist, Klaus Brockman(SP??). Obviously, at this time, FBI knew Marco killed the two as they shot him in the sniper's n est, but knew for a fact he "did the right thing" so they were willing to name a false killer. Why else cover up Marco's involvement. Remember, FBI had no idea of the Who, What, When, and Where, of the expected assassination attempt on Pres. Elect Authur. To the extent they were tracking Marco, they lost track of him after his meeting with Raymond.>
Wrong. These agents were present during his interview/interrogation when Marco told them the crazy dead soldier (who drew all the pictures) had an implant in his back. Later they tell Marco they found the implant which implicated Manchurian International and gave his story credibility.
> FBI must have immediately captured and executed this German terrorist, and brought his body to a morgue, on a freekin moments notice. They also must have manufactured evidence (important because of the huge investigation that MUST follow the assassinations of a US Senator and VP elect) at a moments notice as well.>
Since they - the agents - were the only ones who knew the truth, it was most likely fairly easy for them to sneak Marco out. And you see them changing the surveillance video to take Marco out and put the other known terrorist in his place. These agents had to be carefull because they didn't know who else Manchurian had gotten to.
> FBI must have beleived the nonverifiable and uncredible ramblings of a suspected paranoid with Gulf War Syndrome involving cutting edge mind control technology that involved freekin BRAIN IMPLANTS. And all this based on Marco's conversation with ONE FBI underling.>
There were multiple agents who were present in his interrogation. The ONE agent who got close to him passed along all of the information given to Marco by his scientist friend who examined the implant and traced it to the whacko genticist/doctor working for Manchurian. His commanding officer (Miguel Farrar)was also in on the info.
Maybe you should see it a second time and it will make more sense. The holes weren't THAT big.
Regards,
Mike
He wasn't shoulder shot, he was shot an inch or two to the left of the heart, and about an inch or two above the left lung with a hi caliber handgun. thats usually a fatal shot especially if not treated immediately.yes, you're right, other agents heard his story as well. Thnx for refreshing me. Lots of disbelieving gumshoes as well too. But at least the FBI did have the benefit of finding the shoulder transplant that fell into the tub. Miguel Farrar would have been his Ex commanding officer. He was booted out of the service, on the spot, after he roughed up Raymond (But then "ordered" to seek treatment the following week. Small point that I'm not picking at).
Lets see if MovieMistakes.Com picks up on any other goodies as well. None so far.
But I still call BS on this as the resolution was way too simplistic (not that I didn't want our hero to get off free!). Theres too many impossible to imagine loose ends. The FBI acting, in a spontaneous manner, to get him out of the building, treated PROFESSIONALLY for a torso shot, with no one noticing, and getting a dead body in place in a very short period of time, of this wanted German terrorist. And the FBI believing Marco, with the only physical evidence being a small shoulder transplant the he says, without verification, that he bit out of Raymond's shoulder. Just because WE know it for sure, doesn't mean FBI knows it, especially given his recent seemingly paranoid behavior. No way I'm watching this again (til DVD at least), too many other flicks to sink my teeth into, not the least of which is Jeff Bridges', The Door In The Floor.
Caligula, JFK, etal.
I feel that Frankenheimer's "Manchurian Candidate" is one of the great political thrillers. Demme's version is very good but not of the same calibre. I won't call it unsuccessful and give Demme kudos for not just doing a "remake" but actually doing an "update."However, the original really sticks with me. The script is so damned good. The brainwashing sequences are more subtle and sinister. And, most importantly, the performances of Angela Lansbury as Raymond's mother and and Lawrence Harvey as Raymond Shaw are near-legendary. I especially feel that Lansbury painted a portrait of single-minded evil that just cannot be topped, even by the magnificent Ms. Streep.
Still, I rate Demme's film as the best out there this summer. It's a fine film, just not the classic the original is.
Part of what makes the original such an important film is it's portrayal of the excesses of H.U.A.C. and the communists brainwashers. Of course it doesn't actually mention H.U.A.C. but it's implied. What does it show? That both organizations destroyed people for their own political gains and that both had no qualms about going about their dirty works.
For those of you too young to remember, H.U.A.C. was the House UnAmerican Activities Committee who investigated what they considered "sedition" and other "unAmerican" activities, when its main purpose was to silence dissent and punish political enemies.
Sounds like Demme's movie. Maybe he's is actually on to something. He's just a bit more direct about it.
(nt)
Metaphor? Leave that stuff out of this board.The original Manchurian Candidate is on my personal Top 25 list and I'm looking forward to this one.
...all films exist in a void and have absolutely nothing to say about current events.Do you even like film? Is it just entertainment to you?
Jeffery
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