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In Reply to: "The Manchurian Candidate" posted by rico on July 30, 2004 at 14:09:46:
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.
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Follow Ups
- Always a danger to remake a classic........ - danj 23:02:54 07/31/04 (0)
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