There's no question that the acting is top-drawer, and Jonathan Demme's visual style has points of interest, but this is a muddled remake that only barely satisfies. A decision was made to switch some key characters around in terms of the roles they play in the drama, most notably for the finale. Anyone who hasn't seen the great Frankenheimer version may find this good enough, but there is far less of the shock value in some of the older film's great moments. Denzel Washington is as least as good here as his counterpart Frank Sinatra. In some ways he's better, more sympathetic. As Raymond Shaw, Liev Schreiber is stuck with a character who doesn't register properly until the final act, unlike Laurence Harvey's brilliantly broken man--a great performance, not always given its due. With Meryl Streep we see a typically committed performance, but one that never rises to the magnificent evil created by Angela Lansbury. Ultimately, this version is worthwhile for the cast and a few scenes that do have some impact, but don't overlook the 1962 masterpiece.
Review of The Manchurian Candidate
