vp-40447

The 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate proves that not every classic film deserves a modern update. Despite strong performances from Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, the film stumbles through a maze of plot holes and contrived storytelling that leaves viewers more confused than thrilled.

The screenplay, penned by Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris, attempts to modernize the Cold War paranoia of the 1962 original by replacing Communist conspirators with an evil corporation called Manchurian Global. This update feels both obvious and nonsensical. Are we really supposed to believe that a massive publicly-traded company could secretly implant mind control devices in soldiers without anyone noticing? The SEC filings alone would raise red flags.

The film's internal logic crumbles under the slightest scrutiny. Major Ben Marco (Washington) somehow maintains his military position despite clearly suffering from severe PTSD and making wild conspiracy claims. His commanding officers seem surprisingly unconcerned about his mental state, even after he destroys his own apartment in a paranoid episode. This convenient oversight serves only to keep the plot moving forward.

Perhaps the biggest stretch comes from the central premise itself. Manchurian Global's elaborate scheme involves brainwashing an entire squad of soldiers just to position one man, Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber), for a vice-presidential nomination. Wouldn't it have been easier and more cost-effective to simply lobby and bribe politicians the old-fashioned way? The company apparently has enough money and influence to orchestrate this massive conspiracy, yet chooses the most complicated and risky approach possible.

The film also never adequately explains how the mind control technology actually works. Sometimes it requires a specific phone call or trigger phrase, other times it seems to activate randomly. The rules constantly shift to serve the plot's needs. Even more baffling is how Marco manages to overcome his programming through sheer force of will, while others remain helplessly controlled. This convenient plot device undermines the supposedly unbreakable nature of the brainwashing.

Senator Eleanor Shaw's character (Streep) presents another logical nightmare. Her master plan involves getting her son elected vice president only to have him assassinate the president-elect, making him president. But wouldn't this immediately make him the prime suspect? The film handwaves away such obvious questions. Additionally, her dramatic public kiss with Raymond at the convention should have ended his political career then and there, yet it's quickly forgotten.

The third act descends into complete absurdity. Marco somehow infiltrates a highly secured political convention with relative ease, despite being a mentally unstable military officer who's been making wild accusations about the vice-presidential nominee. The security failures required to make this possible strain credibility beyond repair.

The film's attempts at political commentary feel equally shallow. It tries to address corporate influence in politics but does so with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The villainous corporation might as well twirl a mustache and laugh maniacally. This surface-level treatment wastes the opportunity to explore more nuanced themes about power, control, and democracy.

While the original Manchurian Candidate was a masterclass in Cold War paranoia and psychological tension, this remake sacrifices coherence for spectacle. It's a shame to see such talented actors trapped in a script that prioritizes plot twists over logic. The film raises interesting questions about corporate power and political manipulation but fails to answer them in any meaningful way, leaving viewers with a hollow exercise in conspiracy theories that collapses under its own ambitious weight.