Review of The Manchurian Candidate (2004) by George I — 15 Feb 2011

Memory implants, hypnosis, behavior modification, mood disorders, and Meryl Streep. It's difficult to stay upset at that woman. This is not a two hour plus movie but that's not her fault. I know-I know. I'm always complaining about that. It's like that father who goes to his kid's basketball game yelling "THREE SECONDS!" on like every possetion. Really, though, do we need to watch Denzel eat his noodles? Cut the Rosie character. Cut the Joseline character. Cut. Cut. Cut. We've already got Meryl Streep. We can't pin any of those decisions on her. Her son "Raymond" on the other hand...only a mother can screw a guy up like that. There's a difference between a man who forgets where he placed his keys and a man who forgets what his keys are for. The trick is to know which one you're dealing with.

The movie isn't about the Meryl Streep character but I made it so. Despite what she says, I don't think it's about her being a "True Believer." I think it's much simpler than that. I think it's about power. She tasted a little of it and she wants more. How much more? She wants it all. "Eleanor Prentiss" is an example of an evil person not knowing she's evil. Arguably, that's wickedness in it's worst form (e.g. Hitler). Overall, the Manchurian Candidate tries to take on too much. Hand in the cookie jar. We expect to see a film about mind control but all that gets lost in the politics. A fancy mess. Thumb down.

"Somebody got into our heads with big steel-toe boots, cable cutters, and a chainsaw and they went to town. neurons got exposed and circuits got rewired. Our braincells got obliterated, Raymond." Major Bennett.

* My Mind is Play'n Tricks on Me - Getto Boys.