The Manchurian Candidate, dir. John Frankenheimer

Zero and Wiz RECOMMEND The Manchurian Candidate This review will be kind of weird. And the reason why is because I watched the 2004 Jonathan Demme remake before I watched this version. So, I will likely compare the two in this review. The film centers its narrative around Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), the stepson of a McCarthy-like U.S. Senator with an intensely controlling mother (Angela Lansbury). Shaw was part of a regiment in the Korean War that was captured by communists. In their capture, they are brainwashed into believing Shaw saved them from death in a heroic battle. However, the platoon commander Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) starts having increasingly distressing dreams that leads him into uncovering a rather disturbing plot. Whereas the remake focused on Marco as the main character, the original chooses to remain on Shaw who is a man who is being controlled in numerous directions. This makes the film feel more tragic than nefarious when it comes to the main plot line. Harvey plays the main character well: he feels like a character in constant conflict of his wants and needs, as well as someone being controlled and manipulated with forces he can't quite understand. This helps make Shaw feel much more likable and grounded, unlike Shaw in the remake who felt like a grown puppet who was a momma's boy. A lot of the elements involving Shaw are actually well done. The romance that happens, while brief, works well for the time it's on. But the best element of the film, along with the best performance, belongs to Angela Lansbury. Her performance as Shaw's manipulative, cold mother is easily the most dynamic and creepiest of the performances. But one big issue I have is that of the plot line involving Bennett Marco. Namely, Sinatra doesn't feel believable in a lot of the aspects of this film. Whether it's fighting or his emotional turmoil, Sinatra doesn't feel like he has the range to really show Marco's conflict trying to figure out what is going on. But what is the better movie: the original or the remake? The answer depends on what you want: if you want a character driven drama about the forces around him that manipulate and destroy him, then the original is what you want. But if you want a paranoid, stylish but fun mystery thriller, then the remake is likely what you want. Both films are enjoyable, but I will give the slight edge to the original.