Candidate a pale but sufficient shadow of predecessor

Thursday, August 05, 2004

The 1962 version of The Manchurian Candidate remains one of the greatest films ever made a perfect political thriller that still seems relevant 42 years later. Why director Jonathan Demme would ever decide that remaking the original would be a good idea is beyond me.

Still, Demme manages somehow to do the impossible and pull off an acceptable remake of an already perfect film.

Granted, this film is not even remotely in the same league as its predecessor, but its worth seeing for several reasons. The story hits home with some plot points that eerily resemble the headlines. Plus, I have to concede that many people probably have not seen the superior original.

Denzel Washington plays Ben Marco a Gulf War vet who was part of a platoon that was ambushed during a mission, but saved by the heroic acts of fellow soldier Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber).

Years later, Marco begins to doubt Shaws actions and is haunted by recurring dreams that involve brainwashing and the murder of two fellow platoon members by Marco and Shaw.

As Marco begins to realize that this dream is indeed what really happened, he starts to uncover a plot by a Haliburton-type corporation that is set on getting Shaw in the White House for its own monetary purposes.

Anyone familiar with the 1962 version will notice plenty of differences in the plot, as Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris have drafted a screenplay that is more of a loose interpretation than a direct remake.

One of the biggest differences is the use of big business as the heavy, instead of the communist bad guys from the original. I think the communist angle has more sting, even in todays post-Cold War era, but the change isnt as ground-shaking as I expected it would be going into the film.

I also really miss the infamous brainwashing trigger line, but its a minor quibble.

The biggest change from the original involves switching the assassin in the films climax an almost wishywashy excuse to make certain characters more sympathetic.

Id take Frank Sinatras cunning performance in the 1962 version over Washingtons paranoid performance, but Washington is still effective.

Schreiber gives a nice performance as well, while Meryl Streep is very good (although not as good as Angela Lansbury from the original) as Shaws domineering mother.

Despite the high bar set, the remake comes together thanks to Demme. The Silence of the Lambs director has crafted an intelligent and intriguing film that stands up as a worthy remake, even if a remake wasnt necessary.

Dollar dandy of the week

This weeks dollar dandy is actually half a dandy. The disaster flick The Day After Tomorrow (C+) features several sequences that are among the years best, yet somehow even two amazing storms cant save the film from mediocrity.

Writer/director Roland Emmerich weaves a tale of an outbreak of freakish weather occurrences caused from global warming including tornadoes in Los Angeles and tidal waves in New York.

A climatologist (Dennis Quaid) soon discovers the storms are linked to part of the early stages of a new ice age.

The Day After Tomorrow is at its best during the opening hour.

The scenes in which tornadoes rip through Los Angeles are riveting and among the best action sequences Ive seen this year. Even the storms in New York are impressive, although not nearly as memorable as the tornadoes.

But once the two major storms end and the snow and cold weather set in, the film shifts into a subplot about Halls attempt to save his son (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is trapped in a library in New York. Its at this point The Day After Tomorrow fades into a standard action flick with stock characters.

My advice stay for the storms and leave once the Dr. Phil babble begins. After all, its only a buck.

The Day After Tomorrow opens Friday at the Plaza 6, where all movies are $1.

Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton, who was also at his best in 1962, can be reached for comment by e-mailing mcompton@bgdailynews.com  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700