The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray Movie Review

This early Blu-ray release could stand a re-issue with improved picture quality and a lossless soundtrack.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 16, 2010

There are always casualties in war.

Remakes are a dangerous business, and the stakes are raised even further when the source material is a bona-fide cinema classic, a film that's not only well-made and pertinent but also beloved and timely even decades after its release. Director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) courageously attempts to breathe new life into The Manchurian Candidate -- a 1962 Political Thriller/Science Fiction/Horror hybrid picture Directed by John Frankenheimer (Ronin) -- but he fails to achieve the same level of excellence in his 2004 remake, but not for a lack of effort. Demme's modernized take on the story feels somewhat manufactured and contrived and lacks suspense, but the film is not absent a new round of standout performances, a factor that strongly helped to define the 1962 version. Still, and despite a wishy-washy feel where the picture is at once both technically strong but thematically subpar, The Manchurian Candidate delivers dependable but not thought-provoking entertainment, the picture worth a watch but not exactly destined to be remembered as much more than a footnote in any discussion of Frankenheimer's masterpiece.

Becoming the Candidate.

For heroism in saving his "lost platoon" in the 1991 Gulf War, Sergeant First Class Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber, The Omen) is awarded the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor, setting in motion his rise to prominence in American politics and, with the help and persuasion of his mother, U.S. Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw (Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia), he has just become the candidate for Vice President of the United States. Meanwhile, Shaw's fellow soldiers -- including Ben Marco (Denzel Washington, Crimson Tide) and Al Melvin (Jeffrey Wright, The Invasion) -- begin to realize that their experiences in the War, and Shaw's heroism in particular, may not have played out as they remember, memories both men share in exacting and precise detail. Marco begins work to unravel the burgeoning mystery, leading him to discover several clues that point to him being a part of a larger conspiracy to seat Shaw at the highest levels of political power, not by the will of the people but instead through a mystery behind-the-scenes force that is using himself, Shaw, and the other surviving members of his platoon in a scheme to seize power at the highest level of American politics.

Demme's noble efforts to re-infuse a classic story with a modern flair is met by several bumps in the road, chief among them a lackadaisical feel and formula structure is low on suspense and, more damaging, absent a deeper meaning, even if the film determinedly aims for both. The problem isn't that the material is no longer interesting or compelling; quite the opposite, in fact, as there's a constant wonder as to how deep the slowly-unraveling conspiracy goes, what's involved, and most pertinent to the remake, who's behind it, even if much of the information is telegraphed early on. No longer is the enemy an ideal and a political movement in the midst of the Cold War but a foe much closer to home and manufactured in the halls of commerce rather than the chambers of the Kremlin or Maoist Red China. Indeed, this rendering of The Manchurian Candidate by necessity foregoes as its villain a foe that's no longer as relevant to the world stage but instead chooses a far more shadowy and, by extension, equally frightening enemy by suggesting that everything has a price -- even the Presidency of the United States. Demme does skillfully update the picture not only with a glossier veneer but a villain that audiences might not be able to relate to but can certainly understand, and most important to the story and hearkening back to what made the original such an exceptionally memorable film, the story seems both ludicrous and disturbingly real at the same time.

Unfortunately, the new twists are met with some problems, namely a pacing that stalls on more than one occasion; The Manchurian Candidate isn't a chore to watch, but for a picture showcasing deeply-rooted conspiracy where danger may be around every corner and all the while taking a long, hard look into the damaged psyches of a group of individuals on various life paths but tied together all in the name of a hostile and fraudulent but superficially benign takeover of the highest office in the world, the picture simply lacks much in the way of an alarming, fast, or dangerous tone. On the other hand, Jonathan Demme infuses the picture with some simplistic yet exceptional camerawork that often does as much to lend a particular feel to the movie as the script or the work of the performers. Demme's picture is littered with awkward first-person perspective camerawork that at first seems somewhat disorienting but proves one of the picture's more stable and effective devices. The Manchurian Candidate often invokes a sense of visual confusion as the cast -- particularly Washington and his character -- seem at once both trying to sort things out to the audience and at the same time doing the same but almost as if in front of a mirror and in search of who they are and once were beyond the reflection, the confused, wayward look of such scenes not only visually different and slightly unsettling but extraordinarily effective in capturing the picture's deeper themes and both the nuanced and overreaching conflicts of the picture magnificently. From a technical and behind-the-camera perspective, Demme's eye for infusing the material with purpose, confusion, and danger from a visual point-of-view proves The Manchurian Candidate's strongest asset.

Also of note is the work of the ensemble cast which is arguably stronger than that of the 1962 edition, both on-paper and on-screen. Denzel Washington is once again in top form, the actor proving yet again that he's capable of carrying any film and in any part and in any character of any personality. Whether a street-wise and corrupt cop in Training Day, a superficially tough but internally tortured soul in Glory, or a no-nonsense football coach in a racially-divided South in Remember the Titans, Washington demonstrates another level of excellence in The Manchurian Candidate, portraying a slightly physically disheveled, emotionally confused, and mentally damaged military officer with, unbeknownst to him, the fate of the Presidency and the future of the world riding on his shoulders. Liev Schreiber also turns in a convincing and particularly disturbing performance as the pawn in the center of the board, but Meryl Streep as his slightly deranged mother and fellow politician steals the show with another uncanny, completely convincing, and praiseworthy performance. Hers is a resonating, haunting effort, a layered performance that captures every nuance of her character in convincing fashion. Her part in the film alone makes it worth not only the price of admission but a second viewing with a greater context and her ultimate role in the story revealed to better understand the layers that make her character at once both sinister and oddly appealing.

The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Manchurian Candidate ascends to Blu-ray with a spotty yet serviceable 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. The image is fairly flat, devoid of intricate detail but sporting moderate textures in faces, clothing, and other assorted objects throughout the film. Colors are generally stable, best described as routine, no hue appearing excessively vibrant or dreadfully drab. The image fluctuates between appearing razor-sharp and somewhat fuzzy, though the image never goes excessively soft. The opening Gulf War sequence sports a heavy grain field, though it appears reduced through much of the rest of the picture. Blacks never appear excessively bright but can take on a dominating, detail-drowning posture in places, but flesh tones retain neutral shades throughout the picture. The print exhibits plenty of excess debris though not to nuisance levels. An older MPEG-2 transfer released in the infancy of the format, this Blu-ray release of The Manchurian Candidate isn't in the least bit striking in its high definition presentation, but it does deliver a watchable image that might upset more demanding videophiles but does satisfy the base requirements of a high definition image and does prove a moderate upgrade over standard-definition material.

The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Manchurian Candidate features a pair of lossy 5.1 tracks, one each of the DTS and Dolby Digital varieties; no lossless or uncompressed options are included. Much like the above-referenced video transfer, both lossy soundtracks deliver passable but hardly brilliant sonic presentations, both lacking the superior clarity, sense of seamless space, and naturalism associated with the finer lossless soundtracks, particularly those of a fairly recent vintage. The film's musical presentation -- from Wyclef Jean's take on "Fortunate Son" to Rachel Portman's (Mona Lisa Smile) instrumental score -- play as somewhat cold, leaving listeners rather nonchalant about the presentation, the entire musical soundtrack there in volume but lacking in a natural flow and engaging posture. Various surround and directional effects employ a loud volume but again lack in a more engulfing, realistic presentation; whether cheering crowds at political rallies, a zooming train, or the high-pitched ringing of a school bell, the sound effects as heard throughout The Manchurian Candidate are well-presented but could stand a bit more realism. Dialogue comes across as just a bit mushy but not muffled or indistinct and certainly not as crisp and precise as heard on the best lossless tracks, but there are no issues with discernment or volume against other effects, be they music or ambience. These are fair tracks; listeners won't become lost in these sonic environments, but they support the movie well enough.

The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Though its technical prowess may be in question, The Manchurian Candidate does arrive on Blu-ray with a good collection of bonus materials, the package headlined by the presence of a feature-length audio commentary track with Director Jonathan Demme and Screenplay Co-Writer Daniel Pyne. Both participants -- despite a few short gaps in the comments -- share a wealth of information with a light and welcoming tone, speaking on a broad array of topics, including the editing process, the film's tone, its music, the process of writing the story, the film's cast and their performances, set design, the differences between this and the original film, and much more. Both fans of the film and those interested in a solid discussion of the entire filmmaking process will want to give this one a listen. Next up is The Enemy Within: Inside 'The Manchurian Candidate' (480p, 14:05), a piece that proves fairly generic but informative and features cast and crew discussing the process of updating the picture for a new era and the changes made between the two pictures, the themes of the film, the work and style of Director Jonathan Demme, and the meaning behind the film's ending. The Cast of 'The Manchurian Candidate' (480p, 11:55) takes a closer look at the work of the film's exemplary ensemble cast and the parts they play, with emphasis on Denzel Washington's "Ben Marco," Meryl Streep's "Eleanor Prentiss Shaw," and only briefly at the end, Liev Schreiber's "Raymond Shaw." Political Pundits (480p, 10:00) features several celebrities sharing their thoughts on American politics, the piece also featuring optional Demme/Pyne commentary. Rounding out this collection of extras are five deleted/alternate scenes (480p, 9:22) with optional Demme/Pyne commentary, two outtakes (480p, 2:38) with optional Demme/Pyne commentary, a Liev Schreiber screen test (480p, 2:54), and the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:31).

The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Manchurian Candidate is a film that yields mixed emotions. On one hand, it delivers a solid updating to a classic film, but on the other, it ultimately feels somewhat superfluous. The picture also delivers a mixed response in structure, offering a slow pace and an absence of spine-tingling suspense, but Director Jonathan Demme does lend to the picture superb direction while his cast all deliver pinpoint and exceptional performances. Ultimately, the movie works but isn't in the same league as its counterpart. It's not a must-see and historically important picture, and perhaps most damaging, it just isn't as relevant today as its 1962 predecessor was in its time. Worth a watch but not worth the accolades and continued admiration that John Frankenheimer's picture still deservedly enjoys, Demme's take on a classic story seems destined to serve as little more than a footnote in the ever-expanding annals of Hollywood remakes, despite some real pluses along the way that, admittedly, make this one of the better "remakes" or "re-imaginings" of recent vintage. Unfortunately, Paramount's Blu-ray release of The Manchurian Candidate could stand for an upgrade. Featuring a serviceable 1080p, MPEG-2-encoded image and foregoing a lossless or uncompressed soundtrack in favor of a pair of wishy-washy lossy 5.1 mixes, the disc's technical specifications aren't up to par, but this Blu-ray does come with a good assortment of extra materials. As it is, The Manchurian Candidate is well worth a rental, but fans might want to hold out in hopes of a better version somewhere down the line.