The Manchurian Candidate

[Keer]

Strong performances (Meryl Streep first among them) and provocative concept, but the story was in need of more depth. My disclaimer is that the original version is one of my favorites.

Don't know how many of you out there like "older" movies but I am a big fan of the time when scripts were written for longer attention spans (circa pre-1980).

That being said, the original The Manchurian Candidate is one of my all time favorite films and near the tops of thriller/suspense, in my opinion. Also there is the added content of it being set during the Cold War, espionage based, and the controversy heaped on it later because of the JFK assassination. All some of my favorite subjects, but I digress.

There's alot I could say, but I don't want to spoil it. But, for my rating, I'd say it's worth seeing if you like to see actors deliver, despite the rest of the formula not living up to them. Basically, wait for it in Blockbuster.

But if you really want your mind flipped out (legally) for 2 hours plus, rent the original version with Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury. I promise that you'll never look at a deck of cards the same way again.