'Candidate' has chilling action, suspense

Reel Reflections

"The Manchurian Candidate," directed by Jonathan Demme ("The Silence of the Lambs"), combines a chilling and suspenseful variety of action, mystery and fear with a backdrop of murder and battle for political power. The lineup includes stars like Denzel Washington ("Training Day"), Meryl Streep ("The Hours"), and Liev Schreiber ("The Sum of All Fears") and Jon Voight ("Ali").

From the first scene to the last, viewers may find themselves riveted to the screen, always one step behind the complex — and at times shocking — story. Originally filmed in 1962 and directed by John Frankenheimer ("Ronin"), the 2004 remake is fit to share the spotlight.

Opening on a jovial poker scene enjoyed by a military crew in Kuwait during Desert Storm, the movie quickly changes mood as the crew is ambushed at night. Years later, when confronted by former crew member Al Melvin (Jeffrey Wright, "Ali"), U.S. Army Maj. Bennett Marco (Washington) realizes a bizarre but recurring dream he has may deserve attention. This event spawns a relentless and spine-tingling tour through the minds of Marco and U.S. Vice President candidate Raymond Prentiss Shaw (Schreiber), another member of the ill-fated crew. These two men are entangled in a horrible secret involving three bizarre days in 1991 when they and the rest of their Army crew were subjected to the mercy of a cruel, yet well-devised, brainwashing experiment. The men essentially were turned into mindless actors, carrying out the demands of a demented group of mad scientists in white coats.

Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw (Streep), Shaw's mother, takes enormous pride in her son and his accomplishments both in politics and wartime. As her character evolves, Shaw's political motives become clear and reveal a heart that is not entirely pure. Time runs short as Marco searches for clues to calm his horrific dreams and confirm his worst suspicions before the impending presidential election that could result in less than desirable outcomes.

As the movie continues, Manchurian Global, a company that supplied plasma and medical supplies during the war, surfaces as a target for Marco's intense research. How does he learn it? What Marco learns changes everything, and pushes the already engrossing film onto a higher level of interest.

Caught in a web of memory loss, recurring nightmares, trust, mistrust and ever-changing circumstances, Washington gives his character strength, believability and emotion.

Despite most of the action centering on Washington's character, Schreiber's performance was exceptional. His portrayal of a man tormented by dreams, thoughts and an oppressive mother, was very well done.

With a plot that never slows down, "The Manchurian Candidate" is a winner for anyone who wants to feel two hours fly by like mere minutes.