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Review

The Manchurian Candidate

Director

John Frankenheimer

Year

1962

Rating

Reviewed by

Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho

Review date

Monday, July 15, 2002

Veterans from the War of Korea, all from the same platoon, live strange happenings after one of them is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Once awarded, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is discontent with the use his mother (Angela Lansbury) applies to such honor, for she tries to benefit the political career of her husband (James Gregory) through it. Two other members of the platoon start having terrible nightmares involving a weird session that seemingly happened outside of their consciousness, where Shaw was involved in the eeriest of ways. One of them (Frank Sinatra) decides to get into it, in what is to become the weirdest of all trips inside memories, the subconscious, political vileness and secrets that are darker than the color black.

This political/psychological thriller is probably the strangest film I have ever seen in my life, in the sense that it has a very intricate plot, full of surprises, shocks and unbearable manipulation of the mind—while playing straightforward and taking itself too seriously. The result is an excellent film of suspense that is a nail-biter for different reasons. It is hard to explain, but the experience is certainly irresistible.

Harvey plays wooden, but good; Sinatra is in top form as the haunted man; but Angela Lansbury simply steals the show in a role that doesn’t seem like her.

The problem I had with the film was the way some things seemed to be out of place or completely unnecessary. Gorgeous Janet Leigh, for instance, is completely wasted in a role that doesn’t need to be there. And why was that plot twist revealed before time?

However, all these flaws are compensated by the striking direction of Frankenheimer and a unique score by David Amram. And what about that dream sequence? I couldn’t believe my darn eyes!

All in all, you’ll never see a Queen of Diamonds the same way.

“Why don't you pass the time with a game of solitaire?”

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