The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
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A veteran uncovers a conspiracy involving brainwashed soldiers and a shadowy corporation influencing a presidential election.
The story
Major Bennett Marco, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, becomes troubled when a former soldier describes being brainwashed during their mission. As Marco investigates, he discovers a sinister connection between a powerful private equity firm, Manchurian Global, and the political campaign of Raymond Shaw, a ruthless candidate for the vice-presidency. Marco's investigation leads him to uncover a plot involving memory implants and clandestine manipulation. Amidst the high-stakes political atmosphere of New York City, Marco must navigate a web of surveillance and conspiracy to uncover the truth about the soldiers' fate and the true motives of the powerful figures behind the campaign.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Major Bennett Marco, a veteran of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, begins to suspect a conspiracy after a former soldier, Al Melvin, describes being brainwashed during their mission. Marco's investigation leads him to New York City, where he discovers that Raymond Shaw, a vice-presidential candidate, is being manipulated by his mother, Eleanor Prentiss Shaw. Marco discovers a metal implant in his own body and realizes he was also part of a brainwashing program funded by Manchurian Global. He learns of Dr. Atticus Noyle's work on memory implants. As the campaign intensifies, Eleanor 'activates' Shaw to eliminate his rival, Senator Tom Jordan. During the chaos, Jordan's daughter, Jocelyn, is killed. The FBI eventually intervenes, and a tense standoff occurs. In the final moments, Eleanor uses trigger words to command Marco to assassinate the President-elect. However, Shaw resists the control and is killed by Marco along with his mother. The conspiracy is exposed on live television, and Marco is taken to the site where he was conditioned, where he ultimately finds peace.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jonathan Demme
- Writers
- Daniel Pyne · screenplay; Dean Georgaris · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Denzel Washington · Bennett Marco; Meryl Streep · Eleanor Prentiss Shaw; Liev Schreiber · Raymond Shaw; Jon Voight · Tom Jordan; Kimberly Elise · Jocelyn; Jeffrey Wright · Al Melvin; Ted Levine · Delp
- Genres
- psychological; political thriller
- Themes
- brainwashing; corporate influence; conspiracy; memory manipulation
- Tone and mood
- tense; suspenseful
- Premise and plot tags
- political thriller; remake; conspiracy theory
- Source material / true-story basis
- Richard Condon's 1959 novel
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews and was a moderate commercial success.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 41
- Production trivia
- The 2004 film replaces the original's Korean War setting with the Gulf War.; The film's Persian Gulf War scenes were filmed in New Jersey.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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