Critic Reviews

Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) Rank 4 Reviews

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Movie critics combined give Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) a score of 2.8891 out of 4
based on (357) reviews
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Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.comReel.com
Raymond Shaw is an odd role for a breakthrough, but if this is finally Schreiber's, he's earned it. He's come a long way from his feature debut as a depressed transvestite in Steve Martin 's Mixed Nuts (he was fine; the movie just wasn't that great). ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Reel.com
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
Given a story with meat and purpose and importance, Demme delivers a masterfully cast and smartly constructed film of devastating effectiveness. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)
Demme here shows off both the mastery of suspense that made The Silence of the Lambs a classic, and the humane understanding and appreciation of character that not just deepens but energizes this film. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Remaking a classic is always a risk but this is one that paid off handsomely. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Reader (Cliff Doerksen)Chicago Reader (Cliff Doerksen)
Strikes me as a very artful cover -- about the cleverest imaginable transliteration of the story from its historical moment to ours. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Chicago Reader (Cliff Doerksen)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Newsweek (David Ansen)Newsweek (David Ansen)
A hugely entertaining thriller shot through with dark shards of agony and paranoia. It takes nothing away from the original while delivering pleasures all its own. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Newsweek (David Ansen)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Mark Collette)Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Mark Collette)
[Director] Demme isn't so locked into a classic script that he can't find his own ethos, his own pulse, and his own unseen fears. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Mark Collette)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Moda Magazine (Susan Granger)Moda Magazine (Susan Granger)
As the story begins, a dedicated US Army major, Ben Marco (Denzel Washington), has been having nightmares and bizarre hallucinations that he suspects are related to his service in the Gulf War, where he and his squad were rescued, single-handedly, by a ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Moda Magazine (Susan Granger)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.com (Sarah Chauncey)Reel.com (Sarah Chauncey)
The updated Manchurian Candidate makes conspiracy theorists look like they have the collective imagination of an acorn. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Reel.com (Sarah Chauncey)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
The strength of sensational material joined to excellent acting, superior filmmaking and uncanny political relevance has made The Manchurian Candidate into exceptionally intelligent entertainment and a high point of director Jonathan Demme's career. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Portland Oregonian (Marc Mohan)Portland Oregonian (Marc Mohan)
Neither the social commentary nor the story ever overpower the other, a feat that allows this remake to stand proudly alongside the original, its equal in every way. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Portland Oregonian (Marc Mohan)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)
During a reconnaissance mission in Kuwait before the start of Desert Storm, a U.S. Army patrol was ambushed by Iraqi forces. Somehow, Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber) managed to fight off the attackers -- as well as their helicopter support -- and ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Premiere (Glenn Kenny)Premiere (Glenn Kenny)
Demme here shows off both the mastery of suspense that made "The Silence of the Lambs" a classic, and the humane understanding and appreciation of character that not just deepens but energizes this film. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Premiere (Glenn Kenny)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
An enthralling thriller--more a re-imagining than a remake--that proves as relevant to our current cultural dilemmas as the original was to its own. Powerful performances, clever and hilarious science fiction elements, excellent cinematography and ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie VoiceFilm Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
MGM seems to finally comprehend that DVDs are here to stay. They have released tons of their classics in the past, with just the barest of special features. But lately they have been re-releasing these films with the extras that fans have been craving. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)
This is one popcorn movie that provides food for thought, all the while remaining tense and witty. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
A political and psychological thriller that is richer in texture and nuance than its predecessor without sacrificing impact. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
I’m a huge fan of the original Manchurian Candidate, so naturally I approached Jonathan Demme’s redo with some amount of trepidation. In this, the year of the shoddy remake, we’ve already seen such hack jobs as The Stepford Wives, The ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for MovieWeb (Brian Gallagher)MovieWeb (Brian Gallagher)
Jonathan Demme is definitely back. After his two hits in the early 90s, The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia, he's had a string of bombs, including the adaptation of Toni Morrison's Beloved and last year's The Truth About Charlie. But he's at the ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at MovieWeb (Brian Gallagher)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Zertinet Movies (Steven Snyder)Zertinet Movies (Steven Snyder)
The first "Candidate" was scary for what it said was possible; this one is arresting due to its parallels to reality. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Zertinet Movies (Steven Snyder)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (Elaine Perrone)eFilmCritic.com (Elaine Perrone)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
Harder, edgier and more disturbing than its Cold War predecessor, and ultimately benefits from an improved motive rooted in current political affairs. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
This sleek and supple thriller features powerhouse performances but never quite persuades us that it has anything to add to the cold war classic starring Frank Sinatra and Angela Lansbury. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)
[Demme's] got a cast that can actually go toe to toe with Frankenheimer's: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and Liev Schreiber. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for FromTheBalcony (Bill Clark)FromTheBalcony (Bill Clark)
This is a good old-fashioned thriller, nothing less, and nothing more. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at FromTheBalcony (Bill Clark)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Detroit News (Tom Long)Detroit News (Tom Long)
The rare remake that takes on its own times and spirit. It's not better than the original -- in some areas it's weaker -- but it is its own movie. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Detroit News (Tom Long)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)
It doesn't match the raw, satirical power of the original, but Demme's "Candidate" does score major points for being so prescient. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for About.com Hollywood Movies (Rebecca Murray)About.com Hollywood Movies (Rebecca Murray)
Rather than a paint-by-the-numbers remake of the 1962 John Frankenheimer film, director Jonathan Demme's 2004 version of "The Manchurian Candidate" is a re-envisioned, revamped and contemporized take on the classic political thriller. Academy ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at About.com Hollywood Movies (Rebecca Murray)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Variety (Todd McCarthy)Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Structurally and thematically similar to John Frankenheimer's original but entirely different in style, feel and nuance, this political thriller about a brainwashed soldier being positioned for the White House provides a delectable network of dramatic ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for The New York Times (A.O. Scott)The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
A political thriller that manages to be at once silly and clever, buoyantly satirical and sneakily disturbing, but he (Demme) has recovered some of the lightness and sureness of touch that had faded from his movies after "The Silence of the ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Desson Thomson)Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
A stylish hoot: entertainingly edgy and ludicrous all at once. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for The Onion (A.V. Club) (Nathan Rabin)The Onion (A.V. Club) (Nathan Rabin)
Shockingly, he's (Jonathan Demme) pulled it off, replicating the original's tricky feat of investing a paranoid plot with timeliness, psychological complexity, sociopolitical acumen, and almost frightening conviction. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (Nathan Rabin)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.52 out of 4 stars for New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
The performance of the movie is Liev Schreiber as Shaw, a man howlingly uncomfortable in his own skin. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Empire Magazine [UK]Empire Magazine [UK]
Impressively accomplished and highly entertaining, with sufficiently smart new twists to keep you guessing all the way to the nerve-wracking climax. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Empire Magazine [UK]
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE may be the summer's biggest surprise. It's a remake that actually compares favorably to the original. Sure, anyone who's seen the previous incarnation will know a few of the bigger plot twists going in, but writers Daniel Pyne ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for FilmFocus.Co.UK (Joe Utichi)FilmFocus.Co.UK (Joe Utichi)
When the majority of your cast and crew are former Oscar winners and one of them is a record-breaker at that very ceremony (Streep holds an unprecedented thirteen nominations), the chances are you're in possession of what is usually referred to as ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at FilmFocus.Co.UK (Joe Utichi)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Empire Magazine [UK]Empire Magazine [UK]
Impressively accomplished and highly entertaining, with sufficiently smart new twists to keep you guessing all the way to the nerve-wracking climax. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Empire Magazine [UK]
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for MovieWeb (Frances E. Scanlon)MovieWeb (Frances E. Scanlon)
EVERYTHING IS NOT UNDER CONTROL. Once upon a time in the shadow of the 'eve of a Blue Moon there appears a re-make that isn't a re-make at all. "The Manchurian Candidate" which opens today is its predecessor in name only. In this first real coming of ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at MovieWeb (Frances E. Scanlon)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for MovieFreak.com (Gregory L. Amato)MovieFreak.com (Gregory L. Amato)
Though it's based on a book, the more apt comparison has been to the 1962 version of The Manchurian Candidate starring Frank Sinatra. The political satire that skewered McCarthyism, as well as a fantastic performance by Angela Lansbury and excellent ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at MovieFreak.com (Gregory L. Amato)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for ShowBIZ DataShowBIZ Data
Although numerous writers have questioned the advisability of remaking a movie classic like The Manchurian Candidate, most critics have concluded that the makers of the new film have nothing to apologize for. "They've done a great job of updating The ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at ShowBIZ Data
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVDActive (Matt Joseph)DVDActive (Matt Joseph)
The Manchurian Candidate is a taut and well crafted thriller from director Jonathan Demme that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats even if they have seen the 1962 original as it offers up a few new twists to Richard Condon’s story and ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at DVDActive (Matt Joseph)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie VoiceFilm Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
On the surface, the idea of remaking most movies appears rather pointless. When it comes to universally acknowledged classics of Western cinema like John Frankenheimer's 1962 masterpiece, The Manchurian Candidate, it seems almost insane. The original – ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Toronto StarToronto Star
The original movie version of The Manchurian Candidate opened in New York City on Oct. 22, 1962 - smack in the clenched teeth of the Cuban Missile Crisis and two days after President Kennedy had given one of the more terrifying televised ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Toronto Star
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)
Ratchets up the tension in a way that meshes smoothly with these polarized political times. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
Washington, Schreiber and Streep are all characteristically strong, with Jon Voight and Vera Farmiga (as his daughter, an object of Raymond Shaw's affection) adding nuance to the supporting roles. The political satire is subtle, often funny and ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Steve RhodesSteve Rhodes
The terrific cast are all at the top of their form. In a performance likely to garner her another Academy Award nomination, Meryl Streep gives a takenoprisoners performance as Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw. (Angela Lansbury received an Oscar nomination ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Steve Rhodes
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Slate (David Edelstein)Slate (David Edelstein)
When I heard that Jonathan Demme planned to remake John Frankenheimer's sensational 1962 thriller The Manchurian Candidate, I passed in about a minute through four stages of Kübler-Rossian grief: denial ("He can't be that stupid"), anger ("Is nothing ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Slate (David Edelstein)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The King's Room (Paul Perkins)The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
One of the greatest actor of this century is Denzel Washington  every time he makes a picture you can make a sure fire bet that the film is going to be good.  His new film is out and it called The Manchurian Candidate and the time is just ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
Schreiber plays Shaw as an ice cube. In most scenes, he is emotionless. Only occasionally does he allow some feelings to come through this very confused character. Often Shaw is confronted with something and Schreiber almost appears as if Shaw ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
We've come to expect each new Demme film to percolate to an urgently musical beat. (The Manchurian Candidate also features a few cameos by musicians as diverse as Robyn Hitchcock and Fab Five ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)
Crisp pacing, an agitated sense of an unraveling reality and a uniformly strong cast earn this edition of The Manchurian Candidate a vote of recommendation. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)
While not superior to the original, this paranoid conspiracy psycho-thriller is still a superior remake. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The Movie Insider (John Sylva)The Movie Insider (John Sylva)
Though it's Washington's Marco that holds the film together structurally, it's Schreiber's and Streep's turns as a possibly incestuous, surely demented mother-and-son pair that bring it to electrifying life. By making Raymond the Manchurian candidate ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at The Movie Insider (John Sylva)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Impressively directed, well acted political thriller that is both gripping and disturbingly relevant – a rare case of the remake being as good as the original.It sounded like a terrible idea on paper: Jonathan “The Truth About Charlie” Demme remaking ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
How a man like Jonathan Demme could direct such an utter piece of remade s**t like THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE and follow that up with this timely, insightful, dramatic and consistently engaging remake, boggles the mind. But no matter, since this film is a ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for EDGE Boston (David Foucher)EDGE Boston (David Foucher)
Demme’s visuals are as captivating as Frankenheimer’s were in the 1960s… yet the plot of this “Manchurian Candidate” lost quite a bit in the translation. ...read the complete Manchurian Candidate movie review at EDGE Boston (David Foucher)
 
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Overall Rating:
2.9397
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
2.8891
Manchurian Candidate, The (2004) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
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