The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
★ ★★★
I was completely taken aback the first time that I saw The Manchurian Candidate. It was a movie that completely surprised me and is completely innovative in the way that director John Frankenheimer tells this Cold War story. Although I knew what was ahead of me this time around, I was still struck by how dire and unrelenting it is.
When it comes to politics, it's hard not to think that in current times, it's the most vicious and corrupt that it has ever been. I don't know if it makes somebody feel better to know that things have always been screwed up, but that's why I like revisiting older movies such as The Manchurian Candidate. Although there is a slight adjustment in rhetoric, fear-mongering and political selfishness are the same now as it was back in 1962. That's why this movie still will hit close to home to many viewers. But it's also hard to not get depressed wondering why, as a country, we haven't learned from our mistakes.
I would have loved to watch this in 1962 to see how people reacted to it in the moment. There is a rigidness and awkwardness to this movie that doesn't necessarily translate to today's style, but it doesn't take away from the brutality of the violence that is displayed. The movie does a great job of keeping you on edge and not knowing what to expect next. At points, it feels like there are a lot of plot holes, but I feel like a lot of that may be intentional. While watching it, I didn't quite understand why Janet Leigh's character is in the story, and though we never get a satisfactory conclusion to her arc, I think it plays into the paranoia of her intentions. Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey are cast perfectly in their roles, but Anglea Lansbury is the obvious standout and it's fun to see her play against type compared to the positive, upbeat roles she was known for.
For a film that is so vicious, it's a lot of fun to consume because it never stops churning in its pursuits. It is exhilarating, yet challenging, and sadly seems more believable as the years pass.
