Denzel still shines in this 2004 psychological thriller, but I think Meryl Streep steals the spotlight
"The Manchurian Candidate" is a psychological thriller that can hold its own with the 1962 original, thanks to standout performances from Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.
The Tom's Guide verdict rates The Manchurian Candidate (2004) at 3.5/5 stars, stating that it is worthy of its existence despite requiring some suspension of disbelief to overlook plot holes. Denzel Washington's performance as Major Bennett Marco is praised as excellent, while Meryl Streep's portrayal of Senator Shaw is deemed even more impressive, making her the clear star of the movie.
The remake, unlike its 1962 predecessor, sets Shaw and Marco in Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, where they are captured by a multinational private equity corporation called Manchurian Global. In this version, Shaw becomes the Vice Presidential nominee instead of his father, who is deceased.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
