The Manchurian Candidate, Johnathan Demme directed the remake. Both films portray paranoia, mind control, and conspiracy. Frankenheimer utilizes satire, humor, and symbolism to convey the themes, whereas, Demme uses modern fears, camera angles and focus, and mental illness to achieve similar results. Many of the elements of the 2004 remake have been modernized. While the original movie placed the soldiers in Korea, the remake placed them in Kuwait. Demme did changed the location of the war, in order to appeal to current fears and suspicions. In 1962, the threat of communism was at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts. However, during 2004, only three years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, citizens were no longer concerned about communists, but rather about the Middle East. If Demme did not change the setting to Kuwait, the movie would not instill the same fear as it did in the original movie, “by outfitting the superbly insinuating basic story with a battery of up-to-the-minute concerns that readily feed on present fears and suspicions, Demme... inject[s] new life into a recently dormant genre - the paranoid thriller” (McCarthy). Raymond Shaw’s mother, Eleanor, was also given a more modern job in the remake; instead of merely being the wife of the senator who leads behind the scenes, in the remake she is the one who is the senator. Her role depicts the emerging role of women in modern politics. Demme also chose to give Major Marco’s girlfriend, Rosie, a more modern and important job as an FBI agent. By modernizing the film, Demme allows the contemporary audience to be able to better relate and understand the film. Dark humor and satire were present in the original film, in order to provide a break from the intensity and paranoi... ... middle of paper ... ... The Manchurian Candidate. Dir. John Frankenheimer. Prod. John Frankenheimer and George Axelrod. By George Axelrod. Perf. Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, and Angela Lansbury. United Artists, 1962. The Manchurian Candidate. Dir. Johnathan Demme. By Richard Condon. Screenplay by George Axelrod, Daniel Pyne, and Dean Georgaris. Perf. Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, Meryl Streep, Kimberly Elise. Paramount, 2004. Achenbach, Joel. "They're Out To Get You, Into a Multiplex." Rev. of The Manchurian Candidate (2004). The Washington Post 26 July 2004: n. pag. Print. McCarthy, Todd. "Review: 'The Manchurian Candidate'" Rev. of The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Variety 17 July 2004: n. pag. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Sterritt, David. "A 'Candidate' worth Backing." Rev. of The Manchurian Candidate. The Christian Science Monitor 30 July 2004: n. pag. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
(1350)A Comparison and Contrast Analysis of the Depiction of the ”War on Terror” in Zero Dark Thirty (2012) and The Siege (1998)
The Hunger Games. Dir. Gary Ross. Perf. Jennifer Lawrence. Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2012. Film.
... out of a 1950s woman's film. The melodramatic influences of the film continue to manifest themselves in the newer release, just as Apocalypse Now continues to influence the epic movies of contemporary filmmakers. The unison of operatic spectacle and personal conflict spawned an original genre in the 1970s that remains an effective method of addressing social concerns. As we enter another period of political unrest and social change, it is likely that a new wave of melodramatic films is beginning to form on the horizon; there are certainly parallels between a government that declares war on terrorism and the U.S. army in Vietnam, who "knew everything about military tactics, but nothing about where they were or who the enemy was" (Cowie 143). From Conrad to Coppola, nuclear family to nuclear terrorism; never get off the boat, unless you're willing to go all the way.
LA Confidential. Dir. Curtis Hanson. Perf. Kevin Spacey, Russel Crowe, Guy Pierce, Kim Bassinger, Danny DeVito. Regency, 1997.
Nicholas Kristof’s article “When a Crackpot Runs for President” is an unbiased analysis with a neutral perspective about how people in the United States vote for their future president and how the two candidates: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton perform so far. However, rhetorically and critically analyzing the article, we can see that his underneath purpose is to criticize both of the politicians.
Blade Runner. Dir. James Riddley-Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Joe Turkel, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, Daryl Hannah, Joanna Cassidy, Brion James, William Sanderson, M. Emmett Walsh, Edward James Olmos, Morgan Paull, Columbia Tri-Star, 1982
“There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line” (“Oscar Levant Quotes”).
Walsh, Bill. "Digging Up Dirt Hardly Novel in U.S. Politics; Flynt Latest Practitioner in Long Time." The Times-Picayune. 31 January 1999. Pg. A1.
Edgar Hoover eludes to these same themes in his 26 March 1947 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. “The Communists have developed one of the greatest propaganda machines the world has ever known. The… propaganda technique is designed to promote emotional response with the hope that the victim will be attracted by what he is told the Communist way of life holds in store for him.” Linking these channels of propaganda are the themes of psychological, physical, technological and social dangers of political establishments more similar to Communism than
Talbot, David. "The Assassination: Was It a Conspiracy?: Yes." Time. 169 (7/2/2007): n. page. Print.
For some people a sad story, yet for others a message to the people that see the movie. The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is a movie made after the time of the Cold War (1945-1952) . Indeed, there are reasons to believe that this movie is anti-communist by the fact that it presents traits of some Cold War features such as espionage and maybe proof of McCarthyism.
Kazan’s success in Hollywood has always been tainted by his testimony at the HUAC hearings. Indeed, when he received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1999, many in the audience refused to applaud, bitter that his “ratting out” of his colleagues destroyed their careers. Still, Kazan stuck to his decision without regret, remarking in a 1976 interview that he “would rather do what [he] did than crawl in front of a ritualistic Left and lie the way those other comrades did, and betray [his] own soul”(Kazan). Those who did forgive this provocative action had only compliments for Kazan. Director Stanley Kubrick lauded him as “without question, the best director we have in America, capable of performing miracles with the actors he uses”(Ciment)
The Crucible. Dir. Nicholas Hytner. Perf. Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder and Paul Scofield. 20th Century Fox, 1996. DVD.
William Wyler is the director of the 1959 award-winning version of Ben-Hur. The film is an adaptation of General Lew Wallace’s novel. Karl Tunberg is credited with the actual screenplay. Sam Zimbalist was the original producer of Ben-Hur, but he died before the completion of filming. The two main characters are Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and Messala (Stephen Boyd). Another important person involved in this film is Miklos Rozsa. He composed the award-winning musical score in a total of eight weeks.
The Pianist. Dir. Roman Polanski. Perf. Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Emilia Fox. 2001. DVD. Universal Studios, 2003.