As a warning, this review will be biased. I know all of my reviews are, but this one will be unfairly biased. You see, I’ve come to really dislike Denzel Washington’s movies. I can’t think of a single movie of his I’ve actually ever enjoyed. I used to watch his movies because of his “name”. Now, though, I’ve realised he regularly churns out crap (feel free to argue with me… John Q? Out of Time? Man on Fire? Ugh…).
I don’t wish him badly or anything… But I didn’t see it on opening weekend for a reason: I thought it’d suck.
So, after seeing some previews during the week I decided to suck up my bias and go see it.
The biggest reason I wasn’t very positive about this movie is that I actually really, really like a good conspiracy theory movie. The more outlandish the better. Really there’s a great formula for the best conspiracy theory movies: don’t tell the audience the truth, and only tell them things as the characters find them out. No backstories, no flashforwards… Nothing. Let the audience be along for the ride.
…
The Manchurian Candidate? TELLS YOU THE TRUTH UP FRONT!!!
What the hell?!!!
Yes, so you know the truth (enough of it) and you’re basically watching the characters go for a ride.
I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone, so I’ll end my review right there. Since I knew what the truth was, who was behind it and who was calling the shots… All the regular little plot twists weren’t that twisty (except for 1… And in a conspiracy theory movie 1 plot twist just isn’t enough).
The end.
August 23rd, 2004 at 6:58 pm
[...] writer books of late have been (like Caliban was, actually)… Not bad
I also saw Manchurian Candidate, Without a Paddle, The Village, Starsky & Hutch [...]
August 9th, 2004 at 11:08 am
Not sure if you’re aware, but it’s a remake:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056218/
I’ve seen the original, and I liked it. From the few I’ve spoken to who have seen both, this one is “ok”. I think I’ll see it eventually, just out of curiousity – but I happen to share your Denzel opinion, and that’s turned me off about this one.
August 9th, 2004 at 1:37 pm
I’ve never thought Denzel Washington was all that great either.
August 10th, 2004 at 7:48 am
I am not going to say I really like Denzel Washington but he did have a few movies where I felt he did a really good job. “Courage Under Fire”, “Crimson Tide”, “The Bone Collector”, “Pelican Brief”, and “Remember the Titans” all come to mind.
Other than that I don’t know of many movies that I really enjoyed with him in it.
August 10th, 2004 at 7:53 am
I probably should have emphasized the “recently”. In the last 5 years I can’t think of anything I’ve enjoyed. Agreed on Crimson Tide and Remember the Titans though. Both very good movies where I enjoyed his performances