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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 Award-winner Denzel Washington stars in the role Frank Sinatra handled in the original. Liev Schreiber takes on the Laurence Harvey part from the first film. And two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep chews up the screen as the candidate's political junkie mother, a role which earned Angela Lansbury an Academy Award nomination in 1963 and which might do the same for Streep.

In this “The Manchurian Candidate,” U.S. Army Major Ben Marco (Washington) has terrible dreams. His nightmares involve images of events from his time spent as part of 'the lost patrol' in the Kuwaiti desert. By day, Marco remembers the heroic actions of Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Schreiber) as Shaw fought off an ambush and saved the patrol, and earned himself the Medal of Honor. By night, Marco's mind plays tricks on him and a whole slew of different and much more frightening images race through his mind.

When a member of his old patrol comes to him looking disoriented, asking questions, and babbling on about his own weird dreams, Marco realizes he's not alone. He also realizes the psychiatrists are wrong: it's not Gulf War Syndrome. Something terrifying did happen during his time spent in the Kuwaiti desert. Now it's up to Marco to figure out what really happened during those unaccounted for days in the desert.

Marco believes the man who might hold the key to discovering the origin of his nightmares is Raymond Shaw. Shaw's now a highly respected war hero who has followed his parents politically connected footsteps into public service. With his mother, Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw (Streep), pulling all the strings, Shaw accepts the nomination to serve as Vice President under Presidential hopeful Robert Arthur (Tom Stechschulte). As Shaw becomes more powerful, Marco's belief there's something wrong with the former sergeant grows even stronger. Could there be a vast conspiracy to get a sleeper into the White House? Or is it all just a misfiring synapse in Marco's brain?

“The Manchurian Candidate” couldn't be released at a better time. America's interest in all things political is at a peak. Demme's film was timed well to open during a highly charged political campaign, one that's got Hollywood biggies embroiled in strident campaigns for their favorite candidate. But “The Manchurian Candidate” doesn't really get itself mixed up in choosing sides. The words 'Republican' and 'Democrat' are never uttered. Though we can make an educated guess, we don't really know which party Shaw or his Senator mom belong to. The film is able to make a point without slamming you over the head, and that helps relieve some of the stress of thinking this is only a political statement disguised as a fictional movie.

As far as casting goes, you couldn't have dreamed up a better ensemble than the cast of this “Manchurian Candidate.” Meryl Streep intimidates, chomps ice cubes, and has an ewww-inducing moment with onscreen son Schreiber. Any time she's in the picture, she's in command, which is totally befitting of her character. Schreiber's stand-offish, cold vibe works well in this part. Washington gets a little hammy when he's portraying Marco at his most befuddled, yet he rescues himself in scenes requiring his character to be at the top of his game.

Well-scripted and thought-provoking, this 2004 version doesn't rely on its movie predecessor to help find an audience. Knowledge of the 1962 film, or the novel on which it's based, isn't required as Demme's “The Manchurian Candidate” delivers on its own. And although I've personally reached the overload point when it comes to politics and campaigning, “The Manchurian” worked on so many levels that being set in the world of a presidential race didn't detract from its overall entertainment value. Even for those, like myself, who've been giving their remote controls a workout dodging commercials and campaign speeches, “The Manchurian Candidate” provides enough heart-racing, whodunit moments to make it one presidential race worth closely following.

GRADE: B+

"The Manchurian Candidate" was directed by Jonathan Demme and is rated R for violence and some language.

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