Search - Rachel Portman :: The Manchurian Candidate [Music from the Motion Picture]

"1962 plus the 2004 ~ Manchurian Candidate is a winner!"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 10/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Varese Records presents two versions of "The Manchurian Candidate", both are excellent films with a great cast, directors and score that will leave you with something to think about.



The first "Manchurian Candidate" (1962/126 mins), Director John Frankenheimer featuring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, James Gregory, John McGiver and Leslie Parrish in a cult favorite of Cold War Intelligence mixed with a political assassination attempt ~ Harvey's portrayal as a brainwashed soldier is believably effective, his stepfather James Gregory (Senator Iselin) as the not to bright politician is a scene stealer ~ Harvey's domineering Mother played by Angela Lansbury is an Academy Award performance, when she's on screen her evil schemes cut right through you ~ with composer David Amram throwing cues at you "QUEEN OF DIAMONDS", "SLIGHTLY MANCHURIAN BLUES" and "MESOPOTAMAN MAMBO...but my pick from this score is "THEME FROM THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, the jazz version is a sure-fire winner with over five minutes of great JAZZ!



Second score from "Manchurian Candidate" (2004/130 mins), Director Jonathan Demme featuring Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schrieber, Jon Voight and Kimberly Elise with an update of a classic thriller ~ Washington's facial and shifting eyes lends an intense factor to this remake, and it works ~ the score by Rachel Portman and Wyclef Jean with cues like "FORTUNATE SON" [instrumental], "MIND DRUGS", "DEEP IMPLANT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION", "WHAT IF ALL THIS IS A DREAM?", "THERE ARE ALWAYS CASULATIES IN WAR" loaded with psychological-political themes and biting assassination spell-binding plots keeps you on the edge of your chair...presidential election mixed with mental illiness that Portman's score covers, as she crosses every "T" and dots all of the "I'z"...don't miss picking up this soundtrack...a must have for all "film-score-buffs" and collectors alike!



Total Time: 61:08 on 17 Tracks ~ Varese Records 66603 ~ (9/14/2004)"