Jonathan Demme's new psychological thriller The Manchurian Candidate, a hotbed of controversy because of its liberal political slant, is a creepy and suspenseful blockbuster. Beneath the anti-corporation and anti-war issues, Demme crafted a tightly-wound and spine-chilling film, with superb acting and directing throughout. After returning from the first Gulf War, Ben Marco (Denzel Washington, Training Day) begins having nightmares, and vivid flashbacks, when a former and decorated member of his division named Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber,The Sum of All Fears), skyrockets to the top of the American political scene. Shaw's nomination to one of the highest positions in the land is no surprise, however, to his aggressive and domineering mother Senator Eleanor Shaw (Meryl Streep, Adaptation), who had been meticulously orchestrating the ascent. Marco is afraid that he and all his men have somehow been brainwashed, and that beneath Shaw's polished exterior lurks something sinister. The Army tries to write him off as delusional, but Marco goes on personal quest to unearth the truth.

As the action unfolds, Demme reveals the plot in tantalizing snippets that keep the audience on edge. Senator Shaw's true intentions do not reveal themselves until the final 20 minutes of the movie, and the anticipation is harrowing.

Silence of the Lambs, Demme's most acclaimed movie to date, proved that he was a master of psychological suspense. His horror is more subtle and disturbing than loud bangs and gruesome violence, using the human mind as the scariest monster of all. Utilizing a variety of filming techniques, including zoomed-in camera work to show characters' agitation as well as a masterful use of flashbacks, Demme manages to convey forcefully the psychological angst of his main characters.

The Manchurian Candidate is based on the classic 1962 John Frankenheimer movie of the same name starring Frank Sinatra. Given the high esteem in which the original is held, Demme had his work cut out for him. The original was a very powerful and shocking movie, coming at the height of the Cold War and around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it preyed on fears of the supposedly all-pervasive Communist Party. The 2004 remake, however, focuses on the corruptibility of government through big business, which does not resonate as deeply as the original did. Although the threat is not as terrifying as the original, and Demme's political stance rears its head several times, the movie can be thoroughly appreciated by conservatives and liberals alike.

The acting in this movie was invariably fantastic. Washington delivers a powerful performance as the angst-ridden, slightly off-kilter Captain Marco. He always seems to be a little uneasy, the trauma of his combat days just beneath the surface. He sweats, mumbles, daydreams, perfectly portraying that guy whom you never want to sit next to on the bus.

Schreiber delivers a career-making performance. Previously mired in small roles in generally bad movies, Schreiber as Robert Shaw can turn his charm on and off just as good politicians can. His portrayal of the oft-conflicted Shaw ought to bag him some more dramatic roles that are suited to his capabilities.

Streep, as she has been doing for decades, delivers a deliciously over-the-top performance as the manipulative, and sometimes downright evil, Eleanor Shaw. Nominated for an astonishing 13 Oscars in her illustrious career, and winning two of them, Streep is nothing short of a director's dream. It seems as if she can pull off any role, and this is no exception. I found myself seething with hatred toward her by the movie's climax, a trick not many actors can pull off.

While there are parts that are not well explained, including a pivotal moment in the climax, the movie still works because of the fine directing and acting. There is even a scene that intimates an incestuous relationship between Mother Shaw and her son, which is completely superfluous to the plot. However, if the movie were explained too well, some aspects would be more difficult to believe. Concerning a topic like mind control, a psuedo-scientific enterprise that is discredited in many circles, there is no explanation that would fully satisfy the public. It was therefore wise to try to avoiding explaining anything in great detail.

Although a remake, The Manchurian Candidate is a very original story that is a breath of fresh air during the summer blockbuster months. A combination of action, politics and science fiction make this a most unique movie, and should definitely be caught before it makes its way out of the theaters.