Remaking it right

“The Manchurian Candidate” (2004)

It’s not hard for a remake of an unambitious B-movie, such as “Yuma,” to eke out its own identity, but try following in the footsteps of an undisputed masterpiece, as Jonathan Demme’s re-imagining of one of the best-known political thrillers of all time attempts to do. It’s hard to get beyond memories of John Frankenheimer’s taut original tale of war veterans brainwashed into becoming killing machines, but Demme’s film reveals a bold topicality and funky humanist style all its own. And Meryl Streep proves to be Angela Lansbury’s equal as a conniving puppet master.