Though it's based on the same novel (by Richard Condon) that spawned the classic 1962 black-and-white film, the makers of this new "Manchurian Candidate" might have been better off naming their film something else. Anything else.

Though the the two films do share plot points and characters, they are very different, and this updated adaptation or loose remake or whatever it is, does deserve to be taken on its own merits, rather than being the subject of endless comparisons.

If anything, the new version is in many ways a trickier, more complex psychological thriller. Admittedly, it's not always successful and sometimes seems to lose its focus, but it does have its share of effective moments.

And helping to make it effective is a first-rate cast, led by Denzel Washington, who stars as Maj. Bennett Marco, a U.S. Army veteran haunted by things he witnessed during the Gulf War.

Marco is questioning what was an apparent act of heroism by Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber), one of his junior officers, who's gone on to bigger things; he's now a vice presidential candidate. But the deeper Marco digs, the more he's convinced that he and Shaw — and other soldiers — were subjected to mind-control experimentation.

He would like to talk to Shaw to confirm his suspicions, but Shaw's controlling politician mother, Eleanor (Meryl Streep), has no intention of letting anyone near her son, especially not his increasingly paranoid former commanding officer.

Director Jonathan Demme's work on this film is good enough to allow us to forgive him — well, almost — for "The Truth About Charlie," his wretched 2002 remake of "Charade."

There's an almost overwhelming atmosphere of dread hanging over the film. And the effective score (by Rachel Portman and featuring contributions by hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean) only adds to the tension.

As mentioned, the cast is terrific. As Marco, Washington is as forceful as ever — when he needs to be. And while Schreiber's performance might seem a bit bland, that's really the point of his character. But it should come as no surprise that the real scene-stealer here is Streep, who appears to be paying tribute to Angela Lansbury's performance in the original, as well as mimicking Hillary Rodham Clinton. As always, she's very watchable.

"The Manchurian Candidate" is rated R for strong scenes of violence (shootings, strangulation, a drowning, biting and some explosive mayhem), occasional use of strong sexual profanity, gore and some drug content (use of anesthetics and hypodermics). Running time: 130 minutes.

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