A reader makes a good point, I should have mentioned The Manchurian Candidate in today’s column:
Jonah,
Great(ly depressing) points on Hollywood.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the remake of the classic The Manchurian Candidate, though. Not only was it a perfectly awful butchering of a great movie, but the villain was (surprise!) Big Business trying to “put a sleeper in the White House”. Denzel tries to warn the world that, you fools, can’t you see, a private equity fund (somehow not named The Carlyle Group—Hollywood does have some restraint) is trying to do bad bad things and yet no one believes him. Fortunately for us, Denzel kills the newly-elected/sleeper president. Psheew!
I thought it noteworthy that the remake had to rely on nightmarishly gory scenes that looked ripped from the 3rd region of Hell for effect, whereas the original used the horror of a communist plot (and good acting) to keep the audience riveted.
Just wanted to join the chorus.
All laud and honor, etc.,