

Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that his fellow squad-mate Sergeant Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate, is the hero he remembers him being. As Marco's doubts deepen, Shaw's political power grows, and, when Marco finds a mysterious implant embedded in his back, the memory of what really happened begins to return.
Acting
Streep's Eleanor—terrifying maternalism that launched a thousand thinkpieces.
Direction
Demme's close-ups make every conversation feel like an interrogation.
Writing
Updating Cold War paranoia to corporate conspiracy without losing the teeth.

Director
Jonathan Demme
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during the 2004 election, the film's corporate-controlled candidate felt less satire and more documentary to audiences. Streep reportedly based Eleanor's mannerisms on Hillary Clinton and Nancy Reagan simultaneously.
The original 1962 film's director John Frankenheimer was consulted; he died months before release. Denzel Washington and Liev Schreiber spent two weeks in 're-education camp' rehearsals to nail the brainwashed stiffness.
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