Genres

Visitors Review

finafisken 2012-05-22 15:14:09

Great opening

The opening scene where Michael Caine speaks about Vietnam with the riverasa backdrop is very powerful. Only after a while do you realize that thechanging lights in the sky are probably from artillery-grenades as the waris closing in on Saigon. The atmosphere of this scene is somehow kept allthrough the film, that something inevitable is about to happen. If this isdue to our knowledge of what really happened in Vietnam or Greenes writingskills I cannot tell as I haven't read the book. However, it should serveasan important reminder that war never is unavoidable.

Ralph Michael Stein 2012-05-22 05:56:19

Michael Caine - Intense, Brooding, Sympathetic, Questioning

I don't understand why the studio satraps thought it necessary to embargothis film after 9/11, requiring persuasion on Michael Caine's part to get itto limited release now so as to qualify for Oscar nominations. The Americanrole in Viet Nam is the subject of hundreds of books and countless articles- and not a few films. There is nothing unhealthy about the continuingdebate and contrary to what some opine, I doubt American policy vis-a-visIraq has much lineal connection to the troubled saga of U.S. involvement inIndo-China, or its partial successor in hapless interest, the Republic ofViet Nam.The Graham Green story has been filmed before (1958) but this is a pungent,attention-grabbing version, filmed in various parts of Viet Nam. The sultryand grasping humidity of the land almost comes off the screen. The storytakes place in 1952 as the inept and poorly led French stumble towards theirultimate debacle at Dien Bien Phu (anyone interested in this story shouldstart and finish with Bernard Fall's remarkable account of the French Army'sSuper-Alamo).Caine, a Brit named Fowler, assures Brendan Fraser, a putative U.S.humanitarian officer named Pyle, that he is a "reporter," not a"correspondent." The difference to the easy-living Fowler is that thelatter has a viewpoint, perhaps even a cause, while the former, as SergeantFriday would say, only wants the facts.This film really belongs to Caine and Fraser but one other character, thestunning Do Thi Hai Yep, Fowler's live-in girlfriend, deserves mention. Shelights up the screen with both her calculating passion for, first, Fowlerand then Pyle. Her character is realistically complex: I knew a number ofsuch women when I was an Army officer and although the phrase isn't usedhere, she's a perfect example of the desperately ambitious, beautifulmistress whose only long-term goal is to be taken to "The Land of the BigP.X."A series of experiences transform both Fowler and Pyle. Several of thescenes of violence are real enough but the music is intrusive. You don'thear music when people are dying around you. At least not performed by anorchestra.This is the third recent film in which Michael Caine distinguishes himselfby the depth of his acting (the others being "The Cider House Rules" and"Last Orders"). Caine's Fowler leaves us wondering as to what his motivesare as he slowly changes before us. There's no clear answer and room forargument. His Fowler is both disturbing and ingratiating.The audience in the East Village theater where I saw "The Quiet American"today clearly was made up of folks whose minds were settled as to U.S.involvement in Indo-China, never mind the later escalation in Viet Nam.Their grunts and laughs at certain points reflected their views. But thestory told here is a faithful mirror of what in 1952 were complex questionsin a scary world made scary by communism, not the liberal democracies. Thatmistakes of a grievous nature were made may be clear today but the road wasill-illuminated then. This film, and Caine's portrayal in particular,reflects the contemporary confusion and the unravelling of any hopes for apeaceful reunification of the two Viet Nams after the Frenchdefeat.I hope this film gets a very wide distribution after it finishes itstwo-week Oscar-qualifying run.8/10.

Spaceygirl 2012-05-18 18:43:45

Quietly wonderful

The Quiet American is an unassuming little film, compelling some people tothink that its boring. It is, in fact, anything but boring. It tells thetale of a woman caught between two men, which in itself is merely a plotcontrivance comparing Vietnam to a woman caught between two lovers. In fact,the script has one of the main characters explaining this veryfact.The acting is outstanding - Michael Caine is in top-form and Brendan Fraserdelivers a career-best performance. The two main leads are so believablethat the lines between "good guy" and "bad guy" are blurred. All we're leftwith are two flawed characters trying to make the best of a bad situationwhich they find themselves in. They're both such gentlemen that one finds oneself empathising with eachcharacter which is extraordinary in an age where movies clearly define the"good guy" and the villain.An outstanding film, one that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

David H. Schleicher 2012-05-18 12:33:27

The Noyce Renaissance

Smart, literate, and compelling adaptation of Graham Greene's novel aboutromance and political intrigue amongst the colonial French, indifferentBritish, gung-ho Americans, and fractured Vietnamese during the early yearsof that tragic conflict. The film is highlighted by taut yetstraightforward direction from Noyce (you don't want to believe this is thesame guy who directed "Sliver") and Michael Caine's Oscar caliberperformance as the agnostic/neutral British reporter caught in a lovetriangle that serves as a metaphor for the war against Communism in Vietnam. Viewed in tandem with "Rabbit Proof Fence" (a compelling true story aboutatrocities against Aboriginal children in Australia that was released atvirtually the same time here in the States) the two films can be viewed asthe Noyce Renaissance.This would make a great double feature with Lars Von Trier's hauntinglybleak WWII thriller, "Zentropa" (aka "Europa") as it deals with many of thesame themes (the futility of trying to remain neutral in the face ofconflict and tragedy, how we are all forced to take sides, and how religionplays a part in war). In the end, Caine's character laments, "I just wish Ihad somebody to say I am sorry to." Even those without faith, without aside cry out in the end. The world is a dark, ambiguous place, and thisfilm shows how we all desire things to be cut and dry, good and evil, whenin the end it's all relative and we are left only with our own broken dreamsof a perfect world that never was.

jordan brown 2012-05-17 16:52:02

Disappointing

This was a disappointing film. The plot structure resembles in manyways Graham Greene's screenplay for The Third Man, but this script isnot nearly as witty or gripping. Occasional humorous lines intended tolighten the atmosphere and offer some of Greene's characteristicallydry satire fizzled and flopped, and the acting was uniformly stiff andill-at-ease. The character of Phong is a travesty, too, as the plotseems to revolve around her, and all the men in the film talk about heras an actual human being, proclaiming their love for her, but she'spresented with dialogue that makes her seem like nothing more than eyecandy. Technically, the film must have been made in a ridiculoushurry... overuse of slow-mo techniques prolong scene endings that don'tquite meet at the ends. There is a horribly saccharine coloration tothe entire film that would imply the makers wanted an epic,atmospheric, landscaped look but just didn't have the patience. Duringthe 15 minutes of rather compelling plot development, in the middle ofthe film, there is a battle scene that looks totally unbelievable...you can smell the fake smoke and feel the sound-stage plastic astroturfthey are rolling on.

Claudio Carvalho 2012-05-17 10:06:55

A Powerful Triangle of Love in the Beginning of the American Intervention in Vietnam

In Saigon, 1951, Thomas Fowler (Michael Fowler) is an Englishjournalist, married in England with a catholic woman, and in love witha Vietnamese girl, Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen). Thomas meets Alden Pyle(Brendan Fraser) in a bar. Pyle is a doctor working in an aid mission,and pretty soon, he falls in love with Phuong. Pyle offers her whatThomas is not possible to give, i.e., a marriage and escape of Vietnam.Meanwhile, the political situation in Vietnam is boiling, with theFrench trying to get control again of the country, the communiststrying to impose their system to the South, and the American secretlygiving support to a third Vietnamese part. This romance is perfect: the outstanding performance of Michael Cainein the first plane, and Brendan Fraser (in his best role, since 'Godsand Monsters') and Do Thi Hai Yen are fantastic. The screenplay ofChristopher Hampton, based in a novel of Graham Greene, is wonderful.And the direction of Phillip Noyce is magnificent, presenting the storyin right doses of romance, drama, action and special effects. Anoverwhelming movie for all tastes. My vote is nine.Title (Brazil): "O Americano Quieto" ("The Quiet American")

stratosl 2012-05-17 14:42:08

Uninteresting...

I found this movie quite dull and the only reason I give it a 6/10 isMichael Caine, whose performance was admittedly very good, and the secondhalf which just aroused my curiosity and kept me in the theater to watchtheending. OK, I won't remember this movie in the long term

acearms 2012-05-17 00:47:39

Only the gullible could accept this one.

I like Bredan Fraser and Michael Caine; two of my favorites. But this moviebased on Vietnam in the early 1950s is not that great. Fraser's characterturns out to be a CIA operative in the disguise of a medical person whofalls in love at first sight with the girl friend of Caine's character andwants to marry her NOW. What hokum!! Caine's character discovers whoFraser's character really is and out of jealousy over the girl arranges tohave him killed. There are scenes of car bombs, battles and massacres alongthe way as sub plots, but otherwise somewhat boring. Okay to watch if youhave nothing better to do.

James Hitchcock 2012-05-14 06:26:19

Destructive Idealism

During my childhood in the 1960s there was a strip cartoon in one of mycomics called "Texas Ted; Big Hat, Big Head". The title character was aloud-mouthed, boastful Texan who always wore a Stetson hat and wasconstantly proclaiming the superiority of all things American to hismeek little bowler-hatted English cousin. The last frame of the cartoongenerally showed Ted being cut down to size in some way or another.This stereotype of Americans as loud, brash and arrogant was quite acommon one in Britain in the fifties and sixties; it appears lessfrequently today, not so much because we have changed our opinions ofAmericans but because we no longer define ourselves so much as quiet,reserved and modest. The title of Graham Greene's novel "The QuietAmerican" was probably a subtle reference to this stereotypical view.The "quiet American" of the title, Alden Pyle, is a thoughtful,soft-spoken, idealistic intellectual, yet his well-intentioned idealismis in the long run to prove destructive.When Greene's novel came out in 1955 it was widely criticised in the USas being anti-American, although in the light of what was to occurduring the Vietnam War Greene's criticism of American involvement inIndochina might today seem prescient. When the novel was filmed byJoseph Mankiewicz in 1958 he reversed its emphasis, making itanti-Communist rather than anti-American and making Pyle the hero ofthe story, with the result that Greene angrily disowned the film.The 2002 version of "The Quiet American" is closer to Greene'soriginal. The story is set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952, towards the endof French colonial rule. It is both a political drama and a personalone. The personal element involves a love-triangle between Pyle, aBritish journalist named Thomas Fowler and Fowler's beautifulVietnamese mistress Phuong. Fowler is unable to marry Phuong because heis already married; he is separated from his wife, who still lives inEngland, but she refuses to give him a divorce because of her Catholicreligion. (This is the only part which religion plays in the film.Unusually for a Greene story, none of the major characters is aCatholic). Unlike Fowler, Pyle can offer Phuong marriage and stability,and he succeeds in winning her affections, thus making an enemy ofFowler even though the two were once friends.The political element in the drama derives from the attempts of Pyle,who is working for American Intelligence, to set up a "Third Force" inVietnam to take on both the French colonialists and the VietnameseCommunists who had hitherto provided most of the opposition to Frenchrule. There is a sharp contrast drawn between Pyle and Fowler on both apersonal and a political level. Personally Pyle is sensitive andidealistic whereas Fowler is jaded, cynical and prepared to useunderhand methods to get what he wants. (One thing they have in commonis that both are sincerely in love with Phuong). On a political level,however, Pyle is unable to see that General Thé, the leader of theThird Force, is a ruthless megalomaniac with ambitions to become adictator, and is prepared to turn a blind eye to the terrorist methodsused by Thé's militia. Fowler, however, is clear-eyed enough to seethat American support for Thé is likely to prove disastrous.The difference between the two films lies in the difference between thepolitical climate of 1958 and that of 2002. In the fifties, during theCold War, it would have been unthinkable for Hollywood to have produceda film which was seen as pro-Communist or which criticised Americanforeign policy. Today, it would be almost equally unthinkable forHollywood to produce a film which argued that American involvement inthe Vietnam War was justified either politically or morally. Yet whatPyle is trying to do is not in principle objectionable; the Vietnamesepeople deserved more than a choice between remaining a de jure colonyof France or becoming a de facto colony of Stalinist Russia, and somesort of third force would have been needed to give democracy a chanceto work in the country. The tragedy of the war was that, the Americansnever really tried to foster Vietnamese democracy but relied too muchon authoritarian and often corrupt strongmen like Ngo Dinh Diem, towhom the 1958 film is dedicated.Sir Michael Caine clearly has an affinity with Greene's work, as hegave a very good performance in "The Honorary Consul" in 1983 and givesanother very good one here, brings out all the contradictory aspects ofFowler's character. (The film brought him the most recent of his sixOscar nominations). I did, however, think that, at 69, Caine was rathertoo old for the role, as Fowler is probably supposed to be about fiftyat the most. (The film ends with a montage of Vietnam War newspaperheadlines, all with Fowler's byline, implying that he was still workingfor his newspaper a decade and a half after the events shown in thisfilm).I was less impressed with the other performances. Phuong seemed toopassive a character, although the fault lay perhaps with thescriptwriter rather than the actress Do Thi Hai Yen, and Brendan Fraser(never my favourite actor) seemed unable to convey either Pyle'ssuspect idealism or his passion for Phuong. Overall, however, the filmworks well, on both the political and psychological levels. 7/10

Melanie 2012-05-13 17:46:14

The politics of love

The Quiet American had many delays in its release one of them afterSeptember 11. It was felt that the film was 'un-American' in the climatepost 9/11. While the story is of a love triangle set in French colonialVietnam the underlying politics are what grabbed me. The film makesstatements on colonialism, communism and the reasons for US involvement thatfollowed and the tactics of the CIA. I found the author and filmakers werenot afraid to reveal that the CIA will often sell explosives and arms tomilitia and groups who are in opposition to their 'enemy'. However you cannot control these groups and the explosives sold in this film were used in acar bomb that killed innocent vietnamese. The car bomb was then blamed onthe communists, making them look bad. The reality that this does happenpunched me in the face.I was shocked when someone told me that Ronald Reagan starred in theoriginal and was not surprised to find this person mistaken. Audie Murphyand Michael Redgrave star in original version of this film. While I enjoyedthe major plotline of the love triangle I found the subplots and otherelements of the film to be honest and thought provoking.

David Daniel Ball 2012-05-12 21:24:38

Stunning beauty, marred by politics

The Quiet American has all the stunning beauty that Vietnam has tooffer. Exotic, Eastern history, mixed with European colonialism meetingresurgent, brash US culture and the moral decay of communism. Yet themoral decay of communism is not portrayed as such. Instead, there isthe same suggestion of admiration for desperate communist forces whichso mirrors the opinions of those that cannot quite criticize terroristactivity. The circle of silence which envelopes such lands intransition is well portrayed, and exploited by The Quiet American.Should France have made their attempt to reclaim the former colony?What were the US motives? The Chinese? Russia? Che Guevarra and Cuba?What of the people themselves, Vietnamese, from the mountains to thevalleys. None is able to show what they want, what they do, for thereis a murderous undercurrent as there is a beauty. The acting is superb,and all the basic elements of a great film are there. However,ultimately, it is the direction that prevents this film from rising toachieve what it might have, to inform and portray. Instead, itcolludes, and many who struggled to survive the aftermath may well feelbetrayed.

Harlan-5 2012-05-12 15:13:15

A film that needs to see the light of day!

Another Best of 2002 (or 2001 since its been shelved for so long). I saw"The Quite American" at the 2002 25th Denver International Film Festivalandall I can say is wow! Excellent direction by Phillip Noyce, gret scriptanda cast in top form. "The Quite American" is a rare film in todays moviemarket that actually has a story to tell, an interesting plot that keepsyouguessing from the moment it begins to the shocking ending and charactersthat have a life and are not just cardboard. "The Quite American" is atoncea spohisticated drama of political intrigue, a murder mustery and a lovestory all set to the back drop of the coming Vietnam war. This film isbasedon a Graham Green novel, and its well know he felt the 1958 version waswatered down. Micahel Caine (in another Oscar worthy role) plays ThomasFowler a British foreign correspondent and Alden Pyle (Brremdan Fraser) isan American aid worker (or is he?) who is both frighteningly sure he knowsright from wrong in a morally ambigous situation. This film was shelved by"Miramax Films" back in 2001 and has never see the lght of day. A verypowerfulll film that opens alot of doors filled with questions on rightandwrong and our stand as Americans against war. I think "Miramax" was justscared to put this films in theaters since they are afarid themselves ofpeople having an open mind and asking the very same questions themselveswhat is truly right or worng in today's changing world. A truly must seeforanyone that wants an intelligent and moving story. Well worth the $8.00 tosee.

Michael McFaul 2012-05-12 01:20:49

Superb film

This is the best film I have seen for a long time. A complex storylinewithrealistic characters and a wonderful, brooding atmosphere. Let's hopeMichael Caine wins a well-deserved Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of aworld-weary war correspondent.This picture will make uncomfortable viewing for Americanaudiences.

connie 2012-05-11 10:22:55

a god and the Truth

I don't know why it took me so long to realize that Michael Caine is a god. His intelligence always dominates the screen. I usually like BrendanFraser, but he is so over-shadowed by Michael Caine, even though Caine is somuch older. He still has it.Everyone should know that this film was held back by Miramax because of9/11. They thought it would be a bad idea to release a film critical ofU.S. government policy, even policy in the distant past. Maybe thegovernment had a hand in this decision. This film presents in a concisemanner the history of how the U.S. got involved in Vietnam. Other filmsthat relate the U.S. history of over-throwing foreign governments,assassinating foreign leaders, and installing puppet regimes are: "JFK"(Oliver Stone), "Bowling for Columbine" (Michael Moore, whose publishertried to withhold his book "Stupid White Men" after 9/11), and "Cover-Up" bythe Christic Institute. The latter is about the CIA being behind the importof drugs to this country, and about the Republicans making a deal with theIranians to delay the release of the hostages so that Carter wouldn't bere-elected (Carter had fired 700 CIA secret operatives, who got together tomake sure one of their supporters got in the White House). See these filmsto see the role of the CIA and other covert operations agencies' power asthe shadow government of the U.S.

getaway2003 2012-05-11 13:20:25

Possibly one of my top 10 movies.

I think, The Quiet American is a very moving film. It is based on theclassic novel by Graham Greene. A murder mystery centred on a lovetriangle. It is the story of an ageing British journalist (Caine), ayoung American (Fraser) and a beautiful Vietnamese woman caught betweenthem. This is a world where nothing is as it seems - suffused withopium, intrigue and betrayal. Watch this film, I highly recommend it.Micheal Caine gives one of his best performances ever if not his best.Brendan Fraser also gave an excellent performance as Pyle. It is niceto see Fraser can diversify his roles. The sadness this film bringsupon is overwhelming at times. The film is almost poetic at times.LOVE.

Jackson Booth-Millard 2012-05-10 20:10:43

The Quiet American

Based on the novel by Grahame Greene, this is a really good war basedfilm from Phillip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence). It is 1952, and BritishLondon Times journalist Thomas Fowler (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globenominated Sir Michael Caine) is finding new material in Saigon while heaway from his homeland. He befriends new arrival, American aid workerAlden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), and he also introduces him to his youngbeautiful Vietnamese mistress Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen). The storybasically revolves around their love triangle with startlingrevelations, and eventually murder. It is the classic story of love,betrayal, friendship, and ultimately the origin of the American war inVietnam. Sir Michael Caine was number 44 on The 100 Greatest MovieStars, and he was number 7 on The 50 Greatest British Actors. Verygood!

liberalgems 2012-05-09 20:15:39

The First Casualty of War is Always the Truth!

This is a tremendously powerful film, one that should be required as apart of any high school or college American history class curriculum.Conservatives will hate it (too bad!) and the rest of us will be moved,and deeply troubled, by it's many implications. You might even shed atear or two, like I did.Graham Greene, who's book this movie is adapted from is one of myheroes. He was a household name in the 60's and early 70's. And, hedeserves to be one again! Haven't we learned a thing from Viet Nam? Or,are we Americans all suffering from amnesia? Pentagon Papers anyone?Remember the notorious "Domino Theory?" If we don't save Vietnam fromCommunism the whole of Asia will go down the drain, and then thoseblasted Commies will someday be knocking at our door! Oh, the grand "Big Lie" strikes again in the 2000's! Why did so many ofus believe our Federal government would "never" mislead the public onthe reasons for the Iraq War? But here we go again, repeating history.We are such fools, it's truly amazing!

Elliott Noble 2012-05-09 09:23:07

Caine's finest hour

When he wants to, Michael Caine can really act. Here, he achieves anear-perfect balance of humanity, dignity, and horror, thus making amockery of his hollow, unsubtle (and therefore Oscar-worthy)performance in The Cider House Rules. I hope this is a sign that he'sgoing to start being more selective about his roles instead of makingeasy money in rubbish like Miss Congeniality and Austin Powers 3.The Quiet American is an exercise in professionalism. The story istight yet fluid, the atmosphere is ominous but never smothering, andthe action scenes serve a genuine purpose. There are some flaws,however. Ambiguous though Alden Pyle is supposed to be, we need to knowmore about him as his fate is curiously unaffecting. I haven't read thesource novel, so perhaps this accurately reflects Graham Greene'sintentions. In any case, I'm not being unfair by saying that it doesn'thelp the film.The other weakness is Do Thi Hai Yen, who doesn't have enough naturalluminosity to overcome her acting shortcomings. Again, I'm not beingunfair - her character is pivotal to the story and the movie required amuch more competent actress than she.Still, I learned something and rediscovered my respect for MichaelCaine. So it was all worthwhile.

baker-9 2012-05-05 07:49:31

Fast Moving But Superficial

I haven't seen the 1958 film of Greene's book, though I've heard that theAmerican (played by Audie Murphy) is treated as more of a hero, which is notwhat Greene intended in his original work.This new film directed by the talented Philip Noyce is closer to theoriginal work and benefits from Michael Caine's presence as an aging Britishjournalist who fancies himself a mere observer in the escalating warfarebetween the French colonialists and the Communist forces who want them out. He soon finds out that it's not so easy to maintain a neutralstance.However, for the story to have its full impact, there needs to be a deep,palpable friendship between Caine's character and that of the titlecharacter (played by Brendan Fraser), who is not what heseems.Unfortunately, that bond doesn't come through in the film at all. Most ofthe time we're treated to the romantic triangle consisting of these two menand Caine's Vietnamese mistress. The actress who plays this role is verypretty, but also quite dull which makes the character obtuse rather thanmysterious. She and Fraser set off nothing close to sparks and her behaviorisn't always believable. The woman who plays her sister is far moreinteresting and has less screen time.The result of all this is that the tragic impact of Caine's actions near theend is muted and robs the film of the cumulative power of the story. Thefilm is more interested in being a fast-moving quasi-thriller and it'spretty entertaining, if superficial, on that score.I noticed that the version that Miramax has released in the U.S. has beencut by 18 minutes from what was shown at the Toronto Film Festival back in2001. I wonder if that's partly responsible for the problem I mentionabove, or if it really didn't make any difference.

meeza 2012-05-04 19:44:10

Did not provide much noise!

Michael Caine's performance as British Journalist Thomas Fowler in 50'sVietnam was glorified by some critics as the elite acting of 2002. He waseven nominated for an Academy Award. I do have to admire the way that Cainedelicately carried himself throughout the film, but I do have to quite thoseAmerican critics that thought it was in that certain supremacy level.Brendan Fraser plays the quiet American Alden Pyle who arrives in Vietnamand befriends Fowler. Moreover, he also does `quiet' i mean `quite' aback-stabbing maneuver by falling in love with Fowler's young vietnameselover Phoung. `The Quiet American' was beautifully photographed and itscinematography is quite an exhibition. However, Director Phillip Noyce didnot insert enough arousing noise in `The Quiet American' for me to recommendthis irksome film. *** Average