The Quiet American
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Movie Reviews of The Quiet American
Movie Review: Insight into the USA's Vietnam Conflict
Summary: 5 Stars
Grahame Greene's original story has been made into two movies, the first in 1958 starred Audie Murphy and was pro-America. The 2002 version starring Michael Caine is a thought-provoking story that all those interested in Indo China should see as it gives an unbiassed insight into the beginning of the USA's involvement in the war in Vietnam. Beautiful photography has evoked the Saigon of the 1950s by using other locations in Vietnam. The special features, including the anatomy of a scene, are well worth watching.Movie Review: Faithful Intelligent Adaptation
Summary: 4 Stars
The Quiet American presents a love triangle symbolic of the three main forces struggling in Vietnam in the early 50's. Fowler's (Michael Caine)self-medicating aggressively uninvolved cynic (the last wheezing gasps of Old World Colonialism), Pyle's (Brendan Fraser) poorly informed reckless imposition of New World values on foreign and understandably uncomprehending & ungrateful peoples (modern Imperialism) and Phong's (Do Thi Hai Yen) beleagured and possibly hopeless Third World self-determination.
The movie takes slight license with Graham Greene's fifty year old novel so as to present the same story and characters to a modern, moviegoing audience who mostly haven't read the book. Slight plot modifications are made, details are presented in broad strokes and the intellectualized discourse is kept to a minimum. Very 21st century in its playing up of the slight action elements and its full use of slick Hollywood production values. The Quiet American deftly retains the intelligence and self-awareness of the original novel while making it accessable to the filmgoer. A pleasant surprise.
The film's main strength lies in its two leads. Noone plays likable sympathetic selfish jerks better than Michael Caine. His characters are often good for a quick drink and a few jokes and they seem harmless enough but I wouldn't want to have to count on them in a crisis. Caine's Fowler is unabashed in his hedonistic self preservation. He is for Fowler, first and last. .Caine expertly smoothes off Fowler's sharp edges. Brendan Fraser is somewhat hamstrung in being oblidged to play the heavy. The Quietly Bad American. A bull in a china shop oblivious to the gun toting shopkeeper until its too late. Ignorant, naive and uninvited. Neither Greene nor this movie like him very much. Fraser's Pyle works because he treats his character with sympathy. Pyle isn't a Bond Villian. Quite the opposite. In fact, he means well but he's hopelessly out of his depth.
Not coincidentally released during The War on Terror, The Quiet American satisfies those of us who see parallels between Iraq & Vietnam. As comforting as that may seem as a knee jerk reaction, The Quiet American can be fairly accused of glossing over important distinctions, just as Greene did in the first place. The Quiet American is an opinion, not the opinion.
Movie Review: The First Casualty of War is Always the Truth!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a tremendously powerful film, one that should be required as a part 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 a tear or two, like I did.
Graham Greene, who's book this movie is adapted from is one of my heroes. He was a household name in the 60's and early 70's. And, he deserves 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 from Communism the whole of Asia will go down the drain, and then those blasted Commies will someday be knocking at our door!
Oh, the grand "Big Lie" strikes again in the 2000's! Why did so many of us believe our Federal government would "never" mislead the public on the reasons for the Iraq War? But here we go again, repeating history. We are such fools, it's truly amazing!
Movie Review: Nice Movie - Not So Nice Message
Summary: 3 Stars
Quality sets, quality direction, quality acting. Caine was excellently cast. Frasier carries the role fairly well. However, I still think Frasier is best in comedic roles.
The message! Typical Greene...America is less than good. Greene was in Vietnam, apparently, during the period just before America's overt involvement in Vietnam. Greene, the novelist, was also a spy. Little known fact...Greene was recruited by well-known British KGB agent Kim Philby.
Why would Philby recruit Greene unless he was sure Greene would serve his cause...the cause of anti-capitalism? Greene performed admirably in his spy role, writing novels such as "The Quiet American" which slam America albeit in a "quiet" back-handed way, which is sometimes the most effective.
The movie is worth a watch. Just don't take the message at face-value, but with the knowledge that Philby may have sanctioned Greene to write novels such as this full of anti-American undertones at the height of the Cold War.
Movie Review: The Quiet American
Summary: 5 Stars
Good movie and great acting by Michael Caan. Being filmed in Vietnam was a plus as the opening scene on the veranda of the Continental Palace Hotel brings back memories of Saigon in 1964.