The Quiet American
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Movie Reviews of The Quiet American
Movie Review: Based on a book written in 1955 not about the Vietnam War
Summary: 5 Stars
Graham Greene must be turning in his grave over some of the reviews of the movie version of his book. He didn't write a story about the Vietnam War simply because he wrote The Quiet American in 1955 and set it in the early 1950's. At that time there was only an insurgency in a little-known south east Asian French colony - yet another example of a third-world country trying to break free of its European occupiers.The main character in the movie is that of the English journalist through whose eyes we see events. That is why this is the star part and why the "quiet American" is played as a secondary role. The Quiet American is about the role of conscience. What should you do when you see something wrong going on? How far should you get involved - or can you claim it's none of your business? Remember that the Nuremburg trials finished in 1949 and the issue of personal responsibility was still fresh in people's minds.
This is my favorite version of the movie because it doesn't shove a "correct" answer to those questions in your face. The quiet American is likable and apparently sincere; the Vietnamese are neither idealized nor dumbed down; the flawed English journalist honestly struggles against his Faustian bargain - once he realizes what's going on.
Movies in which goodies and baddies are identified from the beginning by the color of their hats or their horses are a bore. I replayed Philip Noyce's version of The Quiet American several times to catch the nuances, which is why I finally purchased my own copy. When the shouting dies down, this movie might become a collector's item.
Movie Review: A Masterful Adaption with Great Performances
Summary: 5 Stars
I've always loved Michael Caine from ALFIE to THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING to DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS(!) to his Oscar-winning performances and he's always been great--whether the movie was any good or not. Watching him in this latest version of Graham Greene's novel, I had the feeling that Caine was firing on all pistons this time out. This is definitely one of his best roles.
And Brendan Fraser has really stepped up from the kind of movies everyone is used to seeing him in. Who knew that anyone associated with a Pauly Shore movie--ugh--could come so far. He was very good in GODS AND MONSTERS and I thought he was outstanding in BEDAZZLED (even if you weren't that wild about the movie, he was really funny and he really made it work). And he's the perfect Alden Pyle, the "quiet American" and Michael Caine's romantic rival in 1950s Vietnam.
I've recently read the novel and was blown away that Greene could write such a powerful, multi-layered story that predicted the whole Vietnam war mess for the USA--over ten years before we entered that war!
If you really want to appreciate how good this movie is, read Greene's original novel and then watch the film. There isn't an ounce of fat on the screen and this is really one of the best adaptions I've seen of a book-to-movie transition. You get that rare feeling that the filmmakers actually READ the book they're making a movie about.
Beautifully photographed, meticulously written, wonderfully acted--definitely check this out.
Movie Review: A moving love story
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw "The Quiet American" for the love story, not for the politics. The triangle between the aging Brit Thomas Fowler, the idealistic American Alden Pyle and the not-so naive Vietnamese Phuong was beautifully and realistically portrayed, with strong performances on all sides. In a way, the love story was very much like "Casablanca," with the political Pyle, the world-weary Fowler, and the beautiful Phuong desired by both. The two men both considered themselves in Phuong's best interest, while she was looking for honesty, love and commitment, something neither man could provide.
That being said, the political aspect of the film was deeply intriguing, showing a side of the Vietnam war that I had never seen before. All of the movies I had watched were post-US involvement, or, such as Oliver Stone's "Heaven and Earth," showing escalation from the Vietnamese point of view. It is easy to watch war movies only for the conflict, forgetting the quiet unease before the violence.
The film is beautiful as well, slow paced and elegant. Vietnam is a lovely country, and "The Quiet American" plays it to full advantage. There is nostalgia here, and knowledge of an innocent soon to be lost, but also the statement that one should appreciate things while they are there, regardless of the future.
People live lives at all stages of history. They lie and are honest. They love and betray. Even in the midst of the sparks that would soon consume a country, human beings are still human.
Movie Review: Excellent and Realistic Drama
Summary: 5 Stars
If you like good, realistic human drama which poses the right questions but avoids easy answers, you will like this movie. The acting, direction, and cinemontography are all of a very high level, and it is coherent and moving.
Briefly, this story transmits an important piece of history, set in South Vietnam during the 50s before the French colonial government fell apart. I haven't read the Graham Greene novel, but from the "extras" I sense the film is actually better, as the Third Man film is superior to his story of the same name. You can come away from this movie with conclusions about colonialism, communism, or the American intervention, but they may well be the ones you already had. However, the story line at the very least -- if you are open and attentive -- ought to put a few wrinkles in your philosophy and opinions whatever they are. In short, this is what used to be called top notch art, in either the genre of literary fiction or film. The key is the lack of simple answers about the two Vietnamese sisters portrayed in the film. Also you are free to choose the British journalist played by Michael Caine, the American operative portrayed by Brendan Fraser, both, or neither as your hero-protagonist.
In short, this is a first rate piece of material and moral realism no less complex and multi-faceted than life itself.
Movie Review: Very far from disappointing
Summary: 5 Stars
Michael Caine is one of the very few actors who can give a fine performance even in bad movies, so when the movie is close to perfection you don't get the feeling he's been wasted. The rest of the cast is rather good as well and didn't get me thinking Graham Greene's novel was betrayed (I read the book more than a while ago, so...), since the most important thing in Graham Greene books (I don't think I missed any, and could say the common line for every one I've read) is, as in one title, "The Human Factor", where people' feelings/intentions/personal aims, can warp events of greater dimensions.For those wondering about the 'Continental' location or other places, they should remember that Vietnam government (unlike most of the population) doesn't always welcome everybodybody in every place, and, what I remember from my own stay at the 'Continental' a few years ago (the 'Metropole' was under repairs) is the hotel management tendency to enforce this; I was not surprised by this change of location.
I can even say, after being there, that "whatever your dream, you'll find it here" was true until half a century ago, when Indochine was my dreamland. But now, you'll only find what they'll want you to, and it will cost you dearly, just ask investors conned out of what they've been led to believe as investment money.