Voxitype
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Geraldine
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Kirpianuscus
Her presence. her impecable performance. like beautiful cinematography. and the performances of Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser. as key of a drama who seduce, imprese, surprise, provoke. not only as inspired adaptation. but as an useful reflection about present. not a critic. not a revelation. only a sort of precise conclusion. about people, choices, trust and the way to define the reality. it is one films about Vietnam who gives to you the feeling to discover the essence of that land in centre of war. you feel the land and the air and the rain and the pain of people. grace of cinematography, off course. but not only. because it is a film who shows new manner to see the life. as reflection of yourself and as the fruit of fundamental options. so, more than a good film. maybe, one of real useful.
FilmBuff1994
The Quiet American is a great movie with a very well developed plot and a terrific cast. It's a very deep film that takes place at the forefront of the war in Saigon, with the story being retold by a journalist. However, it never gets too invested in to this war, mainly focusing on a love triangle, giving the film a lot of intimacy, as well as a surreal side story to go along with it. Though a large majority of the scenes are slow and dialogue heavy, it had me at the edge of my seat throughout as a result of the intensity of words, rather than actions. There were, however, times were I found it difficult to support Thomas Fowler, he was clearly an arrogant, self centred man, who cared about no one other than himself. It becomes difficult to route for someone who is only out for himself, even at the midst of these serious events, I just feel the character could have been given more humanity. The performances are all around stellar. Brendan Fraser shines in the greatest role I have seen him in, conveying a lot of subtle emotions as Aiden Pyle, and Do Thi Hai Yen has a excellent presence, as well as beautiful chemistry with both male leads. The highlight of the film is, of course, Michael Caine in one of his most layered performances. He has so much depth as Fowler, with so much development of the character coming from Caine doing and saying nothing at all, merely just being. A hard hitting drama that kept me invested throughout. Sweet and engrossing, The Quiet American is worth the watch for anyone looking for a good drama. The comfortable life of a British journalist soon changes as he finds himself caught in a love triangle while covering the conflict in Vietnam. Best Performance: Michael Caine
jlthornb51
Director Philip Noyce brings Graham Greene's novel to the screen with exquisite style and demanding substance. The depth and power of Greene's work is preserved and dramatized with amazing skill. With that being said, there is one element of this film that is absolutely amazing and that is Michael Caine's portrait of Fowler. Giving another extraordinary performance of unforgettable power, Caine not only brings Fowler to life but inhabits Graham Greene himself. The supporting cast is certainly able but it is that single performance by Caine that will leave you breathless and completely in wonder of this great actor's gifts. His portrayal leaves you overwhelmed by the character's complexity and inner turmoil. What you witness in all Caine accomplishes here will haunt forever anyone who appreciates the finest of acting.
ma-cortes
Entertaining picture dealing with a central romance along with thrills , political details and warlike deeds about Vietnam war . A young naive American named Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser) and a cynical older British journalist called Fowler (Michael Caine) disagree over politics in 1952 Vietnam and over a beautiful young native girl called Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen) . As a ¨quiet American¨ with dark secrets arrives in Saigon with his own plan to settle country's conflicts . As it's not clear whether Alden Pyle is just what he appears , as he seems to be an innocent Young American opposite the older, cynical Brit Thomas Fowler . Eventually Fowler must confront moral conflicts and the relationship between Pyle and him reaches some problems connected with a Vietnamese General , at the same time the war and a political upheaval take place . Interesting second rendition of the Graham Greene novel including a love triangle , emotion , wartime events and many other things . The picture relies heavily on the love triangle between the ironical British reporter , his enticing mistress and the strange quiet American , but it doesn't boring , neither tiring and nor dull . Michael Caine is good as a correspondent covering a conflict and finding himself becoming personally involved when he befriends an American who is not all that he seems to and also falling for a beautiful young Vietnamese , a mesmerizing Do Thi Hai . The movie has its touching moments found primarily in the superb performances from trio protagonist . The film ends with newspaper stories written by Thomas Fowler about Vietnam from 1954 to 1966. However the book on which the film was based was published in 1955, so these are mostly events which happened after the book came out . The US release of this movie was delayed for more than a year by the terrorist attacks on the USA of 11 September 2001. The producers were concerned that it would be seen as anti-American.Miramax had paid $5.5 million for the rights to distribute the movie in North America and some other territories, but then shelved it for a long time. Miramax even planned to send this movie to go straight-to-video. But Michael Caine successfully persuaded Miramax to screen this movie at 2002 Toronto International Film Festival; the movie received many good reviews at the Film Festival, so Miramax decided to release this movie in the United States theatrically . This handsomely mounted flick was well directed by Phillip Noyce , a successful Australian director who filmed Dead Calm (1989), starring Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill and Billy Zane , it brought Noyce to Hollywood, where he directed 6 films over the next decade, including Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and present danger (1994) starring Harrison Ford, and The bone collector (1999), starring Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.The first version with a very good cast such as Audie Murphy as the American , Michael Redgrave as Thomas Fowler , Claude Dauphin as Inspector Vigot , Giorgia Moll as Phuong Bruce Cabot as Bill Granger resulted to be more a killing mystery than the political/drama intented , while this last retelling turned to be more faithful to Graham Greene than Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1958 take on . In fact , in Europe, director-writer Joseph L. Mankiewicz was savagely attacked for his film's infidelity to the source novel by Graham Greene, not least by Greene himself. The screenplay essentially turns the novel inside-out, so that the blundering "quiet American", whose extreme naiveté causes tragedies .
